Dialogue with others

Our trained volunteers meet religious and belief groups across the UK to explain what humanists believe, listen to what others believe, and find common ground that helps communities live well together.

Invite a humanist Become a dialogue volunteer
A humanist volunteer standing with members of a Leeds interfaith group, smiling together after a talk
Humanist volunteer Louise Williams with Leeds’s Concord interfaith group, June 2026.

What we mean by dialogue

Dialogue is not debate. It isn’t about winning an argument, and it doesn’t mean avoiding disagreement. It means people with different approaches to life getting to know each other as fellow human beings.

UnderstandingExplaining humanism to people who may never have met a humanist, and learning how others make sense of life’s big questions.
Common groundFinding the values we share, such as kindness, fairness, and care for others, while being honest about where we differ.
Acting togetherWhere it makes sense, working side by side on local causes and shared events, from Holocaust Memorial Day to faith and belief forums.

‘Interfaith’ can leave non-religious people out, which is why many local groups now call themselves ‘faith and belief’ forums.

Welcomed in places of worship, workplaces, and town halls

170+trained dialogue volunteers across the UK

100+dialogue sessions with religious and belief groups in 2025

Recent hosts and partners include

  • Councils and local faith and belief forums
  • Hospital trusts
  • Holocaust Memorial Day events
  • The International Eisteddfod
  • A humanist–Buddhist dialogue series in London
  • Universities, Network Rail, and staff networks at major employers

Source: Humanists UK Annual Reports 2024 and 2025.

A Cornwall Humanists stand with a banner and leaflets inside Truro Cathedral
Cornwall Humanists were invited to join other community groups at Truro Cathedral for Holocaust Memorial Day, 2026.

Invite a humanist to your group or event

Our volunteers take part in small-group conversations, panels, festivals, and commemorations. We can usually find someone near you.

Faith and belief groupsA humanist voice for your forum, open evening, or dialogue series, or a guest to explain humanism to your community.
Councils and public bodiesA non-religious representative for civic events, commemorations, and community cohesion work.
Employers and universitiesA speaker for staff networks, chaplaincy teams, or belief-awareness sessions, so non-religious colleagues are included.
Email our Dialogue Officer Want a talk about humanism instead? Book a community speaker →
Jeremy Rodell
Photo: Matthew Horwood

Meet Jeremy Rodell, our Dialogue Officer

Jeremy leads Humanists UK’s dialogue work as a volunteer. He supports our network of dialogue volunteers and represents humanists in conversations with religious and belief organisations across the country. He has written on humanism and ‘spirituality’ for Professor Richard Norman’s work on religion and atheism.

Email Jeremy Read his interview →

Join our Dialogue Network

If you’re a Humanists UK member who enjoys listening as much as talking, we’ll give you the training and support to represent humanists in your area.

  1. 1Introduction to Dialogue. A short online session on what dialogue involves and how we approach it.
  2. 2Part Two training. Practical skills for small-group conversations, panels, and tricky questions.
  3. 3Join the network. Take part in local dialogue, with resources and support from Jeremy and fellow volunteers.
Train as a dialogue volunteer Hear from volunteer Hannah McKerchar →
Dialogue Network volunteers in conversation over lunch at a table marked Humanists UK Dialogue Network
‘We are all the same, we just have different ways of making sense of life’s bigger questions.’
Julia Beckett, dialogue volunteer

Working with others nationally

We also work with religious and belief organisations through national bodies, and humanists sit on local councils for religious education.

Already in the Dialogue Network? Go to the Dialogue Area