In many parts of the world, including South Africa, death remains one of the last great taboos. We plan for births, celebrate milestones, and share our achievements openly—but when it comes to death, we often fall silent. For members of the South African Secular Society and the broader secular community, this silence raises important questions.
Talking About Death Over Coffee: Why Death Cafés Matter Read More »
Belonging is not a luxury. It is not a soft, sentimental idea. It is a fundamental human need. Psychologists have long recognised that the need to belong sits alongside our need for safety and security. We are social beings. We thrive when we feel seen, understood and accepted. We suffer when we feel excluded, misunderstood
The Human Need to Belong – and the Courage to Live Authentically Read More »
This opinion piece was written by SASS member “Joy” Bless. It started with some rather personal experience: first with a friend of mine, in South Africa, then with a niece in Latin America. Two very different regions of the world, two very different cultures and religions, but with the same reaction: “How can you not
The Growth of the Non-religious Population and its Challenges Read More »
Human dignity, equality, critical thinking, and evidence-based progress South Africa enters 2026 carrying both promise and strain. We are a constitutional democracy founded on human dignity, equality, and freedom, yet we continue to live with deep inequality, social fragmentation, and a persistent gap between policy intention and lived reality. In this context, secular values are
What Secular Values Offer South Africa in 2026 Read More »
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
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 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 »
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 »
A framework for thoughtful reflection on cultural practices Why Evaluate Traditions? Traditions connect us to our past and shape our communities, but not all practices deserve preservation simply because they’re old. As rational thinkers, we can honor our heritage while questioning practices that may cause harm or no longer serve their original purpose. 🔍 The
A Rational Toolkit for Evaluating Traditions Read More »
