In this blog piece, Monica Belițoiu, Executive Director of the Romanian Secular-Humanist Association shares why she felt it was important for her to contribute her research, experience, and expertise to the Romania entry of the Freedom of Thought Report.

For me, contributing to the Freedom of Thought Report by Humanists International is more than a gesture; it’s a personal commitment to the cause of individual freedoms in Romania. The challenges faced by humanists are not abstract issues but deeply personal struggles that impact real lives.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/blog/why-i-contribute-to-the-fotr/

Hey yall! My name is Ethan and I’m looking to possibly start practicing humanism and was wondering if anyone could tell me how that works? How do humanists practice their faith and what does that entail?

Thank you!

Humanist International gave me hope. I don’t remember the exact moment when or how I first came into contact with Humanist International, but looking back, I can see the changes that have occurred in my efforts to promote non-religious secular values.

I came from being a hopeless dreamer who had almost given up on his organization’s ability to impact secular values, to finding a community of progressive support, educational resources, and great opportunities for boosting the much-needed humanist advocacy in the third-world.

The task ahead now is to broaden the platform to increase other people’s chances of getting the same help.

- Mxolisi Blessed Masuku, Humanists Zimbabwe.

As a member of Humanists International, your organization gains a powerful platform to advocate for humanist values on the international stage.

Interested in joining Humanists International? Visit: https://humanists.international/join/

How can you be a humanist when it's literally the survival of the fittest out there.the day you were born,you are conditioned to be competing with others and enforce your right on something and justifying it with merit or money or power.haves will always have power on havenots.strong will always have an upper hand on the weak. I am tired of religion I am tired of capitalism and I am tired of the fact that I have little to no free will on the things that I am experiencing. I don't know how much socialism will solve the problem or worse,make more problems.iam having a tough time dealing with the realities of life.where do you seek hope from or should we seek hope at all in the first place.

this place seems more like an atheist circle-jerk than humanism ngl. i know the doing good and bad without reward thing kinda wants no deities or karma but geez people here seem much more interested in atheism and religion than the whole part that includes idk, humans???

So, I was just curious how do Humanists feel about this? This is one of my biggest issues currently honestly as a non-straight Humanist who believes in equality. I am bisexual, but heterosexually married.

I see such hate from others who are against people who are transgender, especially from those namely who are the conservative types who push their views skewing against transgender people's rights.

I am firmly for Human equality, compassion, and empathy towards others. It doesn't matter to me whether you are non-religious, religious, gay, lesbian, transgender, no gender, white, black, asian, or anything else. It's not my place to say what is right for someone else to live their life in such a manner, or claim to know better than they do about how they feel things.

Any thoughts on this? I hold the view, and I would assume most Humanists do, that I don't tolerate discrimination of any kind against anyone. It does also seem that people who are Transgender in general get hate from many people, not just those who are conservative christians.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has cited a submission made by Humanists International in his report on countering intolerance, underscoring that blasphemy laws are incompatible with international law.

The Secretary-General’s report on “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief” was delivered as part of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Read more at: https://humanists.international/2024/11/humanists-international-submission-cited-by-united-nations-secretary-general/

Your right to hold and express non-religious views is enshrined under international law.

Too many countries fail to uphold their human rights obligations regarding non-religious people. Yet the international human rights framework is very clear that such rights exist.

At Humanists International, we track the situation for non-religious people in our Freedom of Thought Report, and through our advocacy and campaign work, we frequently highlight violations against the non-religious and defend non-religious rights.

On this page, we explain how the human rights of non-religious people with respect to their non-religious ideas are enshrined in international law.

Read more here: https://humanists.international/get-involved/resources/the-rights-of-non-religious-people/

📢 Young Humanists International is calling on all young humanists in Asia! 🌍✨

Passionate about driving humanist values and engaging the young humanist community in Asia?

Volunteer as the Asian Regional Coordinator for Young Humanists International! Apply now and help us make a difference!

Deadline: December 6, 2024.

If interested, please apply here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024-YHI-Reg

Hello, Humanism!

So I don't know how many of you are socially awkward, but I most certainly am. The thing that makes it so difficult though is that while I don't always like people, I do love being around people in general. I've had a really rough time socializing in my life, and finding groups of people that I can just get with to even have an opportunity to build upon my foundations to become less awkward. This, along with the incredible difficulty of finding a place to be with others just so I can be with them without petty interests dictating that social gathering is what inspired me to come up with an idea.

Why don't we have a place where we can just get together? It's nothing more or nothing less than that--a place where you can go weekly to enjoy some live performances, hear some comedy, and maybe listen to a speaker. The purpose of just getting together is practical and direct--combat loneliness, and foster a social wellbeing regardless of your mindset on many given things across social boundaries. Morals and ideological stuff would be highly downplayed and general--think of the tone of things like Aesop's fables or old epics or plays that are rife with symbolic meaning and open to diverse interpretations. By avoiding strict ideological framing, JGTs aim to create a space where the focus is on shared experiences rather than the alignment of our mindsets, allowing people from all walks of life to connect without the barriers that often divide us. In this way, we may attempt to transcend our harsh social boundaries by just getting together and being a part of something.

