From humanists.uk
0 0
It’s official: England and Wales are among the least religious countries in the world, according to 2021 Census data. The data published by the Office of National Statistics shows the number of people identifying with ‘No religion’ jumped by over 8 million, from 25% to 37% between 2011 and 2021....
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Latest research shows overwhelming support for assisted dying
0 0
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has today published research exploring public views on assisted dying. The survey shows that 70% of people support a change in the law, rising to 75% among disabled people. Humanists UK welcomes this new study, which adds to the growing call for politicians to...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Cross-party amendments debated to remove bishops from the Lords
0 0
Today in the Commons MPs from multiple parties criticised the automatic right of bishops to sit in the House of Lords. They made their views clear as part of a debate on the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, with amendments being proposed to remove the 26 reserved places for Church of...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Government confirms VAT will be applied to private faith schools
0 0
The UK Government has confirmed that VAT will be applied to private faith schools across the UK as part of its plans to remove VAT exemption for private schools. Humanists UK, who wrote to the Chancellor of Exchequer urging her not to apply any faith-based carve-outs to the VAT policy, has...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Most CofE priests back reform to bishops in the Lords
0 0
The Times has conducted the first major survey of Anglican priests since 2014 and this has revealed most want change to the systems of establishment and bishops in the House of Lords. Humanists UK welcomes the findings and urges that our constitutional setup is reformed so that the state affords...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Peers call for the removal of bishops from the Lords
0 0
Yesterday peers from across the House of Lords called for the removal of the bishops in a debate on Lords reform. The debate, put forward by the Government, covered all forms of reform, but it became clear that for many in the chamber the removal of bishops is a high priority. Currently 26...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Huge generational surge in the non-religious – latest British Social Attitudes Survey
0 0
The latest British Social Attitudes Survey has shown that the share of the population belonging to no religion has continued to grow, now standing at 53%, with 12% Anglicans, 7% Catholics, 18% other Christians, and 9% all other religions. More than that, it also shows that the share of...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
The UK Parliament automatically awards 26 seats in the House of Lords to bishops of the Church of England. These bishops are able to (and do) vote on legislation, make interventions, and lead prayers at the start of each day’s business. This is an extremely unusual and anti-democratic set-up,...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
The All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group is a cross-party group of Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of all the main parties, including members from the Crossbenches in the Lords. The Group has grown rapidly, from its first beginnings in the 1960s; in 1996 it had 47...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Historic vote on assisted dying – 29 November
0 0
Kim Leadbeater MP MBE, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, has announced that her Private Member’s Bill on Choice at the End of Life will have its Second Reading on Friday 29 November. This marks the first opportunity for MPs to debate and vote on an assisted dying bill since 2015. Ms Leadbeater...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
Why support a change in the law? Compassion: Our current laws are unsafe Hundreds of terminally ill people a year are dying through suicide, mercy killings, suicide pacts, doctors giving excess morphine, or by going to Switzerland. This is unregulated and unsafe. Every single Director of Public...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Assisted Dying Bill has its first reading
0 0
Kim Leadbeater MBE, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, has introduced her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the House of Commons, which means it has had its First Reading. The Bill will ‘allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Statement on scope of the Assisted Dying Bill
0 0
Some of the most courageous and determined campaigners we have ever met and worked with at Humanists UK have been incurably suffering people and their families, with conditions from multiple sclerosis, to Huntington’s, to locked-in syndrome, who are not terminally ill but are nonetheless...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Six reasons we need an assisted dying law
0 0
The latest stats show that most Scottish voters, like most across the UK, support assisted dying. Even though we see headlines like this consistently, all the time, from every polling organisation, it’s important that we keep sharing and talking about it when it happens. Because we are in the...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Legal recognition of humanist marriages
0 0
We have long campaigned for reform of marriage laws – in order to gain legal recognition for both humanist and same-sex marriage ceremonies. Humanist marriages are now legally recognised in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and Guernsey, as well as in neighbouring countries like the Republic...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Legally recognise humanist marriages immediately, say cross-party peers
0 0
Peers from the Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat parties, from the Crossbenches, and even a bishop spoke in favour of the immediate legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales in the House of Lords today. During oral questions, the cross-party peers pressed the...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
‘This really is a historic moment’, Humanists UK comments on Assisted Dying Bill first reading
0 0
Kim Leadbeater MBE, the Labour MP for Spen Valley, will formally introduce her Assisted Dying Bill to the House of Commons for its First Reading on Wednesday 16 October. This marks the first opportunity for MPs to debate and vote on an assisted dying bill since 2015. Andrew Copson, Chief...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Welsh Parliament to hold assisted dying debate
0 0
On Wednesday 23 October, there will be a Members’ Business debate and vote in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, on assisted dying for the terminally ill and incurably suffering – the first debate of its kind in a decade. Humanists UK welcomes the debate and calls for Members of the Senedd (MS) to vo
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
The assisted dying inquiry: Everything important that was said
0 0
As the assisted dying inquiry in Parliament comes to an end, Humanists UK Assisted Dying Campaigner Nathan Stillwell reviews what was said, what was learned, and what remaining issues the committee needs to address. Series: Assisted Dying Author: Nathan Stillwell Last week, the House of Commons’...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Children taught creationism and climate change denial in private faith schools
0 0
A new report from researchers at University College London (UCL) has highlighted that Christian fundamentalists are teaching pupils in British faith schools that creationism is a fact and that climate change is a myth. Humanists UK expressed alarm at the findings. The charity campaigned...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
One of our aims is to promote a humanist perspective on public policy issues. Many humanists have had a profound interest in education and so the school curriculum has naturally been an area of focus for us. In practice, we concentrate on aspects of the curriculum where the humanist voice is...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
In addition to the faith schools that make up a third of all state-funded schools in England and Wales, there are a significant number of religious schools in the private school sector as well. Indeed, the majority of private schools in England and Wales have a religious character of some kind....
