About Bristol Humanists

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Bristol Humanists is a warm and welcoming community for people who are curious about life, sceptical of the supernatural, and enthusiastic about science, reason, and living well without religion. We've been part of Bristol's civic and intellectual life for decades, and we're proud to be one of the most active local humanist groups in the country.

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We meet regularly for talks, discussions and social events — covering everything from philosophy and ethics to science, history and current affairs. Our annual highlights include Darwin Day and the Emma Martin Lecture, named after Bristol's own pioneering freethinker of the 19th century. Whether you're a lifelong humanist, newly curious, or simply not sure what you think, you'll find a genuinely open and engaging community here.

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We're also much more than a social group. Bristol Humanists supports national campaigns on secular education, assisted dying, and non-religious representation. Our members include humanist celebrants who lead meaningful ceremonies for births, marriages and deaths. And through our school speakers programme and community outreach, we work to make humanist ideas visible and accessible across the city. Everyone is welcome — come as you are.

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What is Humanism?

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Humanism is a way of living and thinking that places human beings; our reason, our compassion, and our shared experience - at the centre of how we understand the world. Humanists don't believe in gods or the supernatural, but that doesn't mean life is without meaning. Quite the opposite: because we have one life, it matters enormously what we do with it and how we treat each other.

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At its heart, Humanism is built on three things: using evidence and reason to understand the world, treating people with empathy and respect, and taking responsibility for making life better for ourselves, for others, other sentient creatures and for future generations. There's no sacred text, no divine authority, no afterlife waiting in the wings. There's just this life, these people, and the choices we make together.

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It's a philosophy with deep roots — in ancient Greece, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment — but it's very much alive today. From campaigning for secular education and assisted dying reform, to celebrating life's big moments through humanist ceremonies, Humanism is a living, active commitment to a better world built on reason, empathy and human dignity.