{"id":50,"date":"2019-11-24T15:24:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-24T15:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/?page_id=50"},"modified":"2025-11-24T18:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T18:20:11","slug":"a-personal-view-of-humanism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/a-personal-view-of-humanism\/","title":{"rendered":"A personal view of Humanism."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"> from Keith \u2013 Chair of Lancashire Humanists <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-838x1024.webp 838w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-245x300.webp 245w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-768x938.webp 768w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-1257x1536.webp 1257w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-1676x2048.webp 1676w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced.webp 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-838x1024.jpg\" height=\"1024\" width=\"838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-838x1024.jpg 838w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-768x938.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-1257x1536.jpg 1257w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced-1676x2048.jpg 1676w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/KP-photo-reduced.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" class=\"wp-image-448 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\"  > <\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When involved in discussions about my humanism, I am often asked about how long I have been a humanist.&nbsp; The answer essentially is, probably longer than I actually realised it.&nbsp; Whilst I decided to become an atheist in my early teens, it took many years and experiences in life that led to my evolution into a \u201cHumanist\u201d (as I see myself now).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along the way several things contributed to my humanist views developing.&nbsp; A major one of these was many years volunteering with Samaritans, which helped me develop skills that I hope to use through some of the pastoral care options.&nbsp; It taught me a lot about accepting others and trying to see life through their eyes.&nbsp; This is something that I try to do in every encounter and steers my approach to many situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I firmly believe there is no after life or another life in eternity, but I do enjoy interacting with those who do have religious beliefs which they follow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can respect each other as human beings and look to what we have in common.&nbsp; As part of this, I have taken place in various interfaith activities in the county and am now involved with Building Bridges Preston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My personal politics is one that leads me to look to how we can make the lives of others better and care for those who need support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst individuals may already choose to volunteer in organisations that help others, my ambition is to see our humanist group actively involved alongside other groups to facilitate a project to help a vulnerable group and thereby help foster a positive image of Humanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having chaired Lancashire Humanists for a number of years, I have also looked at how I can be involved in increasing awareness of Humanism.&nbsp; I do this via delivering school talks at the request of the RE lead in various schools across the county.&nbsp; In the future we are now working towards how we can make this available to other community groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing seems clear to me.\u00a0 We live in a diverse culture and the way forward (towards a more peaceful and supportive world) is by looking for opportunities to build community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-1024x794.webp 1024w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-300x233.webp 300w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-768x595.webp 768w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-1536x1191.webp 1536w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-2048x1588.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-1024x794.jpg\" height=\"794\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-1024x794.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-1536x1191.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_0611a-2048x1588.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" class=\"wp-image-453 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\"  > <\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-1024x674.webp 1024w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-300x198.webp 300w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-768x506.webp 768w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1.webp 1107w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-1024x674.jpg\" height=\"674\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BBP-logo-for-working-with-1.jpg 1107w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" class=\"wp-image-450 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:385px;height:auto\"  > <\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Samaritans.webp \"  type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Samaritans.jpg\" height=\"188\" width=\"263\" class=\"wp-image-451 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width:357px;height:auto\"  > <\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-1024x768.webp 1024w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-300x225.webp 300w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-768x576.webp 768w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-1536x1152.webp 1536w,https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930.webp 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-1024x768.jpg\" height=\"768\" width=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/20220611_094930.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" class=\"wp-image-452 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  > <\/picture><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>from Keith \u2013 Chair of Lancashire Humanists When involved in discussions about my humanism, I am often asked about how long I have been a humanist.&nbsp; The answer essentially is, probably longer than I actually realised it.&nbsp; Whilst I decided to become an atheist in my early teens, it took many years and experiences in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-50","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":454,"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50\/revisions\/454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lancashire.humanist.org.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}