Introducing Humanism: Non-religious Approaches to Life, with Sandi Toksvig Course - Humanists UK
FutureLearn
Key Information
Campus location
Online United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
Distance learning
Duration
6 weeks
Pace
Part time
Tuition fees
USD 74 / per course *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
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* you can learn it for free or upgrade the course and have extra benefits for $74
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Introduction
Learn about humanism - a non-religious, ethical worldview shared by millions across the world. Presented by Sandi Toksvig.
Learn about how humanists approach life's big questions
Humanism is a non-religious, ethical worldview shared by millions of people around the world. Humanists believe that this life is the only life we have, that the universe is a natural phenomenon with no supernatural side, and that we can live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity.
However, there is widespread misunderstanding about what it means to be a humanist or to live a life without religion. In this course, you will learn more about humanist beliefs and values, and discover how humanists attempt to answer life’s big questions.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
- Available now
Who is the course for?
Recommended for learners age 16+
This course is suitable for anyone looking to develop their understanding of humanism. It will particularly appeal to those with a passion for exploring life’s big questions. It will also be of value to teachers and other educators wanting to develop their subject knowledge about non-religious beliefs, and to sixth-form students looking to prepare themselves for a degree in the humanities.
If you are interested in human stories, you might also be interested in our other online course Humanist Lives, in which you’ll have the opportunity to meet humanists from around the world and learn about what it means to be a humanist in the 21st century.
Who will you learn with?
| Simon Nightingale Simon Nightingale is a humanist celebrant, nonreligious pastoral carer and school speaker for Humanists UK. He is a recently retired consultant neurologist. |
Who developed the course?
Humanists UK
A UK charity advancing free-thinking and promoting humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail.
Curriculum
What topics will you cover?
- The humanist understanding of human beings: our nature, capacities, and responsibilities.
- How humanists answer questions about the world (science, reason, scepticism) and the consequences for a humanist understanding of reality.
- A humanist approach to making life meaningful and the value of individual freedom.
- The origins and evolution of morality and a humanist perspective on how to be good.
- The humanist vision for society (secularism, freedoms, and human rights) and the motivations behind their goals.
- Different definitions of humanism, its history, and its diversity.
Program Outcome
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:
- Investigate and explore humanist beliefs, values, and goals.
- Apply what one has learned in discussion with others.
- Reflect upon one's own approach and answers to life's big questions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the humanist worldview.
- Evaluate the humanist approach to life.