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Articles by subject: humanism

Phony war (by Paul Sims, May/June 2012 ): A motley minority of moralists have launched an assault on British secularism. Bad move, says Paul Sims
No more lies (by Alom Shaha, May/June 2012 ): In his powerful new book, The Young Atheist’s Handbook, Alom Shaha challenges young Muslims to be honest if they don’t believe, and calls on organised atheism to broaden its appeal beyond an intellectual elite. Here he explains why he wrote it
Never ending story (by Caspar Melville, May/June 2012 ): Helen Bamber has been listening to the victims of torture, cruelty and genocide for more than 60 years, but she retains her faith in humanity. Caspar Melville meets her
Heavenly bodies (by Sally Feldman, January/February 2012 ): Are you feeling fat after the excesses of the holiday season? Then watch out, warns Sally Feldman. Dieting can be harmful to your humanism
Ireland's humanist president (by Padraig Reidy, January/February 2012 ): Padraig Reidy welcomes the election of Michael D Higgins
Walk the tightrope (by John Burnside, November/December 2011 ): We don’t need religion, but mystical traditions still have a lot to teach us, says John Burnside
Unholy matrimony (by Pamela Haag, September/October 2011 ): Is there a role for marriage in secular society, or should humanists rejoice in its withering along with religion? asks Pamela Haag
Varieties of irreligious experience (by Jonathan Rée, September/October 2011 ): There are many ways not to believe. Jonathan Rée on the evoluton of atheist thought
No doubt (by Mano Singham, July/August 2011 ): Since there is nothing useful about the God hypothesis, we can happily discard it. Physicist Mano Singham makes the scientific case for atheism
Captive audience (by Richard Smyth, July/August 2011 ): Sympathetic ear or religious recruiter - what’s a prison chaplain for? Richard Smyth finds out
Trouble at Grayling Hall (by Sally Feldman, July/August 2011 ): Its difficult not to see the New College of the Humanities as misguided and anti-humanist, says Sally Feldman
My big fat humanist wedding (by Jake Wallis Simons, May/June 2011 ): Jake Wallis Simons offers a few tips to the royal couple
Woman of substance (by Ann Oakley, May/June 2011 ): Barbara Wootton attended the League of Nations, helped abolish the death penalty and became a magistrate before she was eligible to vote. Ann Oakley reviews a truly remarkable career
Count yourself out (by Winston Fletcher, March/April 2011 ): Winston Fletcher warns that the question asking your religion, included again in this year’s census, is designed to distort
Book review: The Immortalisation Commission by John Gray (by Owen Hatherley, March/April 2011 ): Owen Hatherley tires of the same old song
Careless talk? (by Paul Sims, January/February 2011 ): Some secularists believe that any communication with believers amounts to collaboration. Paul Sims isn’t so sure
Quite contrary: inside the Battle of Ideas (by Richard Wilson, January/February 2011 ): The associates of the Institute of Ideas certainly have a talent for getting noticed. But is there more to them than hollow liberal-baiting? asks Richard Wilson
A many splendour'd thing (by Sally Feldman, January/February 2011 ): Moons and Junes, hearts, diamonds and red, red roses – this Valentine's Day, what could be more humanist than passionate romance? But, warns Sally Feldman, it may also be a dangerous delusion
Editorial: it just ain't natural (by Caspar Melville, January/February 2011 ): We shouldn't allow myth and dogma to cloud rational evidence-based argument
Is it time for atheist schools? (by Francis Beckett, November/December 2010 ): Francis Beckett outlines his proposal for Britain's first avowedly humanist state school
Don't fall into the faith school trap (by Rabbi Jonathan Romain, November/December 2010 ): Responding to Francis Beckett's proposal for a humanist school, Rabbi Jonathan Romain of the Accord Coalition warns of the risks of endorsing religious segregation in education
Against humanism (by Mary Midgley, November/December 2010 ): Of course we should love, honour and cherish our species, says Mary Midgley. But should we have to worship it too?
