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28 Sep, 4 tweets, 2 min read
A very happy retirement to our patron Jane Wynne Willson! Jayne stepped down from the Committee of @brumhums on Sunday. In recognition of everything she's done, we & @brumhums have launched the celebrant training bursary worth £1000. humanists.uk/2021/09/28/bur…
Sarah Robbins, @brumhums Chair, commented: ‘We’re delighted to recognise Jane’s huge contribution to the humanist movement with the introduction of the Jane Wynne Willson Celebrant Training Bursary....'
'For years, Jane has been a pivotal humanist figure locally, nationally, and even internationally. Through her brilliant work she has inspired many celebrants and the countless ceremonies they have conducted.’
Our Chief Executive @andrewcopson said: 'Jane is a humanist hero to all who know her, including to me ever since I first met her when joining Humanists UK many years ago. Her complete integrity and relentless optimism inspire all who have been lucky enough to work alongside her.’

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More from @Humanists_UK

Humanists UK Profile picture
30 Sep
Today is #InternationalBlasphemyRightsDay. It marks the anniversary of the publication of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons in Denmark, which resulted in violent protests, riots, and more than 250 reported deaths. humanists.international/get-involved/c….
Today is about raising awareness. Blasphemy laws still exist in the 21st century. And wherever they exist they undermine human rights and freedom of expression. They lend a false legitimacy to those who commit acts of murder & violence in their name.
13 countries worldwide maintain the death penalty for blasphemy or apostasy (leaving religion) and it remains a criminal offence in over 40 more. Vigilante murders, imprisonment, 'honour killings' - these are the just some of the symptoms of blasphemy laws.
Read 9 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
29 Sep
Blasphemy and 'insult to religion' laws put 'religious feelings' above some of the most fundamental rights a human being has. They are absurdities that undermine human rights wherever they stand on statute books.
Insult to the 'finality of prophethood' is a common blasphemy accusation in Pakistan. The mere existence of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, for example, is deemed blasphemous on the basis that the founder Mirzā Ghulām Ahmad claimed to be a prophet.
Reports indicate that the accused was denying the 'finality of Prophet Muhammad' by claiming herself to be the prophet. The fact this has led to a death sentence is absurd, tragic, and deplorable. Since 1987 - 1,472 people have been charged under the blasphemy law in Pakistan.
Read 7 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
29 Sep
We still can't get over how much fun our #VoltaireLecture was! It was our best attended Voltaire Lecture to date! Thank you to all of our attendees, to @theAliceRoberts for chairing, and of course, to our brand new Voltaire medallist @nicholaraihani!

humanists.uk/2021/09/23/nic…
We will be releasing a full video the #VoltaireLecture very soon, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, please do check out our other lectures online! youtube.com/humanistsuk
For anyone who has any doubts about the science behind vaccination (or if you just want to know more!) – watch our Rosalind Franklin Lecture 'Racing against the virus', with Professor Sarah Gilbert and @SamiraAhmedUK.
Read 6 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
28 Sep
Over 100+ Polish regions, containing 10m people are so-called 'LGBT-free zones'. The European Commission has threatened to pull funding to these regions. Towns are now cancelling their anti-LGBT declarations to keep the funding. bbc.co.uk/news/world-eur…
However, some towns remain steadfast in their homophobia despite these threats - all in the name of 'protecting traditional Christian values'. What is particularly tragic is that there will be LGBT people in these communities.

independent.co.uk/news/world/eur…
This heart-breaking feature goes in-depth into the daily persecution LGBT people face in these so-called 'LGBT Free Zones'. 'This is a witch hunt, where we are the victims.'

edition.cnn.com/interactive/20…
Read 4 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
27 Sep
Thomas Henry Huxley coined the term 'agnostic' to clarify that debating god’s existence was pointless. He's known, perhaps most famously, for saying he'd rather be descended from an ape than a bishop during a debate in 1860 - a real 19th century mic drop moment, so to speak. Image
Huxley was a tireless & vociferous promoter of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, and became known as 'Darwin’s bulldog'. Most notably, he helped to create the new professional class of scientists in Britain... #HumanistHeritage
He promoted a modern approach to the purpose & rewards of science. He started a series of lectures for working men in 1855, established the scientific journal 'Nature' in 1869, & the 'Normal School of Science' in 1881, later becoming
@imperialcollege
#HumanistHeritage
Read 7 tweets
Humanists UK Profile picture
27 Sep
'Nothing is exempt from human question...no immemorial tradition, no revelation, no authority, no privileged knowledge.' – Harold Blackham, the architect of modern humanism & our first Executive Director, on the importance of questioning everything and everyone. Image
'Humanism is the ordinary way of taking hold of the world...Contrary to what many suspect or complain of, humanism not only has no mumbo-jumbo, it has no experts. Intellectuals and the man in the street speak the same language.'
'Human life is in human hands...Personal life is choice, not obligation, a work of art, not a set task, an offering not a requirement, a creation, not a prize...Humanism is a concept of the human, focused on a programme of humanity.'
Read 7 tweets

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