About Humanism

Humanists are atheists and agnostics who believe we can live meaningful, moral and decent lives without superstitious or religious beliefs. Humanism can be described, in a nutshell, as “Good without God(s)” (British Humanist Association).

How can we be good without religious guidance?

Humanists think that this life and this world is all we have and that, like everything else that exists in the natural world, we too are the product of natural processes. We find our motivation to behave well within our human nature. We need the love and respect of others to survive as a community.

How do we make decisions?

There are no supernatural powers or sacred texts to guide us, so we have to think for ourselves; make our own rules and take responsibility for our own lives and actions, and for the world we live in. We assert that ethical decisions should be based on reason, experience and compassion.

How do we find inspiration in life?

We feel awed by the beauty in nature and the wonders of the universe. We are inspired by the arts and revelations from the sciences. We are touched by love, friendship and the joy that human interaction can bring.

We couldn’t have put it better ourselves…

“I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings. I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels.” Pearl S. Buck

“If you are a humanist, that means you care about other human beings, and everything you do affects other human beings, so you have to think about that…” Claire Rayner

“I have known many good people who did not believe in God. But I have never known a human being who was good who did not believe in people.“John Lovejoy Elliott

Find out more

To find out more about Humanism visit the BHA website or come along to one of our events and ask us in person!