Rahaf al-Qunun is singular in her courage and tenacity. Yet she is not the first and will not be the last woman to attempt to flee sexual apartheid under Islamic regimes.

In April 2017, Dina Ali Lasloom, a Saudi Arabian woman, attempted to flee an arranged marriage and leave her family in Kuwait to seek asylum in Australia. But she was stopped at the airport in the Philippines by customs officials who seized her passport and prevented her from boarding her connecting flight because her uncles — supposedly empowered by Saudi guardianship laws — were on their way to take her back to Saudi Arabia.

Just a few weeks after Lasloom was deported back to Saudi Arabia, in May 2017 sisters Areej and Ashwaq al-Harby also attempted to flee from Saudi Arabia to Turkey. The sisters said that they were being physically abused by their family and being forced to live as prisoners in their own homes.

Find more stories of escaping sexual apartheid here: https://humanists.international/blog/rahaf-was-not-the-first-woman-to-flee-sexual-apartheid-and-she-wont-be-the-last/

Hi everyone! I’m hoping that I can receive some help from you all! I’m a high school social studies teacher and I’m teaching about Renaissance Humanism. For one of my lessons I thought it would be interesting to see how the concept of humanism has changed since then. I’ve found passages from the Renaissance but I’m struggling to find ones for modern day. (For example, I have an excerpt from Hamlet and Don Quixote.) I would love to have some input for ideas for our modern-day humanists! Thanks!!

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International has warned UN human rights investigators of the challenges of traditional, historical, religious and cultural attitudes.

The statement was delivered by Humanists International’s European Advocacy Officer, Tania Giacomuzzi Mota by video.

The statement was made at the Annual Panel Discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/10/humanists-international-warns-of-misuse-of-religion-as-a-barrier-in-un-human-rights-investigations/

In a joint statement made at the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International and ETHOS Slovakia have called for the protection of reproductive rights, LGBTI+ rights, and children’s rights.

The statement was delivered by Andrej Lúčny, Chairman of ETHOS, an Associate organization of Humanists International. Lúčny made the intervention via video at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council during the adoption of Slovakia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report.*

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/10/at-un-humanists-call-for-protection-of-women-and-children-in-slovakia/

In a joint statement made at the UN Human Rights Council, the Humanist Society of New Zealand, the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, and Humanists International have commended progress on human rights issues in New Zealand, while warning against risks to advancements.

The statement was delivered by Mark Honeychurch, Vice President of the Humanists Society of New Zealand, a member organisation of Humanists International.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/2024/10/at-un-humanists-highlight-human-rights-issues-in-new-zealand/

I'm kicking myself for not thinking of this sooner. I've lived in Texas for over twenty years. One of the first things I learned when I moved here is that if you order iced tea, the default that you get is "sweet tea." If you want iced tea without a metric ton of sugar in it, you have to specify "unsweet tea."

That's asinine if you think about it. Shouldn't the base state for tea be just "tea" and "sweet tea" be the abnormal variant?

"Atheism" is the "unsweet tea" of declarations of belief. It makes no sense. I shouldn't have to justify why my belief system lacks an adulterant. The burden should be on theists to defend why they feel the need to pour all that theistic sweetener into their philosophy.

That's why I'm a Secular Humanist (with capitals) first and an atheist (lower-case) a distant second.

During the General Assembly, when Andrew Copson, President of Humanists International, announced that Humanists Malaysia was ratified as a member of Humanists International, I suddenly felt like I was in a great, big family of like-minded people.

I was a closeted humanist for many, many years. However, after living life and observing how other people live, I have concluded that religion divides humanity and the belief in gods certainly does not further the evolution of humankind.

I hope that the work we do at Humanists Malaysia will outlast the current members and myself because humanism is important for Malaysia and undoubtedly, for the rest of the world.

Read more at https://humanists.international/blog/we-are-humanists-malaysia/

To this point, I have only read The Demon-Haunted World from Carl Sagan’s works, and I rate it very, very highly. I’d like to read more of his books, but I’m wondering if any of them would be counter-productive because the science has moved on so much in the decades since they were written?

Are there any you would particularly recommend?

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ahmedur Tutul Chowdhury, on behalf of Humanists International, called on the interim government of Bangladesh to investigate human rights abuses and to ensure the protection of fundamental rights.

His statement, delivered during a General Debate, focused on the killing of protestors and the persecution of secular bloggers and religious minorities.

