Looking to deepen your understanding of humanism? Our online course 'Introducing humanism: non-religious approaches to life' led by writer, broadcaster, and humanist Sandi Toksvig is available and completely free to access! Start learning today courses.understandinghumanism.org.uk/courses/intr...
It is much easier to confess your sins in the dark, than to acknowledge them in the light; to make it up with a god you don't see, than with a man whom you do.. Teach a man to do right, to love justice, to revere truth. So be virtuous, not because a god would reward or punish him hereafter, but because it is right; and as every act brings its own reward or its own punishment, it would best promote his interest by promoting the welfare of society.' Ernestine Rose. Activist and humanist. Humanists uk
For over 130 years, women in the humanist movement have been a radical voice for progress. This #WomensHistoryMonth we celebrate all brave the women who risked everything speaking up for humanism or challenging the influence of religion in society. 🧵
I think we've got to the right place on this: protecting individuals whilst maintaining freedom to criticise beliefs and ideas.
Crucially, the definition is accompanied by examples of free expression that must be read alongside it. It highlights the importance of freedom of expression in a thriving society, and offers the following examples as protected speech: ‘Criticisms of a religion or belief, including Islam, or of its practices, or critical analyses of its historical development. ‘Ridiculing or insulting a religion or belief, including Islam, or portraying it in a manner that some of its adherents might find disrespectful or scandalous. ‘Criticism of the belief systems or practices of individual adherents of a religion or belief, including Islam. ‘Raising concerns in the public interest. ‘Contributing to debates in the public interest, including academic and political debate.’ Humanists UK welcomes this clarity.
We also welcome the fact that the target of anti-Muslim hostility within the definition is correctly identified as Muslims themselves, and those perceived to be Muslims – not the religion or institution of Islam. Such clarity is particularly vital to uphold the rights of former Muslims.
We welcome the use of the phrase ‘anti-Muslim hostility’ instead of the misleading term ‘Islamophobia’. The latter is often used to falsely conflate prejudice against individuals with legitimate criticism of Islamic beliefs.
The new definition is: ‘Anti-Muslim hostility is intentionally engaging in, assisting or encouraging criminal acts – including acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, or intimidation, whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated – that are directed at Muslims because of their religion or at those who are perceived to be Muslim, including where that perception is based on assumptions about ethnicity, race or appearance. ‘It is also the prejudicial stereotyping of Muslims, or people perceived to be Muslim including because of their ethnic or racial backgrounds or their appearance, and treating them as a collective group defined by fixed and negative characteristics, with the intention of encouraging hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as Individuals. ‘It is engaging in unlawful discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within institutions – is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life.’
Hostility against Muslims is on the rise we all have a duty to stand up against it. We are pleased to see that the new definition of anti-Muslim hostility, along with supporting guidance, does this while explicitly protecting speech that is critical of religious ideas🧵
humanists.uk/2026/03/09/h...
Learn more about the brave and radical women of the humanist movement on the Humanist Heritage website. heritage.humanists.uk
We’ve raised the alarm about how the new rise of Christian Nationalism, imported from the US, threatens the progress that generations of women fought so hard to secure. By seeking to impose religious dogma on public law, these movements endanger women’s freedoms. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
But the struggle is far from over. While we recently succeeded in securing safe access zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales and in Northern Ireland to protect women from harassment, reproductive rights remain under threat. Around the world, we are seeing how freedoms are rolled back.
And there was Margaret Knight, whose radio broadcasts about ‘morality without religion’ led to her being castigated by sexist tabloids as a foolish woman allowed to run wild by the lenient men in her life. You can learn more with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?si=Cjl...
We honour pioneers like Diane Munday, Emma Martin, the ‘blasphemous’ lecturer, and Florence Dixie, the war correspondent, suffragist, and footballer. We follow in the footsteps of writers such as George Eliot, and Lorraine
They risked imprisonment to pioneer access to birth control and legalise reproductive healthcare – making sure that women, not the church or state, would finally take control of their own futures. Today, we work to preserve those rights and continue their legacy.
humanists.uk/2026/03/06/h...
