Today, on the 21st of June, people around the world celebrate World Humanist Day as a chance to reflect on the values that unite us: reason, compassion, human dignity, and a commitment to making life better for everyone.
This year, we asked members and supporters of The Humanist Society to share their humanist journeys. Their stories are different, but a common thread runs through them all: the discovery that humanism gave a name to values they had already been living.
For Peter Wingate, Humanist Society committee member, finding humanism came as a surprise.
“Until I really researched humanist philosophy, I didn’t know that my fundamental worldview had already been described so well, throughout the centuries, by people with such disparate situations to me,” he says.
Casey Jolly discovered humanism through a love of critical thinking, science, and compassionate action. After encountering the ideas through writers and speakers like Tim Minchin and Stephen Fry, she found a worldview that brought together many values she already held.
“I’d never heard the term humanism and was surprised to find it perfectly encompassed so many of my values and the ideas that I’ve spent years considering and attempting to enact,” she says.
For Casey, humanism provides hope, community, and a framework for facing the world’s challenges with openness, evidence, and empathy.
Andrew Boyle’s understanding of humanism has been shaped through years working in international development alongside people from many different backgrounds and beliefs. His experiences taught him that meaningful change happens when people listen, learn, and work together.
“Humanism is not about drawing lines between believers and non-believers. It is about recognising our shared humanity, finding common ground where it exists, and working together to improve people’s lives,” he says.
These stories remind us that humanism is not a single path. For some, it is a philosophical discovery. For others, it is a community, a practice, or a commitment to building a better world. What connects us is a belief in the potential of people to create meaning, solve problems, and support one another.
As we celebrate World Humanist Day 2026, we invite you to reflect on your own journey.
What does humanism mean to you?
If you’d like to join Peter, Casey and Andrew by sharing a few lines about your own journey toward humanism, we’d love to hear from you. We’re sharing humanist stories throughout the week on our social media channels, so please send us your story and a recent photo. Please note that stories may be lightly edited for length and clarity. To contribute, feel free to use the link below, or send us an email.
Thank you to everyone who has already shared their story, and to all those who continue to put humanist values into practice every day.
Happy World Humanist Day 2026.