Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change

"Peace is more than just the absence of war. Peace requires respect for the worth and dignity of our fellow human beings, tolerance among individuals, and harmony within each person."  Humanist International's Oslo Declaration on PeaceThis week, AJ and Mark tackle Humanist perspectives on global conflicts  such as the current Israel-Palestine crisis and the role of religion in exacerbating or potentially resolving this deep-seated conflict. Our interview with journalist Scott Jacobson, whose boots on the ground in Ukraine bring a raw, provided an evidence-based angle to our discourse and demonstrates the critical role of informed journalism in shaping societal discourse. Join us on this exploration, amplify the conversation, and help shape a more humane approach to the global stage.Episode References:HUK: Statement on the Middle EastHumanist International Statement on Russian Invasion of UkraineAbout Scott Douglas Jacobsen:🔗In-Sight Publishing Ⓜ️Follow Scott on Medium📖Interview Series at Good Men Project 📧 scott.douglas.jacobsen@gmail.comScott's references:Monty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlModel UNtiktok: Scott Jacobsen in Mykolaiv, Ukraine via @remuscerneaofficialUnited States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)  Abdul Waheed & Mubarak BalaSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

Join us as we review the 2023 year in Humanism and preview the events for 2024 with our regular panellists, Mark, Nicole & Katia.Together with host James, they discuss; insights from 2023 meetups and conventions, inspiring personal experiences, a varied events calendar and the important role of humanist voices in 2024's major democratic elections. Finally we pay a special thanks to our Producer Rob, who is moving on to bigger things in 2024!This week's panel only discussion is themed around the values of hope, wonder and collaborative achievement - thank you for joining us the debut year of Humanism Now.Episode References:Video playlist: talks from Humanists UK 2023 ConventionLeicester Humanists Launch EventHumanistically Speaking: A memorable humanist trip to the Large Hadron ColliderUnderstating Humanism Wonder: A Humanist PerspectiveHUK ‘Democracy is a humanist value’, affirms 2023 World Humanist CongressThe Guardian 40 elections that will shape global politics in 2024HUK Bishops in the House of Lords CampaignHUK Assisted Dying CampaignSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

"I know so many people whose lives got better when they learned how to use a crock pot and make a decent chili"Welcome back to Humanism Now. This week we are delighted to share an extended interview with Bart Campolo, host of the inspirational podcast, Humanize Me! After decades as a Christian evangelist, Bart embraced humanism and now uses his platform to advocate for a more compassionate, curious and connected society. Together, we dissect the intricacies of growing a humanist community in a digital era, the place of AI in our emotional lives, and the transformative power of authentic, in-person connections.AJ also joins the panel to share his reflections on 2023 and some exciting news for 2024!About Bart Campolo:🏠 bartcampolo.org/about🎙️ Humanize Me! Podcast📷 @humanizemepodcast🐦 @bartcampoloSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

"When we're upholding secularism, we're making sure that that is freedom of religion or belief for all, and not just for the non-religious to be safe" - Emma Wadsworth-JonesOn this week's Humanism Now we are delighted to be joined by Emma Wadsworth-Jones, Casework & Campaigns Manager Of Humanists International and principle editor of the Freedom of Thought Report. The FOTR assesses every country in the world on the basis of human rights and the legal status with regard to humanists, atheists, and the non-religious. Emma shares the key findings for 2023, reasons why protecting freethought matters and positive examples of promoting secularism globally.In addition, Lola & Nicole join the panel this week to discuss the further proposed changes to UK visa requirements and it's impact on families and whether the UK is a secular country.  Plus we share our favourite xmas songs for your playlist! Episode references:BBC: Changes to UK visa requirements: Key points at-a-glanceHumanists International: Freedom of Thought ReportHumanists UK: Secularism in the UKAbout Emma Wadsworth Jones🔗 Humanists International - People📧 Contact HI🐦 @humanistsint#️⃣ #FOTR2023Emma's references:HI: Freedom of thought ReportBlog: How the Freedom of Thought Report helps protect humanists at riskHI: How to get involved and supportUpcoming events:CLH AGM 2024 with Madeleine Goodall, Humanist Heritage, 17 Jan 2024Association of Black Humanists Events & Study GroupSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

