Blog

Dear Humanists International,
 
Can you please use your influence to urge the UN to prohibit war criminal and genocidal racist Itamar Ben-Gvir from attending the international police conference at the...

Edinburgh at night. Photo by Roan Lavery on Unsplash
 
Humanism is the only non-religious life stance which offers a written moral and ethical code. The Amsterdam Declaration contains several decrees,...

EDINBURGH, FLY THE FLAG!...

 

 
The Message
A powerful new book by renowned American author Ta-Nehisi Coates

Some context from me:
Narrative unlocks the vaults of darkness. Months, years, decades and centuries of narrative have created everything we see....

"Journalists must be activists for the truth"

Julian Assange 1st October 2024
Julian's testimony
(Clip begins at 1hr 21 with question leading to above quote.)


Video description:

Julian Assange, accompanied by his wife Stella,...

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING
If you are looking to get legally married in Scotland, the first question you should ask any celebrant is:
"Are you legally authorised...

The HinS team, together in Glasgow, December 2023

2024 was a special year for Humanism in Scotland...
WE WERE TEN YEARS OLD!!!
We are proud to promote Humanism as active Humanists and Celebrants throughout...

 
 

Original photo by Leo on Unsplash
 
Why is there such an inevitability about war? 
Why is war seen as a solution and why do we treat it as though it’s normal, like...

How can we learn to live with the hard fact of death? Some may find strength in religious faith, but growing numbers of us are not religious. When grieving...

Photo by Mihriban, pexels.com
 
The leaders of Israel have waited for this moment: to press the button on the total annihilation of Gaza. Cheered on by their crazed American and...

the following are listed & answered here :
Find a Celebrant . .
How do we find a Celebrant ?  
Referral/recommendation by friends/others is ideal. Your wedding venue might offer named options...

 
the following are listed & answered here :
Will we be legal ?
How do we register our marriage in Scotland ?
Your chosen Celebrant will issue a joint agreement document which...

the following are listed & answered here :
We're really worried . .
We are really worried about speaking in public
There is no compulsion for you to say anything at your wedding....

the following are listed & answered here :
We're not humanists . .
We’re not humanists - Can we have a humanist wedding ? Yes you can. Your choosing a humanist approach...

the following are listed & answered here :
Outdoors or in . . ?
We’d like to get married outdoors. Is this ok ?
Yes it is.  ‘Al fresco’ weddings – whether in...

photo supplied by Dr Yasser Khan
There is only one functional hospital remaining in the Gaza strip, the European Hospital in Khan Younis. Dr. Yasser Khan, a Canadian ophthalmologist and...

Justin Podur writes a fabulous article about the many origins of human knowledge. It is almost laughable how 'The West' has claimed to be the font of all knowledge when...

Scotland's people need to recognise and appreciate our diverse multiple identities...

Couples are beginning to realise, when it comes to their wedding, size really doesn't matter....

 

 
Aaron's words were added to his original photo by Stephen McLaren
 
There is shock going around the Western world following the self-sacrifice of Aaron Bushnell outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C.
To...

"Evil (ignorance) is like a shadow. It has no real substance of its own, it is simply a lack of light. You cannot cause a shadow to disappear by trying...

photo by Brett Jordan - pexels.com
 
Relish the Gaps by Caitlin Johnstone
 
“Relish the gaps,” said the old woman at the nursing home, grabbing at my hand as I walked past.
“I’m...

photo credits: wikileaks twitter update
 
Waking up to the news that Julian Assange was released on bail and was making his way to a remote Pacific island prior to a closing...

Photo by Ahmed Akacha - Pexels.com
LETTER FROM THE REFUGEE COUNCIL 04-10-2023
Last week we wrote to you expressing our concern about the Home Secretary's claim that it should be made harder...

Sinéad O’Connor was a light that shone brighter and stronger than almost every other star in the sky.
Sinéad was a creative genius, unique in every way and it would be...

On the 29th of June 2023, The Court of Appeal in London ruled that Rwanda is not a safe country for people seeking asylum to have their claims processed. This...

The International Humanist & Ethical Union (IHEU) has the vision of a secular world...

The city of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat, showing the Scottish Parliament buildings on the right. Photo by Stephen McLaren
 
On 19th June 2023, to an invisible fanfare from the BBC in...

WHAT IS COSTILITY?
Here's an introduction from Tara, Refugee Action UK
The biggest cost of hostile policies is the damage done to people seeking safety, but the cost in terms of...

