Around 700 households joined Humanists UK’s 2021 Convention online on Saturday 19 June, making it the best-attended Convention to date. In welcoming attendees, Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson took the opportunity to note the charity’s varied achievements in the previous 12 months, in the teeth of the pandemic, thanking members for their continued support and generosity.
The half-day event featured four hour-long sessions, beginning with Sathnam Sanghera and Samira Ahmed discussing the effects of the British Empire still felt today around the world and in the UK. Recognising the importance of acknowledging and understanding our histories, attendees then heard from the authors of an upcoming book on the history of humanism in the UK, and of Humanists UK itself, with Professors Callum Brown and David Nash joined by Dr Charlie Lynch, and chaired by Humanists UK’s Heritage Coordinator, Madeleine Goodall.
Following a break for lunch, astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt took viewers even deeper into the past, right back to the beginning of the universe, seeking to explain in an expansive lecture how it is that we humans are here today, capable of asking these biggest of big questions. Science communicator and former poker champion, Liv Boeree, an astrophysicist herself, teased out and distilled the essence of Stephen’s talk in a brief but brilliant discussion. The day came to a close with a keynote session with Humanists UK President Professor Alice Roberts, chaired by Vice President Professor Jim Al-Khalili, in a session that reminded attendees of our shared humanity – our shared histories, and our shared future.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:
‘Our speaker Callum Brown said in his session on humanist history that “Secularism, rationalism, and humanism have been essential to the evolution of modern values – against racism, against inequality, against homophobia. In each of these areas, humanism has been critical.”
‘That’s what we remember in this year of our 125th anniversary. We believe it’s these values our members hold and aspire to. So many of the social changes fought for and won by humanists were built from conversations like these, events like these, discussions like these, provoking people to ask questions for themselves and develop their own ideas about the world.
‘I look forward to seeing many of you again to continue those conversations at our next Convention, in Belfast, in 2022.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Find other upcoming Humanists UK events at humanists.uk/events
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.
In 2021, Humanists UK is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a renewed focus on its history. The new website Humanist Heritage is a rich new web resource that uncovers the untold story of humanism in the UK – a story of people, groups, objects, places, movements, publications, and ideas.