"Conscious morality cannot exist in any being except so far as it can look behind, before, and around; and can remember, compare, and reason about right and wrong so as to choose for itself, and for those it can influence, a given course." - Zona VallanceWhat does it mean to be a humanist in the modern world? Join James, Mark and new contributor Katia as we test the definition of humanism and assess how the term has evolved and what additions we'd like to see to reflect changing societal needs. Plus our interview with the brilliant Maddy Goodall, co-ordinator of the Humanist Heritage project, which documents and preserves more than 125 years of rich humanist history.Episode references:Life and Fate - Vasily GrossmanThe Social Instinct, What Nature Can Teach Us About Working Together - Nichola RaihaniHumanism Now Episode 4 with Jamie Woodhouse on SentientismRené DescartesPeter ThatchellAbout Maddy Goodall🔗 Heritage humanists📧 heritage@humanists.uk 🐦 @maddyogoodallMaddy's references:Zona Vallance (1860-1904)Lillie Boileau (1869-1930)Nellie Freeman (1863-1943)May Seaton-Tiedeman (1862-1948)The Humanist Movement in Modern Britain,  Callum Brown, David Nash, Charlie LynchUpcoming events:CLH Xmas Party: Comedy Night for MacMillan Cancer Support, 13 Dec 2023CLH Discussions:Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.”― George Bernard ShawThis week on Humanism Now, Nicole and AJ join James to discuss the relationship between comedy, freethought and humanism. We discuss the role of comedy in challenging authority and changing social norms,  our personal comedy heroes and what should be off-limits to joke about? Plus we're fortunate to present our interview with the incredibly talented London-based comedian, Lisa May. Lisa shares her personal transformation from entrepreneur to comedian and how curiosity, discomfort and connection, have shaped her outlook on life and laughter. See Lisa May live alongside more top London standups at CLH's Xmas Party Comedy Night on 13 Dec 2023 - in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. Episode References:George Carlin - The Ten CommandmentsEddie Izzard - GloriousLife Of Brian 1979 DebateComedians in cars getting coffeeAbout Lisa May:🔗 Lisa's Homepage🎤 Standup Lols📷 @standuplisamay🐦 @standuplisamayLisa's references:Kintsugi - Japanese art of repairJung and the value of humourThe best of Mitch Hedberg“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.”  -  Groucho MarxSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

Welcome to Humanism Now. This week James is joined by  Mark from Central London Humanists and Nicole of Leicester & Young Humanists to tackle more common misconceptions about humanism. The panel counter some of the frequent critiques of a humanist worldview; from misleading definitions of Humanism (by prominent thinkers!) to misperceptions of how humanists view religious people and whether we all politically aligned. In an enlightening conversation, Lucy Potter, a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, shares insights from her research project aimed to improve the handling of non-religious asylum claims in the UK. Lucy's expertise in asylum claims provides a unique perspective on the trials faced by non-religious individuals seeking refuge. We discuss the challenges of credibility assessments that often hinder these asylum seekers and potential solutions.Our mailbag question asked for the best jokes about Humanists and we passed this request back out to our audience! Send in your answers to  humanise.live@gmail.com About Lucy Potter🔗 Lucy's Research Homepage🐦 @LucyPott_📧 lpotter2@sheffield.ac.ukEpisode References:Yuval Noah Harari and ‘humanism’, Humanists UKHumanists in Parliament, Humanists UKPakistani humanist denied UK asylum after failing to identify Plato, The GuardianUpcoming Events:CLH Online Talk: Social Challenges & Self Care Following Apostasy, 29 Nov 23CLH Xmas Party: Comedy Night for MacMillan Cancer Support, 13 Dec 2023Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

