This week on Humanism now, Mark & AJ join the panel to discuss the role of science communication & humanism in education, with insights gathered from the New Scientist Conference.

Dr. Emma Park, Editor of The Freethinker, provides a deep dive into the essence of freethought & the consequences of placing any views on an untouchable pedestal. Emma shares insights into the relationship between freethought & free speech, challenges to these freedoms & reviews the current status of non-religious movements.

We end with our listener question: 'Is humanism a religion?'

Episode references:

• Why Humanism is included in ‘Religious Education’ (‘RE’)
• How Humanist are you Quiz?
• UnderstandingHumanism.org.uk
• Humanist UK: Teachers Network
• Humanists UK: School Speakers
• Atheist Bus Campaign

About Dr. Emma Park:
🔗 Emma Park, Homepage
🐦 @DrEmmaPark on Twitter
📖 The Freethinker
📺 Pastafarianism: parody or religion? | Emma Park | CLH Talks 

Emma's book references;

• The Battle for Thought - Freethinking in the Twenty-First Century, Simon McCarthy-Jones
• Freedom to Think - The Long Struggle to Liberate Our Minds, Susie Alegre
• Humanly Possible -  Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Enquiry and Hope, Sarah Bakewell

Upcoming CLH Events:

• Celebrating Black Humanism & Freethought 31 Oct 2023

Send us a text

Support the show

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!

Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky

Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes.

Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

Music: Blossom by Light Prism

Podcast 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's episode focusses on humanistic approaches to both human and animal rights issues.  Following recent proposed changes to the UK's asylum policy,   AJ, Audrey (Assoc. Black Humanists) & James explore humanistic perspectives on immigration, climate change and the role of empathy in approaching global political issues.

In our guest interview with Jamie Woodhouse of Sentientism.info, we explore  how animals rights should be incorporated into Humanism, the goals of the growing Sentientism movement and Jamie's views on AI, lab grown meat and defining 'Sentience'.

Our panel also share their views on whether Humanists should go vegan and become Sentientists. Finally our mailbag question poses, whether a humanist can retain religious faith.

References:
BBC: Anti-gay discrimination not qualification for asylum, says Suella Braverman
Humanists UK Seeking sanctuary: research into apostate asylum claims
Humanists International: Supporting individuals at risk

More on Jamie Woodhouse:
Sentientism.info
Twitter
Facebook
Sentientism Youtube Channel
Sentientism Podcast
Is Sentientism the future of humanism? Watch Jamie's Talk with CLH, April 2023

Upcoming events:
Central London Humanists Upcoming Events
Association of Black Humanists Upcoming Events

Send us a text

Support the show

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!

Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky

Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes.

Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

Music: Blossom by Light Prism

Podcast 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.

Mark Agathangelou, CLH Committee Member and active Event Organiser joins this week's panel to discuss finding Humanism through the  One Life Course, hosing discussion groups and our recent 'What Humanism Means to Me' live open mic night.

Plus our interview with the multi-talented Alex Williams; a poet, teacher, playwright, and author, who will shed light on the power of community within humanism. With his unique perspective, we'll explore the unique role of arts in creating compelling communities, how Alex defines humanism and what inspires his Secular Verses.

Finally, we tackle our mailbag question this week: Why are there still Bishops in the UK's House of Lords, in what is an increasingly secular country.

Episode references:
CLH Once Life Course
Humanists UK Courses on Humanism
Video: What Humanism Means to Me
Humanists UK Campaign: Bishops in the House of Lords

More on Alex Williams;

• Blog: The Dialup 
• Facebook: Tiger Jazz
• Poetry Collection: Secular Verses

Book recommendations from Alex Williams;
Alain de Botton, Religion for Atheists: A non-believer's guide to the uses of religion 

Send us a text

Support the show

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!

Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky

Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes.

Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

Music: Blossom by Light Prism

Podcast 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.

Audrey Simmons, co-lead of the Association of Black Humanists joins James & AJ this week to discuss her personal journey and the unique challenges for the Black community in the UK when it comes to embracing humanism.

AJ provides an update on the proposed ban of conversion therapy in the UK. Despite the government's commitment to a ban, delays, and recent news of the draft bill's cancellation have sparked a wave of demonstrations. Together, we stand in allyship with the campaign to ban conversion therapy and discuss how you, our listeners, can join the movement.

Plus,  Prof. Christopher Cameron, author of Black Freethinkers,  A History of African American Secularism joins the podcast to discuss his personal journey and the figures who inspired his seminal book, as well as the future of freethought in America.

Here more from Chris Cameron, live in Conversation with S.I. Martin on 22 September 2023 in Central London.

Finally, our mailbag question this week: Just what does it mean to be spiritual but not religious?

Refences:
Association of Black Humanists
Humanists International - Amsterdam Declaration 2022
Humanists UK - Banning Conversion Therapy Campaign

Book recommendations from Prof. Cameron;

• Sikivu Hutchinson 
• Michael Lackey, African American Atheists and Political Liberation
• Anthony Pinn, By These Hands & The End of God-Talk 

Send us a text

Support the show

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!

Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky

Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes.

Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

Music: Blossom by Light Prism

Podcast 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.

What does it truly mean to be a humanist in today's world?

In this episode, James & AJ from Central London Humanists discuss their personal journeys and why start a humanism podcast now?

Plus guest interview with Rosyln Mould, Vice President of Humanists International

Send us a text

Support the show

Support Humanism Now & Join Our Community!

Follow @HumanismNowPod | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Threads | X.com | BlueSky

Humanism Now is produced by Humanise Live, making podcasting easy for charities and social causes.

Contact us to get starting in podcasting today at humanise.live or [email protected]

Music: Blossom by Light Prism

Podcast 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.