Who won the Pope wars? (by Paul Sims, November/December 2010 ): Catholics, secularists, protestors, pilgrims and provocateurs all claimed victory after the Pontiff’s recent visit. Paul Sims assesses the final score
Calm down, old boy: Laurie Taylor interviews Simon Heffer (by Laurie Taylor, November/December 2010 ): Telegraph thunderer Simon Heffer reveals to Laurie Taylor what it’s like being right
Editorial: oh we of little faith (by Caspar Melville, November/December 2010 ): Are faith and religion necessarily intertwined?
Editorial: Rationality rules (by Caspar Melville, September/October 2010 ): We should put our trust in reason, especially when it challenges our preconceptions
Variety (by Jonathan Rée, July/August 2010 ): The American philosopher William James died a hundred years ago. Jonathan Rée calls for a return to his humane example
Cast away (by Paul Sims, March/April 2010 ): How humanist are the three main parties? With the general election fast approaching, Paul Sims has been canvassing
Going gentle (by Ken Worpole, January/February 2010 ): A series of new care centres shows modern architecture rediscovering its humanity. Ken Worpole takes the tour
Diary: Taking the reins (by Andrew Copson, January/February 2010 ): Running the BHA is daunting but very exciting, says Andrew Copson
Beyond belief (by Richard Norman, November/December 2009 ): Some sophisticated arguments for God have been made in response to the New Atheists. Richard Norman puts the ‘New Believers’ to the test. Illustrations by Irene Fuga
Poem: The Playboy Calendar and the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (by Martín Espada, November/December 2009 ): How poet Martín Espada became a humanist
The art of uncertainty (by Danny Postel, September/October 2009 ): Last issue’s article about how to raise children as humanists received hundreds of responses. Here its author, Danny Postel, chooses his favourites
The art of certainty (by Roger Scruton, September/October 2009 ): We need to teach children faith first before they can learn to doubt, says Roger Scruton, in his response to Danny Postel
Good books? (by Danny Postel, July/August 2009 ): What can humanist parents use in the battle against religious indoctrination? Danny Postel investigates
What kind of humanist are you? (by Editorial Staff, July/August 2009 ): Are you hardline or happy, hedonist or hounded? Answer the questions below and find out how far your personality suits your philosophy
Prometheus bound (by R Joseph Hoffman, July/August 2009 ): Paul Kurtz, champion of American secular humanism, has been ousted from the organisation he founded. R Joseph Hoffman, a former colleague, traces the origins of the split
Gothic revival (by Nick Mamatas, May/June 2009 ): Outsider, troublemaker, genteel bum – Nick Mamatas celebrates the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe, the master of the perverse
Moral dilemmas (by Steven Lukes, March/April 2009 ): Do we have the right to judge others? Steven Lukes reviews the evidence
Something to declare (by Conor Gearty, November/December 2008 ): As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th birthday in December, Conor Gearty calls for a fresh definition of this most humanist value
What lies beneath (by Paul Heelas, September/October 2008 ): Even godless humanism needs a sense of the spiritual, says Paul Heelas
Cold flesh (by Owen Hatherley, September/October 2008 ): From interior designer to poet of the grotesque – Owen Hatherley traces the evolution of a tortured artistic humanist
Editorial: Something to believe in (by Caspar Melville, September/October 2008 ): With so much to choose from, what do you believe in?