This week on Humanism Now as we welcome Lola Tinubu, Co-Founder of the Association of Black Humanists and  Nicole Shasha, Founder of Leicester Humanists to discuss their experiences creating and cultivating secular communities and challenging misconceptions. We also discuss the implications of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's recent article Why I am Now a Christian, the critiques of atheism contained within and Hirsi Ali's  impact, influence and legacy for global Humanists and freethinkers.In our guest interview, Martin Di Maggio explains Humanistic Judaism, from its intellectual routes to current practices and differences with other denominations of both Judaism and Humanism.  Finally, we answer this week's mailbag question; What are the taboos associated with being a humanist?  Episode References:Why I am Now a Christian, Ayaan Hirsi AliWhy I Am Not a Christian - A response to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Michael ShermerAbout Martin Di Maggio:🔗 The Spinoza Havurah📷 @spinoza_havurahMartin's References:shj.orgJudaism beyond God by Sherwin Wine Humanistic Havdalah by Martin HasanKiddush: Humanist Liturgy by MacharUpcoming Events:ABH Discussion Group, 21 Nov 2023ABH: Ayan Hirsi Ali: Muslim to Atheist to Christian, 25 Nov 2023CLH Online Talk: Social Challenges & Self Care Following Apostasy, 29 Nov 23CLH Xmas Party: Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

This week on Humanism now, Audrey & Mark join the panel to discuss taking a humanistic approach to issues around Free Speech and free expression, drawing on recent international news items. Our guest this week is Terri O'Sullivan from Faith to Faithless. Terri shares her deeply personal journey to humanism and her role as Apostate Services Development Officer, at FTF (part of Humanists UK).  She also provides detailed advice for those seeking support when leaving high-control groups or experiencing religious trauma.Finally our mailbag question this week asks if Humanism aligns with and support other social change movements, such as Feminism and Black Lives Matter.Episode references:BBC: Sweden's Quran burnings put freedom of expression law to testAmnesty International: The Importance of Freedom of ExpressionUN: Definition of Hate SpeechContact Terri O'Sullivan:🔗 Faith to Faithless🐦 @Terri_OSullivan📘 @FaithtoFaithlessTerri's references;Religious Trauma Syndrome by Marlene Winell Support Asylum Research:University of Sheffield are conducting research on how UK asylum claims are handled on the grounds of non-religiosity. If you have faced fear of persecution and have gone through the asylum system, please contact Lucy Potter.  More info.Upcoming CLH Events:Pub After HUK Voltaire Lecture 14 Nov 2023Trans Day of Remembrance, 20 Nov 2023ABH Discussion Group, 21 Nov 2023Send us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.

On this episode of Humanism Now, we're exploring the inspiring world of young humanists. Our co-host AJ and new panellist Nicole, fellow coordinators of Young Humanist UK share what campaigns and activities motivate Humanists in the 18-35 age range. Nicole also shares her experience of starting a new humanist group in Leicester and the joys of bringing humanist values to life through meaningful Humanists Ceremonies.AJ & Nicole share how they became engaged with Humanism and offer advice for anyone looking to set up a new group or attract more young members. In discussing events and campaign that encourage greater engagement, we explore the alignment of humanism with climate and social justice activism.In this week's guest interview ,  Javan Lev Poblador, International Coordinator for the Young Humanists International Group, provides insights in to the Global Young Humanist movement, describes the state of humanism in the Philippines and highlights some of the lesser known human impacts of the growing climate crisis. Finally, in our mailbag section we discuss what events and campaign topics appeal most you Young Humanists.Episode references:Leicester Humanists Launch Event, with Andrew Copson,  8 Nov 2023Young Humanists UKYoung Humanists InternationalHUK: Setting up a local groupAbout Javan Lev Poblador:Young Humanists International YHI on Facebook, Twitter, and InstagramSend us Fan MailSupport the showSupport Humanism Now & Join Our Community!Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSkyHumanism Now is produced by Humanise Live a podcast production agency based in London, serving charities, companies, and individuals across the globe.Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or hello@humanise.liveMusic: Blossom by Light PrismPodcast transcripts are AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. They are provided to make our content more accessible, but should not be considered a fully accurate record of the conversation.