Humanist Society (Singapore) Celebrates 16th Anniversary with “Stories from Afar”

25 October 2026 by

On 17 October 2026, the Humanist Society (Singapore) (HSS) celebrated its 16th anniversary with “Stories from Afar”, an event featuring insights and experiences from two major international humanist gatherings in Luxembourg and Canada.

Moments from our anniversary:

***

HSS representatives Sree and Eugene shared highlights from the International Humanist Conference 2025 in Luxembourg City and the World Humanist Congress 2026 in Ottawa.

Their presentations explored how humanist organisations worldwide are promoting scientific literacy, defending human rights, strengthening secular communities and translating humanist values into practical action.

Promoting Scientific Literacy in Luxembourg

Held from 4 to 6 July 2025, the International Humanist Conference in Luxembourg brought together approximately 150 participants under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Strengthening Open Societies through Scientific Literacy”.

Two representatives – Sree and Eugene – attended this Conference.

At the Anniversary, they highlighted several innovative initiatives that made science more accessible to the public.

For example, the Romanian Secular Humanist Association developed science-themed calendars featuring significant discoveries and historical milestones. Rather than selling them, the organisation distributed the calendars to teachers to encourage curiosity and scientific learning among students.

Photos below, moments from the trip to Luxembourg:

***

Meanwhile, Humanistas Guatemala introduced “Science in a Box”, providing hands-on experiments in electricity, mechanics, optics and biology to children in rural communities with limited access to science education.

Another initiative involved Luxembourg-based science podcaster Hanna Siemaszko, who helps scientists and researchers communicate complex scientific concepts through engaging audio content.

The representatives also reflected on meeting Mubarak Bala, a Nigerian humanist activist who was imprisoned for four and a half years. His experience underscored the importance of international solidarity in defending freedom of belief and expression.

Humanism as Resistance in Ottawa

The World Humanist Congress, held from 7 to 9 August 2026 in Ottawa, attracted approximately 500 participants under the theme “Humanism as Resistance”. Three representatives – Lava, Eugene and Sree – attended this Congress.

Hosted by Humanist Canada, the Congress examined how humanists could respond to rising authoritarianism, religious nationalism and anti-science misinformation.

Photos below, moments from the trip to Ottawa:

***

One memorable session featured current and former parliamentarians from Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom, who encouraged greater civic participation. Their central message was that meaningful change requires individuals to show up, get involved and persevere, even when progress appears slow.

Philosopher A.C. Grayling (below) reinforced this message in his closing keynote, distinguishing between wishful thinking and rational hope. He argued that genuine progress depends on critical thinking, community engagement and concrete action rather than simply hoping for improvement.

***

The representatives also highlighted Presto Misto, a community space and café established by Czech humanists in Prague. The initiative demonstrated how welcoming physical spaces could foster meaningful connections among non-religious individuals, particularly young people.

A spontaneous street encounter with a Christian evangelist provided another memorable lesson. What began as a disagreement eventually became a respectful exchange, with participants acknowledging one another’s freedom of belief and non-belief.

Risk of dogmaticism?

Commenting on his experience at Ottawa, Lava expressed concerns that humanism risks becoming dogmatic when it shifts from being a philosophy and outlook on life into a rigid identity defined by adherence to prescribed values. Reflecting on his experience at the humanist conference, Lava drew parallels between the promotion of humanist values and religious teachings. “If you don’t adhere to the ‘humanist’ values, you’re probably not a humanist,” he observed.

He also cautioned against conflating ideas with moral values, where challenging an idea could be perceived as attacking the values associated with it. “Because it’s easier to defend values than to defend ideas,” he argued, such an approach risks shielding ideas from legitimate criticism.

Lava warned that this tendency could undermine humanism’s commitment to freedom of speech, dissent and intellectual openness, reducing these principles to “lip service for the bare minimum”. He expressed concern that humanism could develop the same dogmatic tendencies it criticises in religion.

***

Strengthening International Humanist Connections

Both conferences included General Assemblies of Humanists International, the global umbrella organisation representing more than 120 member organisations and associated groups.

Notable developments included the election of Maggie Ardiente as President in 2025, the adoption of the Luxembourg Declaration on AI and Human Values, and the Ottawa Declaration on “Humanism as Resistance” in 2026.

Reflecting on their experiences at the Anniversary, the HSS representatives emphasised the importance of grassroots initiatives, youth engagement, scientific literacy and active participation in public life. They also recognised that humanist communities face different challenges depending on their local circumstances.

Other moments at the Anniversary:

***

As a longstanding member of Humanists International, HSS has participated in international gatherings for more than a decade and hosted regional conferences in Singapore in 2015, 2019, 2024.

The anniversary sharing highlighted how exchanges with humanists worldwide can inspire local initiatives and strengthen a shared commitment to reason, evidence and compassion.

The next World Humanist Congress is scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru, in 2027.

Blog, Featured Articles/Letters

How Neo Sree Found the Humanist Movement

3 October 2026 by

***

This is the personal journey of Neo Sree, one of the members of the Humanist Society (Singapore), at the 2026 Virtual Asian Humanist Conference organised by Humanists Malaysia with support from Humanists International. He was one of the featured speakers on Oct 3, the first day of the two-day conference.

