Course: Humanist Lives, with Alice Roberts

Themes Humanists believe we should have the freedom to choose how we mark special moments in our lives in ways that feel right for us Humanists will often speak about …

The beginning In 1736, the Protestant Church of Denmark-Norway made confirmation mandatory for all youths, with their rights as adult citizens dependent upon them being confirmed. Although confirmation was no …

‘Death destroys a man, but the idea of death saves him.’ E M Forster, author and humanist Themes The collaborative nature of our species and our capacity to share ideas …

Themes Humanists do not believe in an afterlife – they believe there can be value in accepting our mortality Humanists believe the telling and sharing of stories about a person’s …

Themes Humanists acknowledge the importance of other people and the need for their support in our lives The influence of other people is an important ingredient of who we are …

In this article, humanist celebrant Zena Birch describes the value of including personal vows during a humanist wedding. Humanist wedding ceremonies focus on a personalisation of content. Humanist celebrants work …

Themes Humanists believe that we should not be obliged to follow tradition when marking important events in our lives – we should have the freedom to mark these moments creatively …

Themes Humanists believe we can celebrate new life as we recognise the potential contained in it Humanists believe we should make the most of the one life we have and …

Themes Under this and the other videos this week, we’ll draw out certain themes that reflect a humanist approach to life. Share your thoughts on these and any others you …

In this article, humanist celebrant Rupert Morris describes the need for stories in our lives. Everybody loves stories. They connect us, they reveal us, and they bind us. ‘What’s the …

Humanist ceremonies are available in many different countries around the world. Most typically these are naming ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. Humanists UK have been carrying out non-religious ceremonies since 1896, …

Why ritual? The need for ritual is innate. It is born of a deep need to articulate times of profound experience and transition, and is an essential part of what …

This week we’ll learn about the importance to humanists of being able to tell a story about our life. That story may not always be exciting, glamorous, or heroic, but …

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 …

Below is some information on how to navigate your way around the course and advice on how to make the most of the experience. Navigation and progress At the top …