Happy birthday humanism (by Bill Cooke, March/April 2008 ): For two centuries one word has symbolised the battle against extremism, says Bill Cooke
Thinker: Simone de Beauvoir (by Toril Moi, March/April 2008 ): The feminist icon was dedicated to freedom for all humanity, says Toril Moi
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (by Shirley Dent, March/April 2008 ): Shirley Dent believes Rushdie is the ultimate humanist storyteller
Spoil yourself (by Sally Feldman, January/February 2008 ): Luxury may mean excess, vulgarity and obscene waste. But, argues Sally Feldman, it’s also a basic humanist instinct
Holy communion (by Richard Norman, November/December 2007 ): New wave atheism is aggressively antagonistic to religion. But, argues Richard Norman, it’s more fruitful to find common ground
Editorial: The A Word (by Caspar Melville, November/December 2007 ): When it comes to being cultish and dogmatic, religion is still the brand leader
Ring master (by Owen Hatherley, November/December 2007 ): High flying, visual acrobatics, visceral shocks – Russia’s greatest director used the tricks of the circus to captivate the crowds. Owen Hatherley takes a seat in Eisenstein’s big top
Only joking (by Laurie Taylor, September/October 2007 ): Introducing our recent public debate on humour at London’s Royal Society of Arts, Laurie Taylor discovered that laughter can be a serious business
God slot (by David Hendy, September/October 2007 ): Radio 4's Thought for the Day has for four decades infuriated humanists with its daily dose of religious platitudes. But, argues David Hendy, it could be a force for freedom
Clouded judgement (by Sally Feldman, July/August 2007 ): Its not just the flickering flames, the calm and cool that humanists are giving up, argues Sally Feldman. It's a precious part of themselves
Free from crooked things (by Karen Connelly, May/June 2007 ): Buddhism is fatalistic, deeply misogynist and riven with superstition. And yet, argues Karen Connelly, it also inspires resistance to tyranny and the fight for freedom
Cosy concrete (by Owen Hatherley, May/June 2007 ): Alvar Aalto's organic modernism may be seductive. But, warns Owen Hatherley, it can also lead to the banal
Naughty but nice (by Nina Power, March/April 2007 ): Contemporary pornography is a hideous distortion of the joys of sex. Yet, argues Nina Power, it could all have been so different
We're all humanists now (by Andrew Copson, January/February 2007 ): A new opinion poll shows that the majority of British people trust science more than religion and do not base their morality on religious belief. Andrew Copson reports
Letter from Busota (by Moses Kamya, January/February 2007 ): New Humanist readers have raised £2,698 for the Mustard Seed school in Uganda. Headmaster Moses Kamya tells us what the money means
Editorial: We feel good (by Caspar Melville, January/February 2007 ): Secularism isn't on the wane, despite what you read in the media, says Caspar Melville
Debating Humanism by Dolan Cummings (eds) (by Nick Cohen, November/December 2006 ): Nick Cohen reads between the lines
Editorial: Simply Human (by Caspar Melville, September/October 2006 ): It may have come as something to a shock to Darwin's contemporaries to be told that we're really just animals.
Down to Earth (by Brian Morris, September/October 2006 ): Murray Bookchin, who died this summer, was the last of the great social ecologists. His ideas aremore relevant than ever, says Brian Morris
Design for living (by Hugh Pearman, March/April 2006 ): Bauhaus architects wanted to build a more rational world. Hugh Pearman explores the links between humanism and the Modernist movement
Projecting the human (by Andrew Tudor, March/April 2006 ): Andrew Tudor searches for the soul of cinema
Love thine enemy (by Bernard Crick, January/February 2006 ): Rather than bicker with believers, we should join forces with them, says Bernard Crick
Uncommon decency (by Conor Gearty, January/February 2006 ): We must reclaim the language of human rights, says Conor Gearty
Editorial: State of mind (by Caspar Melville, September/October 2005 ): New editor Caspar Melville wishes New Humanist a happy 120th birthday
Love thine enemy (by David Belden, November/December 2004 ): Not long ago, humanists could feel that theirs was the way of the future. But now, Dave Belden argues, we will need to relearn how to make common cause with religious progressives