Growing up in a small village in Kerala, India, Neo Sree was surrounded by religion.

Rituals, traditions and beliefs formed part of everyday life, reinforced by grandparents, relatives and the wider community. Like many children around him, he was largely expected to follow the practices of his elders without questioning them.

But at home, Sree encountered a different influence.

His father, whom Sree described as a “lone sceptic” in the community, was sceptical of much of the Hindu mythology and religious tradition around them. More importantly, when the young Sree began asking questions about God and the universe, his father did not pretend to have the answers.

Instead, he encouraged his son to find out for himself, telling him to “search for the answers, read books, and learn more about science.”

The search for answers

That freedom to question would eventually shape a journey spanning religion, science, mental health and, ultimately, the international humanist movement.

After moving to Singapore in his twenties to study and later work in technology, Sree continued searching for answers to the questions that had occupied him since childhood.

Although no longer particularly religious, he remained open to spirituality. He wondered whether the world’s religions might each contain fragments of a larger truth, perhaps pointing towards an underlying divine presence.

Without what he now describes as a firm grounding in critical thinking, Sree tried to reconcile contradictory religious ideas and find a common thread between them. “I tried to harmonize all these conflicting dogmas and search for some unifying thread, which was not actually there,” said Sree.

Below: One of the slides shared by Sree during his presentation

***

A crisis that changed his worldview

His worldview was dramatically shaken in 2019.

Following a series of stressful events, Sree experienced a psychotic episode and was subsequently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. During the episode, his earlier religious and supernatural ideas became incorporated into elaborate delusions.

He believed he had received a special revelation and, at different points, thought he was a prophet, a messenger of God or God in human form. He also believed he had been given a mission to unite the world’s religions and humanity.

***

To Sree, these experiences felt completely real at the time.

His path out of them came not through religious or mystical intervention, he said, but through psychiatric treatment, medical science and the support of people who helped him reconnect with reality.

Among the most important was Maitreya Maitreyan, a rationalist and activist from Kerala whom Sree contacted during his recovery.

Maitreyan listened to him over numerous conversations, challenged his ideas and encouraged him to continue evidence-based medical treatment. Sree later thanked him for spending so much time helping him through the difficult period.

***

Maitreyan’s response stayed with him: “Your life makes my life meaningful.”

For Sree, the simple sentence provided an answer to another question that had long troubled him: where could meaning come from without religion?

Meaning, he began to realise, could be found in human relationships and in what people did for one another.

Rebuilding through science and reason

As he rebuilt his worldview, Sree turned increasingly towards science and literature.

Books on cosmology, evolution and biology, including The First Three Minutes, A Brief History of Time, The Blind Watchmaker and Wonderful Life, offered naturalistic explanations for questions he had once approached through religion.

***

His experience with psychosis also sparked an interest in neuroscience. Books such as Phantoms in the Brain and The Ego Tunnel helped him explore how the brain constructs perception and our sense of self.

Together, he said, these works gave him a more coherent foundation for understanding the universe, life and the human mind.

Finding the humanist movement

His path towards organised humanism, however, had already begun quietly.

Since around 2017, Sree had been reading international reports on democracy, human rights and civil liberties. Among them was the Freedom of Thought Report, published by Humanists International.

He began following the organisation and became interested in its advocacy for freedom of thought and the rights of non-religious people.

That connection eventually led him to the Humanist Society (Singapore).

***

Sree began volunteering at its events and later attended the International Humanist Conference 2024 in Singapore. There, he encountered something that had been largely absent during his earlier journey: a community.

He met people from different countries who shared an emphasis on reason, critical thinking and human welfare without relying on supernatural beliefs. He also met members of the emerging Humanist Malaysia community, including A. Jay Surin, with whom he became friends.

Sree subsequently attended more international humanist gatherings, deepening his involvement in a movement he had first discovered through an online report.

***

Finding meaning and community without religion

Looking back, he sees a journey that began with the freedom his father gave him to question inherited beliefs and eventually led to a global community built around many of the same questions.

Speaking at the Asian Humanist Conference hosted by Humanist Malaysia, Sree said his experience had convinced him that abandoning religious belief did not require abandoning purpose or belonging.

“Leaving religion behind does not mean losing meaning and community. We do not need divine or supernatural beliefs to live a meaningful and fulfilling life,” he said.

For Sree, ethics and purpose are instead things human beings create collectively — ideas that can be questioned, improved and passed on.

“They are open-source human projects,” he said, “that we have been continuously building, testing and refining together.”