Despite fierce opposition, they dismantled legal barriers to owning property, earning a wage, entering ‘male-only’ professions or higher education, and securing the fundamental right to vote. It was women in the humanist movement who led the charge for bodily autonomy in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It is much easier to confess your sins in the dark, than to acknowledge them in the light; to make it up with a god you don't see, than with a man whom you do.. Teach a man to do right, to love justice, to revere truth. So be virtuous, not because a god would reward or punish him hereafter, but because it is right; and as every act brings its own reward or its own punishment, it would best promote his interest by promoting the welfare of society.' Ernestine Rose. Activist and humanist. Humanists uk
For over 130 years, women in the humanist movement have been a radical voice for progress. This #WomensHistoryMonth we celebrate all brave the women who risked everything speaking up for humanism or challenging the influence of religion in society. 🧵
If you teach RE in a primary or secondary school, then our school speakers will visit your school for free to answer your students' questions about humanism and what it means to have a non-religious approach to life. Book your visit today! understandinghumanism.org.uk/school-speak...
'Those who, like myself, are in communication with the advanced thought and thinkers throughout the world know that hundreds – nay, thousands – of women have thrown off the yoke of superstition and are thinking for themselves and working for others.'
Lady Florence Dixie (1855-1905) [pictured].
For over 130 years, women in the humanist movement have been a radical voice for progress. This #WomensHistoryMonth we celebrate all brave the women who risked everything speaking up for humanism or challenging the influence of religion in society. 🧵
'Standing up against the assumption that Earth is simple and will bend to our will is fundamentally a humanist thing to do'. Read this Humanist Climate Action interview with Dr Helen Czerski, our patron, ocean physicist, and author of 'Blue Machine'. humanists.uk/2026/03/06/h...
Today is the UK’s COVID-19 Day of Reflection.
In 2020, we held a National Memorial Ceremony to help people mourn, reflect, and find connection while many were separated from loved ones in lockdown.
We remember those we lost.
Watch our ceremony online.
Happy #InternationalWomensDay, everyone! Today we’re celebrating the courageous humanist women who challenged injustice, championed reason, and helped change society for the better. Find out more this #IWD26 by visiting our website. #IWD humanists.uk/2026/03/06/h...
We were privileged to have Helen lecture at our Convention in Sheffield last year. Discover the ocean’s vast engine: how it works, why it matters, and the many ways it has shaped animals, weather, and human history and culture. Watch now on our YouTube channel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuzg...
'Standing up against the assumption that Earth is simple and will bend to our will is fundamentally a humanist thing to do'. Read this Humanist Climate Action interview with Dr Helen Czerski, our patron, ocean physicist, and author of 'Blue Machine'. humanists.uk/2026/03/06/h...
'Those who, like myself, are in communication with the advanced thought and thinkers throughout the world know that hundreds – nay, thousands – of women have thrown off the yoke of superstition and are thinking for themselves and working for others.'
Lady Florence Dixie (1855-1905) [pictured].
For those of you who missed the #RosalindFranklinLecture but wanted to attend, the recording will go live on YouTube in the coming weeks. Until then, you can read our full write up of the lecture on our website.
humanists.uk/2026/03/06/d...
And a special thank you to #RosalindFranklinLecture Chair @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social, and to our @conwayhall.bsky.social and online audience. There were over 1000 of you. We hope to see you all again very soon. Also, thank you to Belinda, for having a live ECG scan on stage - a Humanists UK first!
A huge round of applause for Dr Hannah Critchlow! Her #RosalindFranklinLecture offered phenomenal insight into how our biology, brains, and experiences shape who we are – and what that might mean for ideas of free will, identity, and connection. A whistle-stop tour of 100 years of neuroscience.
That's lovely. We hope you enjoy our recommendations. Who doesn't love a little book nook! If you liked the Little Book of Humanism, we recommend What I Believe too - it features some really great interviews with humanists in the public eye. We'll just pop this link here. humanists.uk/whatibelieve/
Learn more about the brave and radical women of the humanist movement on the Humanist Heritage website.
heritage.humanists.uk