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
Around a third of all state-funded schools in England and Wales are schools ‘with a religious character’ – the legal term for ‘faith schools’, as they are known in England and Wales, or denominational schools, as they are known in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This number has grown in recent...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
TAKE ACTION: are you a parent concerned about collective worship at your child’s school? Download our campaign pack to request inclusive assemblies instead of worship. Current law and government guidance discriminates in favour of religion in requiring daily acts of ‘collective worship’ in...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
0 0
Humanists UK has always been heavily involved in education, and in addition to our education policy work and our work in providing education resources, our education campaigns – from state-funded ‘faith’ schools to the school curriculum – are a major part of our campaigning work as a whole....
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Christian schools threaten to sue the UK Government over plan to add VAT to private school fees.
0 0
Three private Christian schools and a group of parents are to sue the UK Government over its plans to impose VAT on English private school fees, the Times reports, claiming that the plans are a breach of the parents’ human rights. Lawyers have written to ministers arguing the proposal would...
on Dec 9
From humanists.uk
Humanist Heritage: John Tyndall’s Belfast Address (1874)
0 0
It is not to the point to say that the views of Lucretius and Bruno, of Darwin and Spencer, may […]
on Dec 4
From humanists.uk
Let’s finally get the bishops out the House of Lords, write to you MP today!
0 0
A real opportunity for constitutional reform We have a real opportunity to finally remove the bishops from the House of Lords – but we need your support to make it happen. MPs from across the political spectrum have rallied to make amendments to the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill to...
on Nov 5
From humanists.uk
Victory! Abortion safe access zones come into force in England and Wales
0 0
In a major victory for a longstanding Humanists UK campaign, safe access zones around all hospitals and clinics providing abortions in England and Wales are implemented from today. The move means people accessing or providing abortions can do so free from harassment and intimidation. Humanists...
on Oct 31
From humanists.uk
Breaking: MPs rally in support of amendments to remove bishops from the Lords
0 0
MPs have rallied to support amendments to a government bill to remove the automatic right for 26 Church of England bishops to sit in the House of Lords. The amendments follow cross-party MPs calling for reform during the second reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill. Humanists UK...
on Oct 20
From humanists.uk
UK Government: We will never inhibit free expression about religions
0 0
Humanists UK welcomes the Government’s recent clarification that the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims’ proposed definition of Islamophobia is ‘not in line’ with the Equality Act 2010. This important statement was made by Faith Minister Lord Khan in a letter to the Network...
on Sep 30
From humanists.uk
Unprecedented surge in humanists on Religious Education councils after High Court win
0 0
Over a year on from the landmark High Court judgment which ruled that it was ‘unlawful’ for Kent County Council to refuse humanist representation on its religious education (RE) committee, there are now 125 humanist representatives with full membership on these bodies across England and Wales. ...
on Sep 6
From humanists.uk
Lords hereditaries removal welcome, but bishops should go next
0 0
The Government has today brought forward a Bill to remove hereditary peers from the House of Lords. Humanists UK has welcomed this move as long overdue reform. But it has also said that the next step should be to remove the 26 Church of England bishops, known as the Lords Spiritual, who also...
on Sep 6
From humanists.uk
Legalise humanist marriage now
0 1
Thousands of happy couples want the Government to legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales. Agree? Add your name. As a proud patron of Humanists UK, I’ve been championing campaigns for a fairer society, with laws that reflect our changing society and attitudes towards religion. ...
on Sep 1
From humanists.uk
0 0
We advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail.
on Aug 23
From humanists.uk
0 2
Take our quiz and find out. Many people are humanists without even knowing it. If you are non-religious and look to science, reason, empathy, and compassion in order to live an ethical and meaningful life, you're probably a humanist.
on Aug 12
From humanists.uk
0 0
Here you can find out what school speakers do, how to book a free speaker visit, and how you can become a school speaker yourself. Humanists UK school speakers Humanists UK school speakers are trained and experienced volunteers who help schools across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to...
on Aug 1
From humanists.uk
Least religious Parliament ever!
