New Humanist magazine joins Humanists UK

After more than a century of collaboration, a merger has been announced between the Rationalist Association, which has published New Humanist magazine since its founding in 1885, and Humanists UK.

For 130 years, New Humanist has been a vital platform for award-winning journalism and insightful commentary on science, technology, culture, and politics. As part of Humanists UK, the magazine’s readership will soar to more than 130,000, with a print circulation of more than 26,000. The majority of these readers will be subscribers, with New Humanist also available in newsagents across the country. This expansion will transform New Humanist into the UK’s newest major print publication, ready to tackle the pressing global challenges of our time.

In an era of misinformation and division, New Humanist’s expanded voice will champion freedom of thought and expression, human rights, and a rational approach to contemporary problems. As questions around meaning and purpose in life are being brought into ever sharper relief, too many people are finding answers in false and divisive narratives – from nationalism to new age beliefs, resurgent white supremacy to conspiracy theories on the left and right. By providing a platform for diverse voices and in-depth analysis, the magazine aims to galvanise the humanist movement and foster a more reasoned and compassionate public discourse.

Humanists UK, with over 130,000 members and supporters, has itself experienced significant growth in the last two decades, bucking the trend for many charities, and reflecting the increasing number of people in the UK who identify as non-religious. In an era of fake news, hasty reactions, and ‘cancel culture’, the humanist movement has continued to champion freedom of thought, speech, and freedom of expression, along with universal human rights, in the media, law, and public policy. Its education work and non-religious ceremonies benefit over one million people each year, while its specialist services like asylum support and emotional support in hospitals and prisons help provide support to people in their darkest times. Now nearly four times the size it was just over a decade ago, the charity continues to see increased demand for non-religious weddings and funerals, and a growing pile of casework supporting non-religious families with issues to do with religion in schools in particular.

In addition to publishing New Humanist magazine the merger means that Humanists UK will also acquire the Rationalist Press Association, a historic publisher of humanist and rationalist literature, particularly of cheap reprints for a working class readership. It will be relaunched later this year as the Rationalist Press. The Rationalist Association’s President, Professor Laurie Taylor, has also become a Vice President of Humanists UK.

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented:

‘We live in times as troubled as any in the long histories of our organisations. More than ever, we need a strong humanist movement for the twenty-first century and this merger is a great strengthening. Humanism has a bright future in the UK.’

Niki Seth-Smith, Editor of New Humanist, commented:

‘With Humanists UK as our publisher, we can do more than ever to reach the majority of people in our country and globally who are open-minded, curious, and care deeply about the state of the world.

‘We have big plans to use the boosted readership for the magazine to make it even more impactful and influential and I look forward to working with the editorial team to achieve this.’

Clive Coen, outgoing Chair of the Rationalist Association, commented:

‘The Rationalist Association’s Trustees are pleased with this merger. Finding a place for New Humanist magazine within Humanists UK secures its future, while strengthening the voice of humanism and the aligned voice of rationalism.’

Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Vice President of Humanists UK, commented:

‘As a scientist I rely first and foremost on the power of evidence and reason in seeking answers to scientific questions about how the world works, and my training means I try to apply this to my everyday life as well. Of course, evidence-based arguments, rational thinking and reason are not the sole preserve of science; in our increasingly complex world, we need organisations that champion these values more broadly.

‘Humanists UK and the Rationalist Association always shared these goals, but by working separately, their impact was diluted. During my time as President of Humanists UK, I questioned why the humanist/rationalist message was being diluted through the activities of two separate organisations, so I am delighted that we are finally joining forces amplifying our voice, and reaching a wider audience.’

Professor Alice Roberts, Vice President of Humanists UK, commented:

‘As a biological anthropologist and someone deeply interested in the human story, I have learned that one of humanity’s superpowers is our ability to cooperate with each other. Humanists UK and the Rationalist Association both sought to understand our place in the world, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to promote critical thinking. Together, they create a vibrant hub for intellectual exploration, ethical debate, and compassionate action. So I think of this as a very positive evolutionary step – a merging of strengths to better adapt to the challenges of our time. We can now share our knowledge, our networks, and our resources, creating a stronger voice for reason and empathy in the UK and beyond. These are challenging times and a strong coalition fighting for rational thinking, compassion and empathy is needed now, more than ever.’

A brief history of New Humanist, the Rationalist Association, and Humanists UK

New Humanist has been the magazine for the non-religious, dedicated to reason and lively debate, for 140 years. Originally called Watts’s Literary Guide after its founder, the rationalist Charles Albert Watts, it became The Literary Guide and Rationalist Review in 1894, then The Humanist in 1956, and finally New Humanist in 1972. Its publisher, also founded by Watts, was the Rationalist Press Association (RPA). The RPA’s honorary associates included Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein – the latter famously had a copy of the magazine on the top of his desk at the time of his death. Longtime Rationalist Association member Vera Brittain once gave a toast to it in 1935 and was typical of the Association’s broad appeal. The Rationalist Association took over the RPA’s work in 2002.

Contributors to New Humanist over the years have included Bertrand Russell, Barbara Wootton, E M Forster, Jacob Bronowski, Richard Dawkins, Bernard Crick, Ruth Padel, Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Amartya Sen, and Margaret Knight, and religious figures such as archbishop Rowan Williams.  As a publisher, the Rationalist Press Association also published cheap editions of works by the likes of Charles Darwin, T.H. Huxley, John Stuart Mill, and L. Susan Stebbing through its Thinker’s Library imprint. In recent years, contributors to the New Humanist online, in print, or via its podcast include Samira Ahmed, Sally Feldman, Michael Rosen, Angela Saini, Jonathan Franzen, Stephen Fry, Mary Beard, Kenan Malik, Marie Le Conte, Reni Enno-Lodge, Marcus Chown, and Shaparak Khorsandi.

Humanists UK was originally founded in 1896 as the Union of Ethical Societies, a union of non-religious societies carrying out charitable work and providing an alternative to churches. In 1920 it became the Ethical Union and in 1963 it and the RPA came together to form the British Humanist Association as an umbrella group. This was the first attempt at a merger between the two groups. But discrimination against the non-religious in charity law at the time led in 1967 to the Ethical Union losing charitable status, which in turn meant the RPA had to pull out of the merger. The Ethical Union then became the British Humanist Association, renaming itself in 2017 to Humanists UK.

Today, Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 130,000 members and supporters, it advances free thinking and promotes humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. It provides ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year alongside campaigns advancing humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all. It also now publishes New Humanist magazine.