Humanist Chaplaincy Resources

About Humanism

Humanism is a world view which says that reason and science are the best ways to understand the world around us, and that dignity and compassion should be the basis for how you act toward someone else.

~ Humanist Canada

Humanism is a tradition concerned with our life in the natural world and what we as creatures in that world can accomplish among ourselves. Many Humanists consider themselves to be atheists or agnostics, some consider themselves indifferent or uninterested in questions about God. While "humanism" is a term used many ways to describe a concern for living beings in the natural world, the Humanist movement is a unique global movement that took on its current form in the mid 20th century, with legacies in Christianity, political secularism, Ethical Culture, and religious naturalism.

~ Humanist Chaplaincy, Tufts University

• Humanist Canada - Canada's National Voice For Humanism Since 1968

• Humanists International - Campaigns on humanist issues. Defends humanists at risk of persecution and violence. Lobbies for humanist values at international institutions, including the United Nations. Works to build and support the humanist movement around the world.

• Humanists UK - a charity devoted to promoting humanist values, human rights, and equality, while providing services that support the non-religious in leading happier lives. 

• Humanists Australia - dedicated to helping people live ethical and meaningful lives through humanism.

• American Humanist Association - striving to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life.

• Understanding Humanism (UK) - an educational resource

The Ten Commitments of Humanism

Humanist resources for hospice chaplains

• Humanist funerals and memorials (Humanist Canada) - A Humanist funeral or memorial service is warm and compassionate. It is a personal and unique reflection of a person’s life, values and personality and pays tribute to the way they lived their life and the connections they made.

• Humanist funerals and memorials (Humanists UK) - Humanist funerals offer a personal and fitting way to say goodbye to those who have lived without religion. They honour the person who has died with a non-religious ceremony, focusing on the life they led, the relationships they forged, and the legacy they left.

• How to become a humanist chaplain in Canada

• The Path to Humanist Chaplaincy - The Humanist. Cruz Pantojas (they/them) talks about becoming a humanist chaplain, a role grounded in nonjudgmental care for diverse communities. Pantojas explains that humanist chaplains provide support not limited to humanist ideology, adhering to a pluralistic and ethically guided approach.

• Humanist chaplaincy resources (Humanist Canada) - books and online resources

  • “Death and the Afterlife”

  • “Memorials & Grief: A Guide for Humanists and Non-Religious People in B.C.”

  • “End-of-Life: A Guide for Humanists and Non-Religious People in B.C.”

  • Video: “What should we think about death?” by Humanists UK

• Humanist funerals and memorials (Humanists UK) - readings, reflections, ideas

  • What to Do With the Ashes of a Loved One: Creating Meaningful Ceremonies

    After someone dies, having their ashes with you can feel like a precious responsibility. Read more

  • Talking About Death: A Plan for Conversations That Matter

    Talking about death isn’t always easy – but it can be one of the most important conversations we’ll ever have. We’re encouraging people to open up about end-of-life wishes and plans. Read more

  • Uplifting Funeral Readings: Bringing Hope and Comfort through a Humanist Ceremony

    In the midst of grief, finding moments of light and hope can be incredibly comforting. Uplifting funeral readings – whether poems, prose extracts, or quotes – can play a vital role in shifting the focus towards celebrating a life fully lived and acknowledging the enduring impact of the person who has died.

    Read more

• Humanist funeral resources (Humanist Australia)

• What is a humanist chaplain? (Nathan B Weller) - article outlining the philosophy of humanist chaplains and profiling three humanist chaplains.

• Secular meditation (Humanist Chaplaincy, Harvard & MIT)

• Articles about humanist chaplaincy in The Humanist magazine

Marie-Claire Khadij, Humanist Chaplain

Recommended books & resources

• Multifaith Information Manual (6th edition) - Canadian Multifaith Federation

• A guide to faith traditions in Scotland - Interfaith Scotland (PDF)

• Spiritual Care: A Multifaith Resource for Healthcare Staff - Interfaith Scotland (PDF)

• Rick Heller (2015), Secular Meditation: 32 Practices for Cultivating Inner Peace, Compassion, and Joy - A Guide from the Humanist Community at Harvard (book)

• The Inspired Funeral (includes non-religious poetry and reflections)

Introductory books on Humanism

• The Little Book of Humanism (Little, Brown) – an accessible introduction to humanism

• What is humanism for? (Bristol) by Richard Norman – a short introduction to humanism

• Understanding Humanism (Routledge) by Andrew Copson, Luke Donnellan, and Richard Norman – sets out clearly and systematically the beliefs and values of humanism as well as the reality and personal experience of living as a humanist today

• On Humanism (Routledge) by Richard Norman

• Humanism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press) by Stephen Law

• Humanism: Beliefs and Practices (Sussex) by Jeaneane Fowler

• The Good Book: A Secular Bible (Bloomsbury) by AC Grayling

• The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism (Wiley Blackwell) edited by Andrew Copson and AC Grayling (sample chapters: What is Humanism? and Life without meaning?)

• Humanist Anthology (Rationalist Press Association) edited by Margaret Knight (quotations and humanist thought from Confucius and the Ancient Greeks to today)