Points of departure (by Sally Feldman, November/December 2004 ): More and more people are choosing humanist funerals. But what if you're after something a little more exotic? Sally Feldman suggests a new marriage of the secular and the sacred
Class Action (by Marilyn Mason, September/October 2004 ): Marilyn Mason applauds the inclusion of humanism in the new Religious Education
Anarchist with attitude: Laurie Taylor interviews Linda Smith (by Laurie Taylor, September/October 2004 ): Comedian Linda Smith, who died in 2006, was the president of the British Humanist Association. In this interview from 2004 she talks to Laurie Taylor about atheism, authority and her passion for pricking pomposity
Diderot's triumph (by Haydn Mason, September/October 2004 ): Haydn Mason consults the original humanist bible
Give us a sign (by Alan Brownjohn, July/August 2004 ): Why shouldn't humanists have their own code for conveying solidarity, asks Alan Brownjohn
Courage and Commitment (by Jim Herrick, July/August 2004 ): Jim Herrick reports from Africas first humanist conference
Good without God (by Jim Herrick, July/August 2004 ): Jim Herrick reconciles the mystic and the rational
Critical humanism (by AC Grayling, January/February 2004 ): Book Review: AC Grayling on Hope and Memory by Tzvetan Todorov
Rationalism for all? (by Julian Baggini, January/February 2004 ): Julian Baggini on a new book of rationalism
Confessions of a knicker flasher (by Claire Rayner, Summer 2003 ): Claire Rayner has died. Here's something typical of her no nonsense style from 2003, in which... Claire Rayner exposes herself
Editorial (by Jim Herrick, Spring 2002 ): Jim Herrick considers contemporary moral mazes and ethical enigmas...
Outlooks on Enlightenment (by Simon Blackburn, Spring 2002 ): Simon Blackburn, Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University and a member of the Humanist Philosophers' Group, takes a look at the relative merits of relativism, scepticism and humanism
Norwegian Nous (by Jim Herrick, Summer 2001 ): Jim Herrick reports from Oslo on Norwegian humanism
A Humanist Outlook (by Sir Hermann Bondi, Spring 2001 ): The late Hermann Bondi, a past president of the Rationalist Press Association, looks for the common ground of humanity
Obituary: Harold Blackham (by Editorial Staff, Web Exclusive, January 2009): Harold John Blackham, prominent British and international humanist and founder of the British Humanist Association, has died at the age of 105
Hatchet job (by Bill Cooke, Web Exclusive, August 2009): Bill Cooke responds to R Joseph Hoffmann on the legacy of Paul Kurtz
Doing fine now (by Julian Baggini, Web Exclusive, August 2010): Is the glass half full? Half empty? Just be glad you’ve got a drink says Julian Baggini
The Blair-Hitch project (by Matthew Adams, Web Exclusive, November 2010): Hitchens debating religion with Blair in Toronto was a heavyweight contest worth staying up for. Matthew Adams keeps the scores
The man who would be God: an interview with AC Grayling (by Matthew Adams, Web Exclusive, April 2011): Anthony Grayling's latest book is his most daring. He has rewritten the Bible, leaving out God. Matthew Adams meets him
Open hearted (by Ronald Aronson, Web Exclusive, June 2011): Undergoing life-saving surgery Ronald Aronson realised that there is a force beyond ourselves giving our lives meaning. It just isn’t God
A friend to the friendless (by David Silver, Web Exclusive, July 2011): In the July/August 2011 issue of New Humanist, Richard Smyth assessed the role of prison chaplains. Here David Silver, who is serving a life sentence in HMP Gartree, offers his view
Let the kids believe in Santa (by Myra Zepf, Web Exclusive, December 2011): Atheists shouldn’t crush the magic of Christmas, says Myra Zepf
Naked grace: the humanist vision of Eve Arnold (by Max Houghton, Web Exclusive, January 2012): The great Magnum photographer Eve Arnold, who has died aged 99, had a uniquely tender eye, says Max Houghton
Against the barbarians (by Finn Bowring, Web Exclusive, January 2012): Hannah Arendt’s humanism was not the opposite of religion but of self-absorption and totalitarianism, says Finn Bowring
Bunnies, chicks and brutal torture (by Myra Zepf, Web Exclusive, March 2012): Humanist parent Myra Zepf confronts the perils of the Easter festivities