When the South African Secular Society (SASS) was established in 2014, a Secular Charter was adopted. This outlines the principles of the secular state that SASS strives to achieve. Comparative approaches to secular charters around the world Across the world, societies have found different ways to formalise the principle of secularism — the separation of religion Read more
Our Secular Charter: Your Rights, Explained Read More »
An opinion piece by Secular Society member Declan Ahern. The Halloween-industrial complex is a marvel of late-stage capitalism: an American industry now projected to be worth over R227 billion built entirely on a fiction we collectively agree to enjoy. Think about that for a moment. We live in the age of CRISPR, quantum computing, and
Halloween, the Tokoloshe and the Algorithm: How We Engineer Our Own Ghosts Read More »
An opinion piece written by SA Secular Society member Louise Golding. What Everyday Beliefs Reveal About the Human Mind South Africa’s cultural landscape is beautifully diverse — a meeting place of traditions, superstitions, and spiritual interpretations passed down through generations. But where do these beliefs come from? Why do we still hold them, even when
Rational Explanations for Common Beliefs Read More »
Some South African superstitions are unique to this country, while others are found in many other places. Many superstitions, passed down through generations as explanations for life’s mysteries or warnings to keep people safe. From an anthropological point of view, superstitions are part of a society’s “cultural toolkit” — symbolic ways of coping with uncertainty,
South African Superstitions: Myths, Meanings and the Science Behind Them Read More »
An opinion piece by SA Secular Society’s Declan Ahern. Every September 24th, South Africa has a national tradition. The smell of braai smoke fills the air, people wear bright, traditional clothes, and we celebrate our “heritage.” We get together and tell ourselves this day is about honouring the many different cultures and traditions that make
Let’s Reclaim Heritage Day Through Reason and Wonder Read More »
Zukiswa Wanner is joint winner of the South African Secular Society for 2024. She gave this talk when she received the award in Johannesburg. We are here because on 29 February, 2024 at 15h42 Central African Time, my co-recipients of the Goethe Medal, Bolivian visual artist Elvira Espejo Ayca and author Ian McEwan from the
An opinion piece by SA Secular Society’s Declan Ahern. South Africa’s youth are inheriting a world flooded with information. Every day, they navigate a digital torrent of viral news, deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and miracle cures. To send them into this environment without the ability to distinguish fact from fiction is educational malpractice. We are giving
Installing Critical Thinking as South Africa’s Core Operating System Read More »
In South Africa, where faith communities weave a vibrant tapestry, the line between religion education (RE) and religious education (religious instruction) gets blurry. The South African Secular Society (SASS) believes that only one belongs in public schools. Religion Education: A Kaleidoscope of Faiths Imagine a classroom buzzing with curiosity about Hindu Diwali celebrations, Buddhist meditation
Religion Education vs. Religious Education in South Africa Read More »
An opinion piece by Declan Ahern South Africa’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) represent a vast library of human experience. This is not a dusty archive of forgotten facts, but a living tapestry of wisdom, woven from generations of observation, survival, and cultural meaning. It holds profound insights into botany, metallurgy, ecology, and the human condition.
How Science Honours and Clarifies Indigenous Knowledge Read More »
An opinion piece by Declan Ahern. On July 18th, we don’t just remember a man; we celebrate an idea. We’ve consumed the brand of Nelson Mandela for decades: the warm smile, the forgiving spirit, the easy story of the Rainbow Nation. It’s a powerful, marketable narrative that feels good. A national comfort food. But comfort
More Than a Feeling: The Secular Architecture of Mandela’s Constitution Read More »
