Ceremonies and Celebrations for Humanists:
There is a wide range of opinion on this subject. Some Humanists feel that ceremonies too closely
resemble religious traditions and should be avoided. Others don't and see ceremonies as a way of
celebrating achievements, commitment, and stages of life (including its end) and recognize these events
can happen without religious trappings.
If you want to have a major ceremony like a marriage or funeral and need someone to conduct it, one place
to start is with a Unitarian-Universalist minister. UUs don't have a specific religious creed and will gladly
work with people of any belief (or lack of belief) as long as this belief respects the dignity of our fellow
humans. You may want to interview several UU ministers to find a perfect personality match. More
information at www.uua.org The Humanist Society certifies a list of people who perform ceremonies in a
humanist style. There are usually several in each state. For a list of these people, called Humanist
You can often write and conduct your own ceremonies but be careful, some ceremonies like marriages
would probably not be legally recognized. Others like a conducting a memorial service after a death would
be perfectly legal and are usually very touching. In the last case, you would need to talk with your funeral
director before they even accept the body, but they are usually quite agreeable. If they aren't, find another.
Remember, though, often people experienced at conducting ceremonies do the best job of it.
“...Humanism is the viewpoint that people have but one life to lead and should make the most of it in terms of creative
work and happiness; that human happiness is its own justification and requires no sanction or support from
supernatural sources; and that in any case the supernatural, usually concieved of in the form of heavenly gods or
immortal heavens, does not exist; and that human beings, using their own intelligence and cooperating liberally with
one another, can build an enduring citadel of peace and beauty upon this earth.”
From the Philosophy of Humanism by Corliss Lamont
Presented by the Humanism Study Group, October 19, 1997