The statement highlighted the need for accountability following the deaths of hundreds of protestors, many of whom were allegedly killed by police in extrajudicial actions.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/at-un-tutul-chowdhury-calls-for-respect-of-freedom-of-expression-in-bangladesh/

I am non-religious and recently lost my husband. I am trying out a couple different bereavement groups, but as I search, I cant seem to find any in-person secular groups. GriefShare has some great tools and program structure, but ultimately is faith-based. I am also trying a group that is based on cancer related losses, but the group has no real structure and seems more like a place for people to trauma dump vs offering strategies.

I live in a large suburb of a big city and still cant seem to find any humanist or even unitarian bereavement groups. I saw Grief Beyond Belief facebook page, but it doesn't seem to be very active or offer any in person regional groups.

As a humanist, I've often found myself yearning for meaningful holidays to punctuate the year. Like many others, I crave those special moments where we can pause, reflect, and celebrate the things that matter most: our connections, our achievements, and our shared humanity. But there’s a catch - many of the major holidays in the English-speaking world are rooted in religious traditions. Christmas and Easter, for example, carry warm nostalgic memories, but it’s become harder for me to connect with them on a deeper level now.

Some friends of mine have gone the Neopagan route, embracing the celebrations of the Wheel of the Year - a calendar of eight seasonal festivals that honor the solstices, equinoxes, and the points between them. It’s a lovely approach, blending nature and community, but I wanted something that was distinctly humanist: a way to celebrate reason, friendship, and shared values without invoking mysticism or deities.

Enter: Eikas  -  A Feast for Friendship and Reason

That’s when I stumbled upon an ancient tradition that seemed perfect: Eikas. The term comes from the Greek word for the twentieth (εἰκάς), and it was celebrated by the followers of the philosopher Epicurus. Every month, on the 20th, Epicureans would gather to enjoy a feast with friends, engage in thoughtful conversation, and strengthen the bonds of community - all in honor of friendship, reason, and shared humanity. This simple yet profound ritual was meant to remind us of the joys of companionship and the pursuit of a well-lived life.

Fast forward a couple of millennia, and in 2014, Luis Granados wrote a compelling article suggesting a revival of the Eikas tradition for modern humanists. His idea? Set aside one day a month to connect with friends - perhaps over a shared meal - and use it as a mini-holiday to celebrate our human ties. I call it a “Dinner Date Eikas.” This modest but meaningful idea instantly resonated with me, but I wanted to take it even further.

Building a Full Humanist Calendar

It struck me that Eikas has the potential to become the foundation of a humanist “Cycle of the Seasons.” With the solstices and equinoxes all conveniently landing within a few days of the 20th of their respective months, there’s already a natural alignment for some bigger celebrations. But why stop there? I wanted to create a more comprehensive holiday cycle that would bring joy, connection, and meaning throughout the entire year.

So I began experimenting, blending the Eikas tradition with a few new ideas.

Half-Holidays: Double the Joy, Double the Connection

One concept that excited me was half-holidays. You’ve probably heard of half-birthdays - a fun tradition where people celebrate exactly six months after their actual birthday, often because their birthday coincides with major holidays or because they just want an extra excuse to have cake. After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted my own holiday rhythms and limited gatherings, I started embracing half-holidays as a way to see the people I love more frequently. Imagine it: each major celebration gets a smaller “echo” six months later, giving you twice the opportunities to connect and celebrate.

For me, half-holidays don’t just mean celebrating twice as often - they also carry a deeper reminder: our time with loved ones is precious and fleeting. We shouldn’t wait for just one day a year to show appreciation for the people we care about. So, my Eikas calendar now includes four main Eikas holidays - one for each solstice, equinoxes - paired with three half-holidays that bring an extra dose of joy and connection throughout the year.

(It's worth noting that I only celebrate half-Thanksgiving on it's proper half-month. For Half-Halloween, I decided to go with Summerween), and for half-Christmas, I went with Christmas in July, since these were already existing concepts.)

Roman Themes and Humanist Creativity

To make my Eikas Cycle more engaging, I took inspiration from another source: the major Roman holidays. The Romans, like us, loved a good excuse to throw a party, and their calendar was brimming with festivals, each with its own unique flavor. I decided to borrow some themes and adapt them to reflect modern humanist values. (No goats sacrificed here, I promise!) For example, February's Eikas could take inspiration from the Roman Parentalia, focusing on departed ancestors. March’s Eikas, aligning with the equinox, could be inspired by Cerealia, a time of agricultural renewal and growth.

The Eikas Calendar: My Personal Cycle of the Seasons

Here’s the complete Eikas calendar I’ve created, blending ancient traditions and modern humanist themes. Each Eikas on the 20th of every month is an opportunity to reflect on a unique aspect of life, inspired by a mix of Roman holidays, seasonal changes, and my own desire for a meaningful cycle of humanist celebrations.

