SASS member Emma Campbell considers some aspects of freedom of expression in South Africa. Freethinking begins with the freedom to question. Humanism takes that freedom and places it within a broader commitment to human dignity, autonomy and flourishing. Both depend on an open exchange of ideas. Freedom of expression is therefore more than a political
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SA Secular Society member Emma Campbell turns her lens on social justice, from a Freethinker’s point of view. Throughout history, many social institutions and customs have been defended on the grounds that they are traditional, natural or ordained by a higher authority. Freethinking challenges us to ask a different question: Are these ideas actually justified?
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When we hear the word freethought, it is easy to imagine a modern movement that emerged in response to organised religion. In reality, the desire to ask questions, challenge accepted wisdom and seek evidence has been part of the human story for thousands of years. Freethought is not about telling people what to believe. Rather,
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Modern Humanism: Science, Ethics and the Stewardship of Earth by Kai Taraporevala was published in 2025 by MH Eudaimon Editions. It has been widely praised by reviewers as a masterful synthesis of science, philosophy, and environmental ethics. The South African Secular Society conducted the following interview with the author. How do you define modern
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By the South African Secular Society You don’t need a god to be good. You don’t need the promise of heaven to treat people with kindness, or the threat of hell to stop you from doing wrong. Millions of people across the world live rich, ethical, meaningful lives without religion ~ and many of them
Introduction Ubuntu and secular humanism might arise from different cultural and philosophical traditions, but both emphasise our shared humanity, dignity, and moral responsibility. Ubuntu is an African worldview captured in the phrase “I am because we are,” while secular humanism is a non-religious ethical stance that values human welfare, reason, and compassion without reliance on
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In a world where religious beliefs have traditionally provided answers to life’s most profound questions, those of us who embrace a secular worldview often find ourselves navigating these existential conundrums without the comfort of divine explanations. Yet, far from leaving us adrift, this perspective offers a rich, nuanced approach to understanding our place in the
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African Humanism, often referred to as Ubuntu in Southern Africa, represents a unique philosophical perspective that emphasises the interconnectedness of all people and the importance of communal relationships. Rooted deeply in the cultural and social fabric of African societies, African Humanism centres on the idea that one’s humanity is affirmed and realised through relationships with
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This review of the life and work of Daniel Dennett was written for the Secular Society of South Africa by Barrie van Zyl. Daniel Dennett, an American philosopher and cognitive scientist, well known for his support of atheism and secularism, died on 19 April 2024 at the age of 82. He remains one of the
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Categories: Atheism, PhilosophyGenres: Atheism, Philosophy, ReligionPublished: 1/1/2014Format: HardcoverPage Count: 254Goodreads Rating: 4.21Goodreads ID: 18747558ISBN13: 9780989936002ISBN: 0989936007Book URL: GoodReads.comThe myth persists. Even in our modern world, countless people believe that without God, one’s life has no purpose or meaning — that the lives of atheists are devoid of joy and happiness because they are not religious.
A Better Life: 100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy & Meaning in a World Without God Read More »
