I’m #HumanistBecause it reflects my approach to life

Author: Andrew Copson

In 2020, in the midst of the third lockdown of the pandemic, Humanists UK launched a little social media campaign called ‘#HumanistBecause’, which invited people to use the hashtag to simply say why they called themselves humanists. 

We expected the campaign would resonate with humanists online but we were surprised by just how much it did so. It added about 10 million impressions to our reach on Twitter that month, and quadrupled our reach on Facebook. Some of the most popular posts on Twitter and Instagram were naturally from Humanists UK patrons and other well known humanists. Quotes sent in by Sandi Toksvig and Alice Roberts were turned into graphics, while people like actor Eddie Marsan, the writer Tom Sherrington, and the MP Rachel Hopkins all joined in on the hashtag. But I was pleased to see that some of the most popular content came from members of the public, over 2000 of whom posted original tweets, Instagram stories, and Facebook posts across the period.

Why did the campaign resonate? I think it’s possibly because the format captured something of the essence of humanism – that it is descriptive more than prescriptive. A shoe that fits. A viewpoint, not an obligation. A conclusion you have arrived at, rather than a dogmatic set of do’s and don’ts.

#HumanistBecause

Our decision to relaunch the #HumanistBecause campaign, four years on from that wintry November lockdown, is a reflection of this understanding. Humanism isn’t something people must consciously choose or adhere to; rather, it’s a label that resonates with individuals who already live by values rooted in reason, compassion, and human welfare.

Calling yourself a humanist is about putting a name to positive values you already hold. It’s a natural fit for those who lead ethical lives without religion, but there’s a great deal of room for difference of opinion and diversity within that. What humanists have in common is less our particular opinions on politics or society, but our starting point. Using reason, the scientific method, and evidence to draw conclusions about the world. Using empathy and compassion to decide right from wrong. Accepting that life is all too brief, so it’s on us to make it count.

#HumanistBecause is about encouraging people to recognise and articulate their own ethical stances. By sharing stories and perspectives from within our diverse community, we hope to demonstrate that humanism is not a monolithic philosophy but a broad and inclusive umbrella that many naturally fall under, even if they don’t yet identify as humanists.

Surveys suggest that, in a country where just over half the population have ‘no religion’, about a quarter of the population (roughly half the non-religious) have beliefs and values that fit the definition of humanism to a T. And of course, across the non-religious and the population as a whole, people will find they have values and ideas in common with humanists. What we want is for non-religious people to have the option to confidently articulate their convictions, opinions, and values, and to understand that their views aren’t second-best to religions, but that it is in fact a fully coherent, rational, and morally upstanding worldview with a long history, and which has helped to shape this society and our world for the better over history.

At Humanists UK, our education work is focused instead on making sure humanism is well understood by the public at large. That mandate covers social media campaigns like this one, which reach millions. But it’s also the reason why we send trained school visitors into schools to help teachers explore humanism as part of RE lessons. It’s why we have an extensive heritage project mapping the impact of humanism on British society. And it’s even why we maintain a national programme of dialogue with religious groups – building bridges and defusing any misunderstandings.

Join the conversation

In essence, the campaign is an invitation — not to join a movement, but to recognise a shared understanding of life that many people already live by. It’s about finding the right words to express how we feel; a language that gives voice to our inner lives and takes pride in humanist thinking and action.

Reading some of the tweets this morning, I was struck by just how many people say they are humanist not just ‘because’ of the obvious things like the fact that they use reason and logic and evidence and kindness to tell right from wrong and treat others well. In those 2000 unique user-generated comments, I saw comments taking pride in humanism not just as a way of thinking, but because of how it inspired them and others to take action for causes they cared about.  

In 2020, the former MP Graham Allen chimed in, saying he was a humanist because ‘this world is all we have, and humankind working in cooperation can use reason and empathy to provide all we need.’ Skeptic campaigner Michael Marshall tweeted: ‘I am #HumanistBecause I believe we only have one life, and the things that happen in it truly matter. Suffering, lies and injustice are real, and improving people’s lives is the most important thing we can do.’ 

I caught myself smiling when I read how the environmentalist Zion Lights put it yesterday. She said, ‘I believe that the responsibility to look after the planet lies solely with humanity.’ Going on to quote from the humanist cosmologist Carl Cagan, she continues: ‘As Carl Sagan once wrote of a distant image of our tiny world, “it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”

Thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation.

Andrew Copson