BHA: Prepare to have your illusions shattered

On Saturday 14 January 2012 the British Humanist Association and the Centre for Inquiry UK will be taking a closer look at spirits, mediums and ghosts. Prepare to have your illusions shattered as all things spooky, paranormal, and unbelievable come under the microscope.

Introduced by Dr Stephen Law, editor of the Royal Institute of Philosophy's journal Think: Philosophy For Everyone and Provost of Centre for Inquiry UK, the day will prove to be a thought-provoking event for a wide audience. Speakers include Dr Chris French, Professor of Psychology and Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths University of London; best-selling author Richard Wiseman; Ian Rowland, the writer and entertainer who taught Derren Brown to read fortunes; professional trickster Paul Zenon; and ghost-hunter Hayley Stevens.

Stephen Law, Provost of Centre for Inquiry UK, commented, ‘the day will dispel a number of urban myths associated with the paranormal and provide many interesting insights into the scams and tricks used by some performers claiming paranormal abilities. With world-renowned speakers who will provide a colourful ‘inside look’ at a multimillion pound industry, the day will leave everyone questioning much more than just what they see in front of them.’

Notes:
Saturday 14 January 2012
Registration: 10.30am 11:00am – 16.00pm
Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Full details about the event can be found at
http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/bha-british-humanist-association/article/bha-beyond-the-veil-a-closer-look-at-spirits-mediums-and-gho

Tickets: £10.00 general public; £8.00 concessions; Free to members of the CFI. Special offer joint saver ticket for both this event and the Blasphemy event on 28 January: £16 general ticket, and £12 members and students. Booking in advance available at the BHA website.

Press passes and interviews:
To register your interest for a press pass or for more information, please contact Sara Passmore at the BHA on 020 7079 3586 or sara@humanism.org.uk

Event organised by Stephen Law, senior lecturer in philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London. Media can contact Stephen on: think@royalinstitutephilosophy.org

About Humanists, Humanism and the BHA:
Throughout recorded history there have been non- religious people who have believed that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It is one of the main purposes of the BHA to increase public awareness of what Humanism is and to give greater confidence to people whose beliefs are humanist by offering resources so people may develop their knowledge of humanist approaches to some of the big ethical, philosophical and existential questions in life.

About the Centre for Inquiry UK:
CFI UK’s primary aim is education, with the focus on the three following areas:
(1) The application of science and/or reason to questions regarding religion and the supernatural(e.g. divinity and parapsychological questions, etc.)
(2) The application of science and/or reason to pressing contemporary ethical dilemmas and social/ political problems (e.g. stem-cell research)
(3) The question of what is, and what is not, good science(e.g. is cold fusion or magnet therapy good science?)

For more information on speakers please see links below,
Chris French http://www.gold.ac.uk/psychology/staff/french/
Hayley Stevens http://hayleyisaghost.co.uk
Paul Zenon http://www.paulzenon.com
Richard Wiseman http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com
Ian Rowland http://www.ianrowland.com