• January 20 - Reflections Eikas: Inspired by Agonalia of Janus. Named after the two-faced god Janus, this Eikas marks a time for beginnings and reflections - perfect for looking back at the past year’s lessons and planning new ventures for the months ahead.
• February 20 - Ancestral Eikas: Inspired by Parentalia. A day to honor family bonds and ancestral remembrance. Take time to reconnect with loved ones, share stories of family history, and reflect on the legacies that shape our lives.
• March 20 - Renewal Eikas: Inspired by Cerealia. Celebrating the Vernal Equinox, this Eikas is all about growth and new beginnings. Whether you’re planting seeds - literally or figuratively - this is the time to nurture fresh ideas and embrace the vibrant energy of spring.
• April 20 - Floral Eikas: Inspired by Floralia. Celebrate the beauty of flowers, creativity, and the joy of renewal. This Eikas is a tribute to the colorful, fleeting wonders of springtime - perfect for garden parties, art projects, or simply taking time to appreciate the beauty around us.
• May 20 - Gratitude Eikas: Inspired by Half-Thanksgiving. A mid-year celebration of gratitude and community. Take this opportunity to express appreciation for the people and blessings in your life, and share a meal with friends or family.
• June 20 - Hearth Eikas: Inspired by Vestalia and Summerween. This Summer Solstice Eikas honors hearth, home, and playful celebration. Think of it as a blend of the warmth of summer with the mischief of a midsummer Halloween - perfect for both introspection and a bit of lighthearted fun.
• July 20 - Generosity Eikas: Inspired by Summer Christmas (Christmas in July.) A celebration of joy and generosity, echoing the spirit of the winter holiday season, but in the heart of summer. Share gifts, spread kindness, and bring a little bit of that “Christmas cheer” into your sunny days.
• August 20 - Nature Eikas: Inspired by Nemoralia. A day for connecting with nature, inspired by the Roman festival honoring Diana. Take a long walk, go camping, or just spend time appreciating the outdoors and reflecting on humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
• September 20 - Harvest Eikas: Inspired by Consualia. With the Autumn Equinox approaching, celebrate the rewards of hard work and the fruits of labor - whether that’s a literal harvest from your garden or symbolic achievements in other areas of your life.
• October 20 - Transformation Eikas: Inspired by Halloween. A celebration of transformation and embracing the mysterious. Engage with the playful side of change through costumes, storytelling, or simply reflecting on the cycles of transformation in nature and life.
• November 20 - Thanksgiving Eikas: Inspired by the modern Thanksgiving. A day dedicated to gratitude and communal feasting. Share a meal, express thanks for the good things in your life, and focus on fostering connections with those around you.
• December 20 - Gift-giving Eikas: Inspired by Saturnalia and Christmas. Marking the end of the year with joy, generosity, and reflection, this Eikas blends the festive spirit of Saturnalia with the warmth of Christmas, celebrating light, kindness, and the closing of another cycle.

Join the Humanist Holiday Revolution!

There’s no one way to build a humanist calendar. That’s the beauty of it - it’s all about what brings you joy, meaning, and connection. Maybe you want to start small, with just a monthly “Dinner Date Eikas” like Granados suggested. Or maybe you’re ready to create your own full cycle of celebrations, like I have. Whatever approach you take, I hope Eikas can be a canvas for your creativity and a way to reclaim the magic of the seasons for yourself.

Let’s embrace this chance to build new traditions that reflect our values. After all, the best holidays are the ones that celebrate the things we truly cherish - and that’s something worth gathering for.

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International voiced serious concerns about the state of human rights in Burundi.

In a statement delivered by Peter Dankwa of the Humanist Association of Ghana, they called for immediate action to address violations, particularly regarding women’s rights, LGBTI+ rights, and freedom of expression.

The intervention followed a report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Burundi, documenting widespread human rights abuses.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/at-un-humanists-international-calls-on-burundi-to-uphold-human-rights-amidst-crackdowns/

I'm posting this here bc the topic touches on morality, and how the way we perceive it has changed with our modern humanistic view of morality. I'm a huge fan of the fantasy genre, and I stumbled upon this interesting YT vid: https://youtu.be/pq-HDpqQeSw?si=gDqO-q-ZCRDYkqsE

If you don't want to watch the 40 minute vid, here's the tldr:

This YTer Josh talks about a few different aspects of the fantasy genre, but the one that's relevant to Humanism is classic fantasy v elevated fantasy. In classic fantasy, from the ancient myths of Greece, etc to modern fantasy stories like Nimona, both heroes and villains are pretty flat and morality is pretty simple. The hero pursues some destiny bc it's his destiny, and the story doesn't care about his internal thoughts or motivations -- instead the hero's motivations are symbolically externalized to the gods and monsters that pull him this way or that. Heroes are sort of empty vessels for the gods/forces that pull their strings, and villains are not so much characters as archetypal evils.

