Humanism is not a religion or a doctrinal system of belief. Rather, humanists may include atheists or agnostics, who understand the world based on human experience and rational knowledge instead of religious beliefs or traditions. According to the Humanist Association of Ireland, famous humanists include Karl Popper, Noam Chomsky, Bertrand Russell, Niels Bohr, Richard Feynman, and Salman Rushdie. While marriage ceremonies are historically tied to religious congregations, humanists may wish to celebrate weddings outside of any church. In many parts of the world, current laws now recognize humanist officiants, making it possible for humanists to marry in accord with their own, reason-centered belief systems.
- What is Humanism?
- Famous Humanists
- Definitions of Humanism
Unlike most world religions, humanisms do not universally look to a single text or set of beliefs. In general, they take science and the scientific method as the most reliable means of discovering knowledge. In addition, most humanists hold that a system of ethics is possible without any religious context. Many of the values of humanists, such as refraining from harming others, share moral or ethical principles with Christianity. However, humanists do not subscribe to the belief in a creator or supreme being.
In 1952, the first World Humanist Congress took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands. At that time, the Amsterdam Declaration codified many of these principles for the first time. In 2002, another congress updated the document. Humanist weddings are designed to reflect these principles instead of religious ones.
- So What Exactly Are Humanists?
- The Amsterdam Declaration
- What Humanist Weddings Are All About
Given the long history of church wedding services, the adoption of humanist weddings has only gradually been legitimized in the eyes of the state. Whereas many countries have systems of both civil and religious wedding services, humanists have had to battle legally to determine official recognition of their own ceremonies. Civil services often take place in city halls or comparable government offices, but humanist weddings take place in a location of the couple's choosing. Laws regarding humanist weddings vary in the United States from state to state. In most states, humanist officiants or celebrants are considered clergy and given the same rights to perform marriages. In 2005, humanist weddings were legally recognized in Scotland. Ireland recognized the unions in 2012, and the first humanist wedding was performed there in 2013. As of 2014, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, and parts of the U.S. are the only places that legally recognize humanist weddings. In England and Wales, for example, humanist weddings must be supplemented by civil marriages at a register office.
- U.S. Court Ruling for Humanists
- Scottish Couples Say "I Do" to Humanist Weddings
- Number of Humanist Weddings in Ireland Triples
Humanist wedding ceremonies vary widely in their arrangement and style. Couples may write their own vows, using poetry or personal stories instead of any religious texts. Some humanist weddings follow the form of a simple civil wedding ceremony. Others may include a highly personalized service designed around the couple's personal belief system. Many humanist societies offer counsel on creating an individualized ceremony, providing sample wedding vows in line with humanist philosophies.
- Sample Humanist Ceremonies
- Ethical Humanist Wedding Vows
- Non-Religious Wedding Ceremonies
While humanism and humanist weddings are enjoying increasing acceptance, they still face some legal and social opposition. For example, despite Ireland's acceptance of humanist weddings in 2012, the particular laws guiding ceremonies remain tightly controlled. Outdoor ceremonies are banned, for instance. According to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), humanists face the greatest persecution in Islamic countries. However, the organization also found widespread opposition to humanism in many parts of Europe and the United States. One purpose of many humanist associations is to defend the rights of individuals who seek to live ethical lives outside of organized religion, including their right to marry according to their own beliefs.
- Humanists Against Outdoor Weddings Ban
- Atheists, Humanists Suffer Persecution
- Introduction to Humanism
As science supplants religion for many people as a primary way of understanding their world, many individuals seek a system of understanding right and wrong and their place in the universe. For many atheists and agnostics, humanism fulfills this role. The wedding ceremony, traditionally a display of one's personal beliefs and the values of the community, is also shifting to reflect this change. In many places, humanist weddings are therefore a legal option. Instead of looking to a church, couples may engage the help of humanist organizations to plan their weddings.
Article written by Chad Kremp