Congratulations to Natalie and Duncan!...

“White Noise”, is a so-called comedy-drama on Netflix TV. This disaster movie follows the events of a train derailment and explosion that poisons local people somewhere in America. Taken...

3 Quarks daily...

The Global Firepower ranking was published on January 6. The annual report classifies the world's strongest militaries based on over 60 factors, including size, spending and technological advancements....

You hear some sick terms being used in the media these days. We truly are in the grip of a terrifying propaganda pandemic. Have you heard of "Asylum Shoppers"? Apparently, families...

Americans continue to be rocked by gun violence.
When does it become recognised as a national emergency and when will they finally implement what would be a very simple solution?...

The worsening disaster in Ethiopia...

When I ask newly engaged couples if they have seen a humanist wedding before, almost everyone says yes - or at least one of the couple says yes. Since...

A MESSAGE FROM CODEPINK

 
Right now, members of the U.S. Congress are debating over how many bombs and fighter jets they can buy and how many hundreds of billions of...

Humanism is a belief system, based on empirical evidence, which offers a moral framework for a life free from superstition and the supernatural, whilst rejecting any notions of a life after death. Believing that a person has only one life, humanists try to make it as worthwhile and happy as possible for everyone....

C f E promotes 4 'Capacities' 1. Confident individuals; 2. Effective contributors; 3. Responsible citizens; 4. Successful learners....

how & why...

Are you still unsure about the actions of climate activists?...

Mantra...

USA must drop charges against Julian Assange Authorities in the USA must drop the espionage and all other charges against Julian Assange that relate to his publishing activities as part...

Is it all embracing?...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual Care...

Spiritual care...

Spiritual Care...

music which heals...

The UK government plan to unilaterally increase it's stockpile of nuclear warheads by 40%....

The inhumane within!...

Is religion holding us back ?...

Enhancement of the biological garage ?
When Donald Dewar(1st Minister Scotland), ably assisted by Susan Deacon as health minister, initiated the root and branch review of the NHS Scotland 2003,...

Morality continued...

A new approach from illness to wellness...

IHEU and secularism...

What is Social Prescribing (SP)?...

The world's peoples should...

'OCH' at the Scottish Parliament
“My thanks to the Presiding Officer, Willie Rennie and members for the opportunity to present ‘Time For  Reflection’ today”   (31/1/17 Ron McLaren)
 
 
My tribute is to...

Humanism . . . is a life stance aiming at the maximum possible fulfillment through the cultivation of ethical and creative living, offering an ethical and rational means of addressing the challenges of our times. Humanism can be a way of life for everyone everywhere. Our primary task is to make human beings aware in the simplest terms of what Humanism can mean to them and what it commits them to. By utilising free inquiry, the power of science and creative imagination for the furtherance of peace and in the service of compassion, we have confidence that we have the means to solve the problems that confront us all. We call upon all who share this conviction to associate themselves with us in this endeavour....

Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies...

Rights & Responsibilities...

The truth...

4.6 Billion Years...

The Charter is a declaration of the ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century and has ecological integrity as a major theme...

population related...

From a distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it is different and special.If you will, consider that dot. That dot is here. That dot is home. That dot is us. Everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was or is, both lived and live out their lives on that dot....

Death with Dignity...

Humanism the big picture . ....

Love heals...

Photo by Lucas Pezeta - pexels.com
Carl Sagan is one of the most visionary astrophysicists of all time.
From a distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. 
But...

 
An illustrated guide to Humanism:
Good without God
 
 
Photo by Liane Metzler on Unsplash
 
humanists.international
 

The 8 Rules of Love - How to Find it, Keep it, And Let it Go
Jay Shetty, published 2023
https://jayshetty.me/blog/jay-shetty-on-8-rules-of-love/
 
The subtitle of The 8 Rules of Love
 
Find It 
How to Find it,...

An introduction to 99% - an organisation trying to tackle the vast inequalities in modern society....

Photo by Orkhan Farmanli on Unsplash
 
Freedom from religion, freedom to believe
According to estimates, there are over 4,000 religions, faith groups and denominations that exist around the world. Taking into account certain...

A brief history of a timeless image....

Congratulations on your wedding plans!!
You now have lots to think about but don't worry, you are not alone. Our team of wise and wonderful celebrants are here to help!

 
FREQUENTLY ASKED...

Celebrants at HinS...