Welcome!

Welcome to the first post on our new Understanding Humanism articles page!

At Understanding Humanism our aim is to help more people explore and understand what it means to have a humanist approach to life. We believe it’s vital that non-religious people recognise that there are thoughtful and meaningful ways to live without religion, and that rational and ethical answers exist to life’s big questions – answers that are part of a long, rich, and inspiring tradition of human thought. It’s also clear that, in today’s increasingly diverse society, everyone benefits from a deeper understanding of humanism. For religious individuals, such an understanding can open up more constructive, respectful conversations with the non-religious, challenge misconceptions, and highlight both shared values and genuine differences.

Understanding Humanism has long supported teachers and educators in their work. Our free resources are downloaded tens of thousands of times every year; our school speakers spoke to nearly 80,000 young people in 2024; and we train hundreds of teachers every year on best practice for teaching about humanism as part of an inclusive education about religion and worldviews. We hope the stories and reflections shared here will enrich teachers’ subject knowledge and provide practical ideas for teaching about humanism in the classroom. However, they are not just for teachers. Anyone curious to learn more about humanism will also find plenty to sate their appetite.

This space will be used to share thoughts and comments on what it means to have a humanist approach to life, and the place of humanism within an education about religion and worldviews. We’ll examine contemporary ethical issues through a humanist lens and delve back into the history of humanist thought and action. We’ll flag up our favourite resources and stories for teaching about humanism and suggest new ideas to bring humanism to life in the classroom. We’ll address common misconceptions about being non-religious and explore where humanism sits within the wider landscape of worldviews.

We’ve already published our second article on how to teach about humanism in a positive and memorable manner – why not take a look?

As supporters of freedom of religion or belief, we believe that good conversation is an essential component of a flourishing society. It’s also one of life’s great joys. We hope the ideas and stories shared here spark curiosity, inspire reflection, and encourage discussion in the classroom and beyond.