Experiencing a spirituality festival as a secular Humanist

By Katie MacFadyen
13 Aug 2012


The focus is on diversity and co-operation, and above all on being all-inclusive, without simply blurring edges and boundaries.


The question of whether Humanism and theism are or can be compatible is a difficult one. Many Humanist organisations insist that Humanism necessitates scepticism, secularism, and rejection of all supernatural phenomena, but at the same time there are religious individuals who happily identify as Humanists. So is Humanism compatible with the Festival of Spirituality and Peace?

As a Humanist and a Festival media intern and blogger, I clearly think so. Though I do have the occasional disconcerting moment when I find myself, a lifelong atheist, sitting alongside a bookshelf of hymn books writing blurbs for prayer meetings, at its heart I find the spirit of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace very close to that of Humanism as I experience it.

Modern Humanism draws on spiritual backgrounds including Confucism, Buddhism, ancient Indian philosophy and Christian teachings. The principles behind Humanism are love, humanity, and above all community. One of the big draws of Humanism is being part of a non-religious philosophical community that brings together a diverse range of people.

Most critically, Humanism is about rationality, and about making sense of the world using reason and empiricism. In this sense, Humanism is compatible with any religion willing to question and re-evaluate itself when necessary. Many of FoSP's conversation events such as Disorganised Religion (Thursday August 9) and Women in Religion (Tuesday August 21) are very much in the rational spirit of Humanism.

Is the difference between ‘faith’ and ‘no faith’ really as stark as it seems? There are religious Humanists; there are atheists who identify as Christian. When it comes down to it, we all want a better world, and we all have faith that we can achieve it. In this sense, Humanist philosophy, despite its lack of overt spirituality, is not only compatible with Festival of Spirituality and Peace but at the heart of it.





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Ekklesia is a sponsor and media partner of the Festival, along with the Scottish Government and other faith, civic and educational groups.


