Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds We live in an increasingly pluralistic world. We are surrounded by a diversity of beliefs. Today, an increasing number of people are not religious. Many believe that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side. They believe that this is the one life we have. And they want to lead ethical, meaningful, and fulfilling lives. People like humanists. Humanism is a way of realising that if we only have one life, if we’re only here once, that actually that leads to a lot of inspiring answers about how we should behave and how we should spend our time. For me, humanism is sort of… atheism plus?
Skip to 0 minutes and 47 seconds I think for me, humanism is a worldview whereby you’re sceptical, rational, and you try to incorporate moral thinking into everything you do. I’m Sandi Toksvig. I’m a humanist, and I’m a patron of Humanists UK. I’m fascinated by life’s big questions.
Skip to 1 minute and 7 seconds Questions like: ‘How should I live?’, ‘How can I know what is true?’, ‘How should I treat others?’, and ‘What kind of world do I want?’ I think it’s vital everyone gets the opportunity to explore different approaches to these questions, but also that we have the freedom to decide on the answers for ourselves. Everyone’s going to have a different answer to the question “what makes a good life?”
Skip to 1 minute and 32 seconds I think it’s really freeing - because I think you don’t have to follow what any authority tells you- you can work things out for yourself, you can take responsibility for the views that you have - - and I think that freedom of thinking, that sort of free-thinking, I really like that, and I think that’s part and parcel of humanism. There is widespread misunderstanding about what it means to be a humanist, or to live a life without religion. During this course, we’ll provide you with a deeper understanding of the humanist approach to life and of how humanists answer life’s big questions.
Skip to 2 minutes and 4 seconds We’ll explore the tensions and dilemmas contained within a humanist view, as well as the arguments against it, and the responses humanists give to those arguments. You’ll find contributions from academics, humanist campaigners, celebrants, pastoral carers, and members of the public to help widen your awareness of what it means to be one of the millions of humanists living in the UK and around the world today. You have to care about the world, and the people in it - you have to be excited by it! You have to want to contribute. It’s a way for me to express what I am rather than what I’m not, its a promotion of equality and celebrating diversity, and celebrating all the richness of life, really.
Skip to 2 minutes and 48 seconds I mean, I think, as human beings, we have everything within ourselves and amongst each other, to really make something beautiful out of life. It should also allow you the opportunity to reflect on life’s bigger questions for yourself. ‘Introducing humanism: non-religious approaches to life’. Join us for a conversation about the best way to live.
