Humani (organisation)

Humani
Humanist Association
of Northern Ireland
Formation 1964[1]
Type Nonprofit organisation
Purpose Promotion of secular humanism
Region served
 Northern Ireland
Director
 Brian McClinton[2]
Website humanistni.org

Humani, or the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland, is a humanist organisation based in Northern Ireland. Its director is Brian McClinton.[2] It was founded in 1964, and originally called the Belfast Humanist Group,[1] then the Ulster Humanist Association until 2004/2005[3][4] before adopting its present name.

Since December 2007, they publish the bi-monthly Humanism Ireland magazine, edited by McClinton,[5] in association with the Humanist Association of Ireland. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Ulster Humanist Association published its own magazine, The Humanist, later called The Ulster Humanist, edited by Sean Kearney.[4]

Humani, which is affiliated to the British Humanist Association (BHA) and the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), seeks to promote secular humanism in Northern Ireland and to represent the interests of those who adopt this enlightened philosophy.

Its campaigns include: integrated education; religious and moral education or philosophy including Humanism to replace RE in schools; an end to collective worship in schools; fair employment in teaching appoints and promotions; defending the teaching of evolution;[6] combatting superstitious and irrational beliefs;[7] advice on contraception and abortion; civil partnerships and other rights for gays and lesbians; legal Humanist ceremonies, as in Scotland;[8] voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying; the rights of ethnic minorities and migrant workers; cosmopolitan and 'third discourse' politics; promoting Humanist and dissident view in the media; a Humanist 'Thought for the Day'; and a public holiday commemorating Darwin.

Humani provides non-religious, customised and deeply meaningful ceremonies conducted by trained celebrants including baby-naming, marriage (though not the legal registration) and funerals. Such humanist ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular in Northern Ireland.[8]

Humani organises an annual Darwin Day Lecture and dinner in February and an all-Ireland Summer School at Carlingford in conjunction with the Humanist Association of Ireland, usually towards the end of August.

Humani meets on the second Thursday of the month in the Malone Lodge Hotel, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Development of Humanism". Humani website. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 Brian McClinton (20 March 2015). "Diversity can enrich each of us". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Ann James and Brian McClinton (29 June 2005). "Humanism evolves on both sides of Irish border". Humanist Network News. American Humanist Association. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Sean Kearney (1932-2004): A Varied Life" (PDF). The Ulster Humanist (Ulster Humanist Association) (87): 20. June 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "‘Human agency is our source of real faith and optimism’". The News Letter. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Linda Stewart (24 June 2009). "Creationist beliefs won't affect new role: Poots". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Ben Lowry (1 May 2014). "Catholic Church ‘thriving on mumbo jumbo’". The News Letter. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 Paresh Dave (22 May 2013). "Humanist Funerals Thrive In Post-Catholic Ireland". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

External links

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