This issue explores where humanism stands and where it might go next. The views clashing whilst grappling with relevance, action, belief, and belonging. How can humanism reach the growing number of “nones” and prevent a drift back to religion by disillusioned secular thinkers? Does it matter? The message is clear humanism needs to listens and fulfil real human needs if it is to survive.

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

By David Warden In this article, David makes the humanist case for ‘moderate progressivism’, tracing its roots in early US reform movements and examining its modern, more radical and contested forms. In an age marked by polarisation, moral certainty, and rising social anxiety, he argues for a more balanced and reflective approach – one that resists ideological excess, fosters genuine dialogue, and draws on humanist commitments to open-mindedness and intellectual humility. The

By Jeremy Rodell In this article, Jeremy considers how humanists might respond to the emotional challenges of living in a turbulent and uncertain world. While acknowledging the absence of traditional religious comforts, he explores the role of what might be called a naturalistic ‘spirituality’ in sustaining wellbeing. Drawing on thinkers such as the Dalai Lama, Sam Harris and André Comte-Sponville, he reflects on both the inner life of compassion and connection, and the possi

By Henri Ruff Modern life is shaped by an assumption that more is always better – more growth, more achievement, more consumption. But what if this relentless striving is part of the problem rather than the solution? Henri Ruff makes the case for ‘enoughness’ as a way of restoring balance, both in our personal lives and in the wider economy. Henri is a retired economist. The Age of Relentless Striving Turbulence is a familiar metaphor for the age we live in – borrowed from ph

Has there really been a ‘Quiet Revival’ of religious belief? On 1 February, annoyingly a day too late to make our February issue, the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme featured a discussion about the so-called ‘Quiet Revival’ of religious belief among younger people and whether this is really supported by recent research. The controversy is discussed by Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and Linda Woodhead, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College

By David Brittain As well-funded religious advocacy groups extend their influence in the UK, David Brittain raises concerns about the place of religion in public life and the relative invisibility of humanism. In response, he proposes a new and ambitious initiative to strengthen the humanist voice through radio. David is the Founding Editor of Humanistically Speaking We know that the majority of people in the UK are quite content to live moral and fulfilling lives without the

By Dr Mike Flood Mike is Chair of Milton Keynes Humanists and Humanism for the Common Good. He is writing here in a personal capacity and he would very much welcome readers’ thoughts on the various ideas proposed in this piece. In a ground-breaking 1942 report, William Beveridge, the distinguished politician and social reformer, proposed widespread reforms to the system of social welfare in the UK. He identified five ‘evil giants’ that he saw as impediments to reconstruction

By Leo Russell In this article, Leo challenges the growing mood of technological pessimism, arguing that humanism should reclaim its historic optimism about progress, reason and human potential. From breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and medicine to the wider benefits of scientific innovation, he makes the case for a more confident and forward-looking humanism – one that celebrates human ingenuity while remaining grounded in ethical responsibility. In an age often domi

By Chris Highland What can a revolutionary thinker from the 18th century offer us today? Reflecting on the enduring power of Thomas Paine’s ideas, Chris Highland explores the importance of independent thought, expansive perspective and critical inquiry in responding to the political and religious tensions of our time. Chris is a teacher, writer and humanist celebrant living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born journalist

By Kate Domaille In a world shaped by unsettling events and difficult stories, how we interpret what we see and hear matters. Drawing on literature, film, and her work as a celebrant, Kate Domaille reflects on the importance of empathy, perspective, and the search for humanity even in the darkest narratives. Kate teaches literature and cinema and she is an accredited celebrant with Humanists UK. In Albert Camus’ famous novella The Outsider, the main character, Meursault, a

By Owen Morton Owen lives in Sutton, a coastal suburb in North Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Author's introduction Ulster/Northern Ireland humanism holds a special fascination for me, given the Province’s pervasive fundamentalism. Even ‘implied humanism’ is a joy to observe. Such a person, it appears, was the Ulster-born engineer and tractor pioneer Harry Ferguson. My article recalls a little-known letter Ferguson wrote during a transatlantic voyage in 1921. While he did not i

By Tod Lundy In this thoughtful and gently humorous article, Tod Lundy reflects on the simple act of picking blackberries and discovers a series of life lessons hidden among the brambles. From attention and perspective to restraint, risk and opportunity, his stream-of-consciousness musings reveal how everyday experiences can offer unexpected insights into how we live, think, and relate to others. This is the third in a series of personal reflections from Tod, using stories an