From the Moon’s view of Earth to conflict below, this issue reflects on humanism’s call for reason, empathy, and resilience. Exploring radical optimism, ethical living, and thoughtful dialogue, it offers a calm alternative to today’s outrage-driven discourse—encouraging balance, reflection, and hope in a complex, turbulent world for us all today.

By David Brittain David is the Founding Editor of Humanistically Speaking. Following our successful trip three years ago to view the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (the European particle physics laboratory near Geneva), we are planning another trip during August or September this year. The 3-day trip is expected to cost somewhere around £500 – £550, including flights and two overnight stays at a hotel in Geneva. If you are interested in enjoying a conducted tour of the site w

By Miuizerkia Dive Dive is an upper sixth scholarship student at Isaac Newton High School, Uganda. He would like to be a journalist. In this article, Dive recounts a childhood marked by uncertainty and interrupted schooling. Through determination and hard work, he went on to earn a life-changing scholarship. Supported by his mother’s sacrifices and the generosity of humanist organisations, his story is a powerful reminder of resilience, opportunity, and the transformative pow

Leo Igwe at the World Humanist Congress in Copenhagen, August 2023. Photo by David Warden. By Dr Leo Igwe In this compelling article, Leo Igwe argues that the global humanist movement faces a fundamental challenge: the absence of structured leadership training. Drawing on decades of experience in Africa and beyond, he highlights how this gap has limited humanism’s growth – particularly in the Global South – and contrasts it with the rigorous formation found in religious tradi

By Dr George Locke What does it mean to be optimistic in an uncertain world? Drawing on thinkers from Boethius to Rosling, Camus and Frankl, this article explores ‘radical optimism’ – a way of acting responsibly and constructively without relying on reassurance or certainty. George is a member of our editorial team and she volunteers with Faith to Faithless, a Humanists UK programme supporting those leaving high-control religions. She facilitates peer support groups, contribu

Humanists seek to ‘be happy’ but recognise this isn’t always possible amid life’s suffering. Emotional resilience enables us to face adversity, adapt, and recover from life’s crises without lasting harm. Rather than avoiding difficulty, resilience involves learning from our experiences, and from other people. By balancing emotion and reason, emotional resilience helps us to pursue a meaningful and connected life.

By Sophy Robinson In this article, Sophy examines the challenge of finding truth in an increasingly fragmented and contested information landscape. As traditional sources of authority weaken and new voices proliferate, she explores how individuals can navigate competing narratives and avoid both naïve trust and corrosive cynicism. Her conclusion points towards a more humanist approach to knowledge: one grounded in curiosity, critical thinking, and an acceptance of uncertainty

By Maggie Hall Maggie is a retired teacher of speech and drama, a former Chair of Brighton Humanists, a member of the Humanists UK Dialogue Network, and a Humanists UK School Speaker. In this article she considers the delights and difficulties of trying to live ethically. Humanists believe that this is the one life that we know we have and therefore we need to make the very best of it, both for ourselves and others. The same applies to our planet. We know there is no Planet B

By David Falls In a world of constant updates, notifications, and rapid technological change, it is easy to feel mentally unsettled. David Falls explores how humanist thinking can help us step back from the noise, set boundaries around our attention, and cultivate a steadier, more reflective way of engaging with the world. David lives in Queen Creek, Arizona, and he is the author of God’s AI Reckoning: The Final Revelation (2025) and the forthcoming The Great Silence: What Re