Humanism - What is it?

The current support in the UK for a secular approach to society is evident. The demand for secular ceremonies (marriage, funerals, baby-naming) is increasing exponentially. However, membership of the British Humanist Association and allied organisations is tiny and almost static - their formal influence on social policy is significant but small. Humanism is fighting below its weight.

Currently many (most?) people in the UK would claim to be 'non-religious'. In a recent BBC poll 73% of respondents said they did not believe in God (YouGov Poll October 2004). In a poll of 16-year-olds, asked the question 'Do you believe in God?' 35% said yes; 45% said no; 20% said don't know (Guardian, 27th November 2004). According to Young People in Britain, a 2004 research report for the DfES, some 65% of young people are 'not religious'. Further statistics and references can be found on www.humanism.org.uk.

However we might judge these results it is clear that a large, and often unrecognised, proportion of people in the UK no longer describe themselves as 'religious' - and some would identify themselves as 'humanists'.

While few self-acclaimed 'humanists' would be able to give a definitive description of what their humanism is, as commonly held, three broad overlapping categories of the humanist position might be identified. They are generally grouped around ideas of humanitarianism.

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