Events

 We have a break in our programme at Yuletide, Easter and in the summer holiday period. The new programmes commence in January, April and September.

George Locke This engaging talk will explore how early Christian communities understood and navigated issues of sex, gender roles, and identity. Our speaker sheds light on the theological, cultural, and social influences that shaped early Christian views and practices.    All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

The Society's annual general meeting is only open to members.

Vandana Aparanti This talk explores how religious beliefs and institutions can both perpetuate and help prevent abuse. It will show the importance of engaging with faith communities to challenge harmful practices, uphold human rights, and promote gender equality. Vandana was born in Mumbai (India) in 1961. She trained as a dentist there, and met her husband, Sanjay, whilst at university. Both Vandana and Sanjay come from an Oppressed Caste background, from a community often known as Dalits. Vandana rejects this term. Now in the UK, Vandana has dedicated her life to supporting women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence. She worked in domestic abuse services at Harrow Council for Racial Equality and the Asian Wom...

Martin Pantling & Suzi Felsted The talk will cover who magistrates are, what they do and how they sentence guilty defendants. It will include some history and how criminal justice is changing. There may also be a scenario of a mock trial if the audience is prepared to participate.    All welcome - admission free. Tea & biscuits. Donations welcome - £5 suggested to cover speaker and other costs. Image generated by Gemini AI.

Sunday 26th October 6.30pm Unholy Alliance: Religion and Patriarchy Rahila Gupta Rahila Gupta argues that religious shackles prevent the liberation of women, in particular in Russia, El Salvador and Saudi Arabia. Rahila Gupta is a freelance journalist, author and activist. She is Chair of Southall Black Sisters , a group which has campaigned and advocated for black and minoritised women escaping violence.  Her books include:   From Homebreakers to Jailbreakers : Southall Black Sisters in 2003  - a collection of essays she edited; Provoked - the story of a battered woman who killed her violent husband. She co- wrote this with Kiranjit Ahluwalia and the screenplay of the film which was released in 2007;  Enslaved: The New British Slavery - on immigration controls, was published in 2007. Planet Patriarchy - co-written with Beatrix Campbell, argues that religious shackles p...

Directed by Somnath Waghmare   An American Fulbright scholar from Minneapolis – Gail Omvedt – arrived in India in the 1970s. Shocked by its caste system, she dedicated her life to the struggles of Dalits. Alongside her partner, the brilliant anti-caste activist Bharat Patankar, she forged a lifelong fight for justice in Kasegav, Maharashtra.    This intimate new film explores their shared journey and Gail’s impactful final years in rural India.    Join us for a special screening followed by an in-person discussion with the director, Somnath Waghmare,  who was born to a rural Dalit-Buddhist family in Malewadi, Western Maharashtra, India. His mother worked as an agricultu...