Secular Society member, Emma Campbell, advocates that there be respect for all beliefs, including non-belief. South Africa is a country shaped by different cultures, traditions, religions and ways of understanding the world. In our homes, workplaces, schools and communities, we encounter people whose beliefs differ from our own. Some people find meaning through religion or
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An Interview with the Author – Synthil Kistnasami Tell us something about yourself and your beliefs, if any. Today, I identify as a Humanistic Atheist, I am not convinced of the existence of a God or any supernatural being, nor do I worship deities or manifestations of divinity. Yet my identity is inseparable from my
Author Interview: Identity, Culture And The Hindu Exodus Read More »
The World Humanist Congress, meeting in Ottawa, Canada, in 2026, declares: Humanism is not just a set of values but an active approach to life. We reaffirm the progressive and optimistic vision of our Amsterdam Declaration: that every human has the right to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. But human
The Ottawa Declaration on Humanism as Resistance Read More »
SA Secular Society member Sacha Smith considers a humanist approach to heritage. We look back because we want to understand where we came from. The past wasn’t always better, and revisiting it can be uncomfortable. But understanding where we come from helps us make sense of who we are. Heritage Heritage is often presented
Humanism, Heritage and the Arts: The Stories We Choose to Carry Read More »
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?
Freethinking and Social Justice: Questioning the Rules We Inherit Read More »
SA Secular Society member Emma Campbell provides some insight into these two ways of thinking and living. The terms Freethinker and Humanist are often used interchangeably. While they are similar in many, overarching ways, they contain some differences. Both terms centre themselves around reason, evidence and intellectual freedom, and both have played an important
Freethinkers and Humanists: What’s the Difference? Read More »
Every year on 9 August, South Africans commemorate Women’s Day, marking the anniversary of the 1956 march when more than 20,000 women united in protest against the apartheid pass laws. Their courage became a powerful symbol of resistance to injustice and a reminder that ordinary people can bring about extraordinary change. Seventy years on Seventy
Women’s Day 2026: Time For A Reality Check Read More »
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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Introduction Many young couples would describe themselves as “non-religious”. So when they have a baby they don’t wish to take it to a formal religious venue for some sort of ritual which will commit them and the child to uphold that religion’s teachings. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t want a ceremony in which
Why have a Baby Naming Ceremony? Read More »
Introduction Coming-of-age ceremonies have long served as vital milestones, marking the transformative journey from childhood into the responsibilities of adulthood. While these transitions were historically anchored in religious traditions, like Bar Mitzvahs or Confirmations, more families today are seeking meaningful ways to celebrate this evolution outside of a spiritual framework. A secular ceremony focuses on
The Value of Non-Religious Coming-of-Age Ceremonies Read More »
