WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en-GB 00:00:06.640 --> 00:00:09.580 We live in an increasingly pluralistic world. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:12.290 We are surrounded by a diversity of beliefs. 00:00:12.290 --> 00:00:16.100 Today, an increasing number of people are not religious. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:21.720 Many believe that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side. 00:00:21.720 --> 00:00:24.920 They believe that this is the one life we have. 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:29.040 And they want to lead ethical, meaningful, and fulfilling lives. 00:00:29.040 --> 00:00:31.420 People like humanists. 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:37.260 Humanism is a way of realising that if we only have one life, if we're only here once, 00:00:37.270 --> 00:00:42.020 that actually that leads to a lot of inspiring answers about how we should behave and how 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:43.740 we should spend our time. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:47.430 For me, humanism is sort of... atheism plus? 00:00:47.430 --> 00:00:56.420 I think for me, humanism is a worldview whereby you're sceptical, rational, and you try to 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:00.120 incorporate moral thinking into everything you do. 00:01:00.120 --> 00:01:04.140 I’m Sandi Toksvig. I’m a humanist, and I’m a patron of Humanists UK. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:07.020 I’m fascinated by life’s big questions. 00:01:07.020 --> 00:01:08.720 Questions like: ‘How should I live?’, 00:01:08.720 --> 00:01:13.590 ‘How can I know what is true?’, ‘How should I treat others?’, 00:01:13.590 --> 00:01:16.810 and ‘What kind of world do I want?’ 00:01:16.810 --> 00:01:22.590 I think it’s vital everyone gets the opportunity to explore different approaches to these questions, 00:01:22.590 --> 00:01:27.740 but also that we have the freedom to decide on the answers for ourselves. 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:32.080 Everyone's going to have a different answer to the question "what makes a good life?" 00:01:32.090 --> 00:01:37.060 I think it's really freeing - because I think you don't have to follow what any authority 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:41.680 tells you- you can work things out for yourself, you can take responsibility for the views 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:42.680 that you have - 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:45.899 - and I think that freedom of thinking, that sort of free-thinking, I really like that, 00:01:45.899 --> 00:01:49.140 and I think that's part and parcel of humanism. 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:53.380 There is widespread misunderstanding about what it means to be a humanist, or to live 00:01:53.380 --> 00:01:55.409 a life without religion. 00:01:55.409 --> 00:01:59.810 During this course, we’ll provide you with a deeper understanding of the humanist approach 00:01:59.810 --> 00:02:04.270 to life and of how humanists answer life’s big questions. 00:02:04.270 --> 00:02:08.570 We’ll explore the tensions and dilemmas contained within a humanist view, as well 00:02:08.570 --> 00:02:13.510 as the arguments against it, and the responses humanists give to those arguments. 00:02:13.510 --> 00:02:19.210 You’ll find contributions from academics, humanist campaigners, celebrants, pastoral 00:02:19.210 --> 00:02:24.690 carers, and members of the public to help widen your awareness of what it means to be 00:02:24.690 --> 00:02:29.350 one of the millions of humanists living in the UK and around the world today. 00:02:29.350 --> 00:02:34.480 You have to care about the world, and the people in it - you have to be excited by it! 00:02:34.480 --> 00:02:36.200 You have to want to contribute. 00:02:36.200 --> 00:02:42.300 It's a way for me to express what I am rather than what I'm not, its a promotion of equality 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:47.740 and celebrating diversity, and celebrating all the richness of life, really. 00:02:47.740 --> 00:02:54.020 I mean, I think, as human beings, we have everything within ourselves and amongst each other, 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:57.349 to really make something beautiful out of life. 00:02:57.349 --> 00:03:03.100 It should also allow you the opportunity to reflect on life’s bigger questions for yourself. 00:03:03.100 --> 00:03:08.019 ‘Introducing humanism: non-religious approaches to life’. 00:03:08.020 --> 00:03:11.520 Join us for a conversation about the best way to live.