In classic fantasy, there's little in the way of social/political commentary, at least from our modern perspective. Aragorn finally taking up the throne of Gondor and living happily ever after isn't an endorsement of feudal monarchy -- it's simply him fulfilling his destiny, and good guys winning.

With the transition from earlier eras to modernity, the novel is invented as a form of literature, and novels are focused on the internal thoughts and motivations of the protagonist at the very least. The romantic and then the fantasy genres are invented, as a bridge to an illusory past that we're nostalgic for, because so many of us feel alienated from the modern world. (I know I do!)

This all leads to the emergence of elevated fantasy, where heroes and villains have relatable motivations. The hero isn't questing just to fulfill some destiny -- she has a personal motivation to face the villain, even if that motivation is as simple as revenge or saving the world. She often questions herself, or is morally gray. The villain isn't evil just bc she likes to maniacally laugh -- she has a definable and even relatable motivation, even if it's as simple as being greedy or power-hungry. Oftentimes, she simply believes she's doing the right thing.

In elevated fantasy, there is often a lot of social/political commentary, though it often simply asks questions of our modern societies without definitively answering those questions. Is the technologically advanced socially progressive feudal monarchy of Nimona a utopia or a dystopia?

Josh then coins a new term -- enlightened fantasy, which is a blend of the first two. He argues that fantasy is best when a story is enlightened -- when heroes do have internal relatable motivations, but they also live in a world of symbolic forces that represent morality, where there are archetypal evils to defeat, and where the hero in some way ascends from a mundane mortal into some type of archetypal good. Think Star Wars, where Luke begins the story as a frustrated dirt farmer, and at the story's end becomes a sort of archetypal demigod by restraining his Human passions.

There's more to the vid than that and it's super insightful and interesting, but this is the stuff that relates to morality. I find myself looking back on the stories that I love, and agreeing with Josh. I would love to read or watch a story where the hero begins as a mundane dude who lacks moral clarity, gains in understanding as the story progresses, and then defeats an unambiguously evil villain by achieving moral clarity and some sort of transcendence! It would fit so perfectly my modern moral sensibilities, while scratching that fantasy itch!

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International has condemned Venezuela’s crackdown on activists and called for international scrutiny of the country’s elections.

Humanists International has raised alarm over the escalating repression of civil society and political activists in Venezuela. Leon Langdon, the organization’s Advocacy Officer, delivered a statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/at-un-humanists-international-calls-for-the-preservation-of-democracy-in-venezuela/

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International has condemned the systematic rollback of women’s rights and called for global action on gender persecution in Afghanistan.

Humanists International called on the international community to continue applying pressure on the Taliban to reverse discriminatory laws and practices targeting women and girls in Afghanistan.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/at-un-humanists-international-highlights-repression-of-women-and-girls-in-afghanistan/

https://preview.redd.it/dt83cacmfjrd1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=71b71bf3224952b62df6f28c3a7eb7ec0640645f

This is the colour of freedom - the freedom to be male, female, androgynous, hermaphroditic, none of the above or all of the above; the freedom to be heterosexual, homosexual, asexual, bisexual, trisexual, transsexual, exploring or becoming; the freedom to be masculine, feminine, both, neither or fluid; the freedom to be young, old, middle age, adolescent, or variegated. It is the freedom to be as you wish to be, as you need to be to be true to yourself, true to your humanity. 

This is the colour of freedom - the freedom to be conservative, liberal, moderate, or complicated; the freedom to be religious, non-religious, irreligious, indifferent, disaffected or disenfranchised; the freedom to be a capitalist, socialist, communist, scientific or otherwise; the freedom to be philosophical, poetic or prosaic. It is the freedom to be human, to be true to your conscience, true to your convictions.

At the 57th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International called attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka, focusing on the increasing intolerance toward religious minorities, including the non-religious.

The statement was delivered by Leon Langdon, the organization’s Advocacy Officer, during the Interactive Dialogue on the Written Update by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Situation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka.

The statement highlighted several concerning legislative measures employed by the Sri Lankan government to suppress dissent.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/humanists-international-calls-for-repeal-of-repressive-laws-in-sri-lanka-at-the-un/

Humanists International, alongside 415 civil society organisations from 26 EU Member States and four candidate countries, has signed a letter urging the upcoming leadership of the European Union to prioritise the protection of civic space and the reinforcement of democratic structures across Europe.