The great thing about many ideas to me is that they can be iterative, meaning it can be built upon or repurposed however you need it to be. So that's what this is presented as--something you can take and run with if you'd like, no matter who you are or where you're from. I've included the intro to Just Get Togethers (JGTs) here from a longer, more in depth pitch I have on my Medium blog. Subjects like Community Engagement and Ideas for Getting Started are covered briefly there. A link which you can visit to learn more about how I envision them in depth will be provided at the end of my post.

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Introducing Just Get Togethers (JGTs)

Just Get Togethers (JGTs) are places revolving around the idea of exactly what it says — all sorts of people having a place to just get together. It’s an idea for inclusive community gatherings that create a space where people can connect, recharge, and simply be human — without the pressure of belonging to a particular mindset, group, or ideology. Inspired by a blend of community centers, churches, and ancient Greek symposiums, JGTs are designed to provide a casual social space for entertainment and shared experiences. Whether through music, comedy, storytelling, or simple conversations, JGTs foster a sense of belonging by letting people participate as much or as little as they like.

They are designed to be socially empowering even to those who dislike crowds and one-on-one socialization, so that everybody has a place they can go regardless of how confident they are with interaction. In addition, things like technology, money, and ritual are normally deemphasized, yet can be subject to differences depending on a Just Get Togethers’ rules of engagement.

These weekly gatherings take place on Wednesday evenings to offer a midweek recharge — a break from routine and a way to connect with familiar faces. With activities like performances, speeches, interactive segments, and games, JGTs provide something fun and free during an otherwise quiet time of the week. Supplementary low-key meetups on Saturdays could offer more focused activities such as book clubs, crafting, or quiet reflection, ensuring there’s always an opportunity to get involved at one’s own pace.

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Thank you for entertaining my pitch, and I hope you all have a great rest of the week! Here's the link for a more in depth look at just getting together - here's the link.

Are you working on a country entry for the Freedom of Thought Report? Are you stuck or have a question? Sign up for one of our monthly drop-in sessions by Humanists International Casework & Campaigns Manager, Emma Wadsworth-Jones, to brainstorm and get advice.

Open to anyone currently working on an update. To join, please let us know you’re coming here.

The November session will take place at 2 pm (UK time) on Friday 22nd of November.

Please register here: https://humanists.international/event/fotr-trouble-shooting-drop-in-session-11/

AHA Luxembourg will host Humanists International’s General Assembly and the International Humanist Conference from the 4th to the 6th of July 2025.

This exciting event will bring together humanists from around the world for a few days of learning, networking, and celebrating our shared values. The General Assembly will provide an opportunity for Humanists International members to discuss and vote on important issues, while the International Humanist Conference will feature a range of speakers, workshops, and discussions on a variety of topics related to humanism.

We look forward to welcoming you to Luxembourg in 2025!
2025 travel grants are now open for Luxembourg.

Please visit the link for more details: https://humanists.international/event/2025-general-assembly/

The Freedom of Thought report surveys discrimination against non-religious people around the world. The dedicated website at fot.humanists.international provides information about the project and the entire online edition.

A team of researcher volunteers works to keep the report up to date regularly. You may either join the team with permanent access to the report’s collaborative editing suite, or if your availability is limited to a shorter time frame you may be able to focus on a specific country, countries, or region. Some skills and experience in writing, research, or policy work would be beneficial.

Volunteers for this project can work remotely from anywhere in the world. Some use of email and online documents will be required.

To apply as a volunteer researcher please visit "Country Researchers (Freedom of Thought Report)" section at: https://humanists.international/about/work-with-us/

Hello fellow Humanists,

I am working on a calendar that incorporates the Ten Commitments as a monthly theme. When I got to October, I noticed that I didn't have a good commitment that works well with the history of that particular month. Harvest, spirits, endings, etc. I know Humanism isn't about the supernatural, but we do recognize emotions. Emotions like grief, recognition, acceptance, mourning, etc. Basically behavioral science & ethology.

People(animals) experience emotions that vary heavily from one to another while at the same time those emotions intermingle with one another. I.E. happiness isn't so far from sadness, hence bittersweet.

My question to you is this..
Which of the ten would best fit the month of October, to discuss and help people think about more personal truths of reality(Past, present, and future)?
Or, is their a commitment missing? Something along the lines of recognition, acceptance, mourning, behavioral science/Ethology.

The calendar in question:

January - Responsibility. (I think it's a good message to start the new year)
February - Empathy.
March - Humility.
April - Environmentalism.
May - Global Awareness.
June - Peace & Social Justice.
July - Service & Participation.
August - Critical Thinking.
September - Ethical Development.
October - Altruism.
November - Review. (Simply reviewing the lessons and year as a whole. More laxed for the holiday season)
December - Review.