0 0
The UK has elected the most openly non-religious House of Commons in history, with roughly 40% of MPs during their swearing-in ceremony choosing to take the secular affirmation instead of a religious oath to God, up from 24% after the 2019 election. The non-religious include the Prime Minister...
on Jul 11
From humanists.uk
0 0
The Government has changed the rules to preclude all Academies and Free Schools, both those that already exist and those that will open in the future, from teaching pseudoscientific ideas such as creationism as scientifically valid. The changes have been made through extending an explicit ban to...
on Jun 26
From humanists.uk
Act now! Stop a massive expansion of faith school discrimination!
0 0
Help us take urgent action You may recall that before the election was called, the UK Government was proposing to increase religious discrimination in state schools by scrapping the 50% cap. Here’s some shocking news: in spite of the election, the consultation is still going ahead. So we need...
on Jun 24
From humanists.uk
All-star cast leads celebration for LGBT Humanists 45th anniversary
0 0
Humanists UK and Conway Hall are excited to announce Lead Me Into Temptation, Please – a festival of creativity, embracing LGBT freedom of expression, and a rich history of LGBT activists and artists escaping and transcending religious oppression. This exciting one-day summer fair is the...
on Jun 24
From humanists.uk
Write to your Labour candidate: Will they stop discrimination in public services?
0 0
Urgent help needed to stop religious discrimination in public services Last week, the Labour Party told faith leaders it would ‘promote local faith covenants’ when in Government. ‘Faith covenants’ encourage partnerships between religious groups and local authorities in providing public services....
on Jun 22
From humanists.uk
Jersey votes to legalise assisted dying
0 0
The States Assembly of Jersey has voted to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people. In a landmark vote, Jersey’s politicians have voted in favour of compassion, autonomy, and the rights of people who are dying. Humanists UK and Channel Islands Humanists have welcomed the historic vote....
on May 28
From humanists.uk
Humanists UK relaunches unique historical archive of funerals
0 0
Humanists UK is delighted to announce the relaunch of the Humanist Funeral Tribute Archive – a unique collection of funeral tributes capturing hundreds of Humanist Ceremonies and unique humanist lives. Now part of the Humanist Heritage project, this remarkable resource already contains tributes...
on May 16
From humanists.uk
Take action: Resist plans for more segregation and indoctrination in schools
0 0
Stop the expansion of religious discrimination in schools Help us take urgent action to oppose a reckless plan by the UK Government to maximise religious discrimination in schools in England. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has announced that, after 17 years of lobbying by the Catholic...
on May 1
From humanists.uk
0 0
Think for yourself, act for everyone At Humanists UK, we want a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We work to support lasting change for a better society, championing ideas for the one life we have. We do this because we’re humanists, people who shape our own lives in...
on Apr 24
From humanists.uk
Celebrating the life and legacy of George Holyoake: Inventor of secularism and humanist pioneer
0 0
This year is Humanists UK’s 125th anniversary: a celebration of the rich history of humanism and the movement that gave rise to Humanists UK. This history includes the traditions of Owenism and its ‘rational religion’, of positivism and its celebration of the achievements of humanity, and of...
on Apr 13
From humanists.uk
American Christians spending millions to push religious conservatism in the UK
0 0
Humanists UK has raised alarms over the growing influence of ‘dark money’ and other funding from American sources in UK politics, particularly influencing debates on abortion, LGBT rights, assisted dying, and faith schools. Following the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States, the shift...
on Apr 11
From humanists.uk
Stop religious schools dividing our children | add your name to the petition!
0 0
The Government has suggested increasing legal discrimination based on religion in schools. It’s 2024 and we think, in a diverse society, this is just wrong. All families should be able to send their child to their local state school. It’s just common sense. Taxpayer-funded schools should be...
on Apr 9
From humanists.uk
New book release: What I Believe sheds light on the values driving today’s leading humanist thinkers
0 0
Another major nonfiction book on humanism is on its way. What I Believe, an inspiring collection of interviews with over thirty different humanists in the public eye, originally for the Humanists UK podcast of the same name, will be released in November 2024. Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew...
on Apr 8