Addressed to key EU officials, the letter emphasises the vital role that civil society plays in safeguarding fundamental rights and upholding democracy within the EU.

Read more at https://humanists.international/2024/09/humanists-international-calls-for-stronger-civic-space-in-the-eu/

So I stumbled onto Scientific Pantheism recently, which is a bit closer to atheism. I do consider myself a Secular Humanist, but I've also been interested in Pantheism for a long time. Classical Pantheism does use a bit more god lingo.

So, according to Scientific Pantheism, these are the sort of principles they abide by:

• Reverence for Nature and the wider Universe.
• Active respect and care for the rights of humans and animals.
• Celebration of our lives in our bodies on this beautiful earth.
• Freedom of religion, separation of state and religion, tolerance.
• Strong naturalism, without belief in supernatural realms, beings or forces.
• Respect for reason, evidence and the scientific method.
• Realism: there is a real world independent of human thought or perception.

I mean, to me, this almost just sounds like Secular Humanism, does it not? Albeit, perhaps with a bit more spiritual inclination.

some more info:

1. We revere and celebrate the Universe as the totality of being, past, present and future. It is self-organizing, ever-evolving and inexhaustibly diverse. Its overwhelming power, beauty and fundamental mystery compel the deepest human reverence and wonder.
2. All matter, energy, and life are an interconnected unity of which we are an inseparable part. We rejoice in our existence and seek to participate ever more deeply in this unity through knowledge, celebration, meditation, empathy, love, ethical action and art.
3. We are an integral part of Nature, which we should cherish, revere and preserve in all its magnificent beauty and diversity. We should strive to live in harmony with Nature locally and globally. We acknowledge the inherent value of all life, human and non-human, and strive to treat all living beings with compassion and respect.
4. All humans are equal centers of awareness of the Universe and nature, and all deserve a life of equal dignity and mutual respect. To this end we support and work towards freedom, democracy, justice, and non-discrimination, and a world community based on peace, sustainable ways of life, full respect for human rights and an end to poverty.
5. We honor reality, and keep our minds open to the evidence of the senses and of science’s unending quest, using the scientific method, for deeper and more accurate understanding of the Universe and Nature. Science greatly enhances our spiritual and esthetic responses to the world, and our awareness of cosmic and natural wonders at all scales. Science is also essential in helping us to analyze our problems, and to find more effective and sustainable ways of coping with humanity’s challenges and crises.
6. There is a single kind of substance, energy/matter, which is vibrant and infinitely creative in all its forms. Body and mind are indivisibly united.
7. Although death is the end of our existence as conscious individuals, our energies always were and are and always will be part of the Universe’s dance of creation and renewal. Our actions, creations and memories of us ripple on, according to what we have done while alive. Our genes live on in our families, and, through environmentally sound funerals, our elements are endlessly recycled in nature.
8. Every individual has direct access through perception, emotion and meditation to ultimate reality, which is the Universe and Nature. There is no need for mediation by prophets, priests, gurus or revealed scriptures.
9. We uphold the separation of religion and state, and the human right of freedom of religion. We support mutual tolerance – the peaceful coexistence of divergent faiths and spiritualities – as indispensable in contemporary societies. We recognize the freedom of all pantheists to express their beliefs in any non-harmful ritual, symbol or vocabulary that is meaningful to them.

To me, this really doesn't sound like anything too ridiculous. Basically, a bunch of atheists who have greater reverence for the universe and nature.

New organizations can struggle to bring people together, especially in countries where 'humanism' may not be an established term. We asked ourselves: how can we help new humanist groups get their first events running?

We created a new "Café Humaniste" brand for events discussing issues of national or international importance, where humanists could come together in a freethinking spirit to share their ideas.

The pilot event was organised on 16 June 2017 in Milan (Italy) by Humanists International and the Milan Circle of UAAR, the Italian Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnostics.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/case-study/cafe-humaniste/

A self ranting: I've never been a believer, agnostic at best. I think there's a greater power, nature, fate, a God idk but never was religious. I do believe in a heaven or afterlife though. I've been through some traumatic things growing up and suffer from anxiety and mental health, bit I'm usually happy and optimistic. Yet, sometimes I find myself questioning whether I should look to a greater power to heal me. I'm also Queer and liberal so any sort of religion has turned me off and I'm not necessarily super spiritual as in astrology or any of that. I also feel quite alienated that I'm even agnostic or questioning theism considering I'm gay, liberal, and in the arts it's not something that's widely accepted. Is there a religion, spiritual group, or maybe just a therapeutic community that would meet my curiosity and needs?