Or

January - Responsibility.
February - Empathy.
March - Humility.
April - Environmentalism.
May - Global Awareness.
June - Peace & Social Justice.
July - Service & Participation.
August - Critical Thinking.
September - Ethical Development.
October - Reflection. {In the mirror there is nothing. Yet, I see life}
November - Review.
December - Altruism. (A good message to end the year on)

A few thoughts behind my reasoning of this order.
I tried to pair commitments with months that were appropriate for them. Weather was considered first, followed by what the month stands for.

The last three months and first two months are more intrapersonal, focused on personal reflection and improvement. The middle months are more extrapersonal, focused on physical action.

The reason I'm making this calendar in the first place is because I'd like to build a community of Humanists in my rural area of Ohio. I think a monthly theme based on one of the ten commitments would be a good way to keep people engaged and focused on our shared values/goals.

I may not have used the correct phrasing throughout this post, however, I hope my meaning comes across.
Thank you for reading.

I love human intelligence because it can imagine machines that fly through the air, machines that roll along the ground and on rails; it can imagine machines that traverse the ocean surface and plunge into its depths; it can imagine machines that travel into space, the moon, Mars and beyond; it can imagine things that travel through our blood vessels to attack invaders; and it can even imagine a world without poverty, a world without hunger and homelessness, a world where we love, respect and celebrate each other regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ideology, occupation or anything else.

CNN Article: Atheist chaplains are forging a new path in a changing world

Just wanted to share this with y'all. So you don't have to go back and read my history, I'm an Atheist chaplain.

My relationship with religion was, at the time, a duel to the death: one of us had to give up so the other could survive. With its death came my resurrection, so to speak.

I was born in a Catholic family. When I was four, I started studying at a feminist Catholic school. At the age of twelve, my dad decided to change his religion. I didn’t even know that was possible.

The questions started to bloom: What was God for? Was he real or an invention? Was it a who or a what? Was it him or her? Why was it so easy to change religion? Is there only one truth?

I tried to understand my dad when he told me that there were many religions and that they all taught the same thing: love. With time and many experiences based on other philosophies such as Buddhism, I returned to the initial point: doubt. I decided it was not necessary to have a religion in order to be a ‘good’ person; that ethics is not entangled with one belief.

In my country, Guatemala, where everybody says ‘God bless’ for every farewell, I say ‘take care’ because I respect their beliefs and share to wish them well; because I appreciate it, but never understand how a god who sees everything can bless me (selectively) and not many people who suffer from hunger in the same country and die with a rosary in their hands.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

After the US election and all.

Becoming a humanist was sort of an inevitability for me as someone who comes from a family that is multi-religious and multi-ethnic. Along with another foreign ethnic identity of Indian ancestry, I have three state-recognized ethnic affiliations. My mother’s side of the family practices Buddhism, which is the dominant religion in Burma, and my father’s side practices Islam, which is one of the dominant religions worldwide.

My lifelong experience of discrimination and being a witness to the forced conversion my mum had to endure — such intersectional oppression—had a profound impact on me.

Despite all of the emotional hardship my journey entailed, I am grateful that it inspired me to learn more about religions, ethics, morality, compassion, love, humanism, progressivism, and sympathy.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

As a Kashmiri-Canadian who has lived all over the world, I love exploring ethical, existential, emotional, and equity issues.

At the age of 18 at university, I discovered Humanism and realized that there was a group of like-minded individuals who loved to debate major social and philosophical issues facing society. It was through these discussions that I felt a sense of community and realized that I wanted to express my care for humanity through advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

After doing a number of different roles, I recently became the youngest accredited Humanist Chaplain in Canada. Bringing my humanist story full-circle, I have the privilege of serving the student and employee community at the University of Ottawa.

For more Young Humanists stories around the world, visit: https://humanists.international/about/young-humanists-international/young-humanist-faces/

Every year, Humanists International, as part of its Growth and Development Plan, awards a series of grants to support the projects of our Members and Associates around the world.

These projects tackle issues such as:

•Promotion of humanism

•Promotion of critical thinking or scientific and evidence-based information

•Capacity building of humanist organizations

•Promotion/protection of women’s rights and sexual health and reproductive rights

•Promotion/protection of the rights of the child

•Promotion/protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief

•Promotion/protection of secularism and democracy

•Campaigning to repeal apostasy and blasphemy laws

•Assistance to humanists at risk

•Promotion/protection of the right to free artistic expression

•Non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity

•Anti-racism and caste-based discrimination initiatives

•Initiatives to combat harmful traditional practices

Over 36 projects have been executed worldwide under the Grants Program.

Read more about the executed projects here: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/growth-and-development/supported-projects/

Consider donating to our Growth & Development Plan here: https://humanists.international/what-we-do/growth-and-development/