Featured Articles/Letters

Support our Member, Neo Sree, at the 2026 Virtual Asian Humanist Conference

29 September 2026 by

This weekend, 03 Oct (Sat), one of our Humanist Society (Singapore) members, Neo Sree, will be speaking at the 2026 Virtual Asian Humanist Conference. His topic is “How I found and joined the Humanism movement”

He is scheduled to speak between 415-430pm (Singapore Time), 08:15–08:30 (UTC)

You are warmly invited to sign up for the Conference in support of him. Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X-qGvVpHSiCXmoqsU3i5wQ#/registration

Full details of the Virtual Asian Humanist Conference, hosted by Humanists Malaysia from 03-04 Oct: https://www.humanistsmalaysia.org/conference

Blog

Space for Spirituality in Secular Singapore? – Research Findings and Shared Reflections

22 July 2026 by

***

This gathering by Robin Weber, PhD Candidate and Psychological Researcher at James Cook University (Singapore Campus) was an open and collaborative exploration into non-religious spirituality in Singapore, examine the data and results of his ongoing doctoral research studying how spirituality is understood and practised in an increasingly secular society.

Spirituality is defined as “the personal quest for understanding answers to ultimate questions about life,” distinguishing it from organised religion. The study responds to a global increase in nonreligion but lack of research conducted in the Asia-Pacific region – where almost one-quarter of the world’s nonreligious population lives. This risks overlooking spiritual diversity, for example, compared with Europe, a much larger proportion of Singapore’s non-religious population identifies as “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) and holds implicit spiritual beliefs.

Photo below: Robin speaking to a large crowd.

***

The presentation was centered on the speaker’s qualitative study in Singapore involving participants from diverse walks of life. After outlining the analysis’ six major themes, the room discussed each of them in groups to interpret, reflect and personally apply the implications of the findings. Guiding interview questions and excerpts from the interviews were shared with the groups to facilitate their conversations. Some of the topics participants talked about involved:

  • Connection with oneself, others, nature, and the wider world.
  • Belief in realities beyond the physical world, including higher powers, cosmic principles, an afterlife, etc.
  • Personalised spiritual practices that promote calmness and self-control.
  • Linking happiness with helping others, and community engagement.
  • Searching for meaning and purpose with spiritual guidance.
  • Freedom to choose one’s own path, emphasising autonomy, rationality, and individual agency.

***

An overarching finding is that identity underpins all six themes. Spirituality appears to be an important source of identity for many nonreligious people, yet Singapore’s blend of secularism is often perceived as an obstacle for spiritual expressions outside of religion. Robin reflected the interactions made him think whether dedicated spiritual spaces were desired to offer safe environments for people to explore otherwise often stigmatised beliefs. The presentation concluded with an  outlook on Robin’s future quantitative research.

Blog, Featured Articles/Letters

Reflections on Singapore’s move towards non-religiosity

6 July 2026 by

This is a commentary by the Executive Committee, Humanist Society (Singapore). The key driver of non-religiosity is diversity of information. However, misconceptions about non-religiosity persist and for some who left their faith, the social cost is real.

***

The latest General Household Survey 2025 showed that 23.9% of residents had no religious affiliation in 2025, up from 20% in 2020 and 18.5% in 2015.

This indicates an accelerating uptick in Singapore’s non-religious population, as 3.9% is more than double that of the previous 5 year intervals. Back in 1980, 13% were non-religious, showing that non-religiosity is not new. In fact, this demographic likely predates independence and has always been part of Singapore.

While there are many non-religious people/residents in Singapore from all walks of life, few organisations are dedicated to studying and building communities for the non-religious. The Humanist Society (Singapore) is one such organisation.

Over the years, we have engaged more than 7,000 non-religious individuals through our 300+ events, documenting many personal stories and perspectives. Based on this experience, we offer the following observations:

1) The key driver of non-religiosity is diversity of information

(Above) Asian Humanism Conference 2015, held in Singapore.

Some see non-religiosity as “another religion”, attributing its rise to active promotion. Others blame Westernisation, materialism, moral relativism, or even speculate about devil worship.

Our experience suggests otherwise. People leave religion—or remain non-religious—for many reasons. Some gradually find religious rituals less relevant. Others leave because certain teachings no longer align with their values.

One key factor in this shift is access to diversity of information. The internet exposes people to different religions, philosophies and worldviews. Humanity’s search for meaning is now accessible with a tap on the phone.

Increasingly, people evaluate beliefs critically instead of accepting them at face value. They build their principles from ideas they find most convincing, regardless of culture or religion. Over time, identifying with a particular religion becomes less meaningful, and many simply consider themselves non-religious.

2) Misconceptions about non-religiosity persist

For many, religion is the foundation of morality. This belief is often reinforced through lifelong teachings, while some religious texts portray non-believers negatively.

As a result, some continue to believe that non-religious people lack morality because, without God, nothing restrains immoral behaviour. They may even attribute crime, war and other social problems to godlessness, despite correlation not implying causation.

There is, however, no definitive evidence that being non-religious or atheist makes a person immoral. Multiple studies show that countries with high proportions of non-religious people also perform well on measures such as low crime, prosperity, equality, freedom, democracy, women’s rights, human rights, education and life expectancy. Examples include Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Uruguay, Japan, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

This is not to suggest that non-religiosity itself reduces crime. Strong education, effective law enforcement and many other factors also play essential roles. This is something that Singapore as a secular state has achieved since independence because of our strong rule of law and efforts to foster social cohesion. 

3) For some who left their faith, the social cost is real  

From our engagement with the non-religious, those from highly devout or conservative families often face strong opposition after leaving their faith, frequently because of the misconceptions described above in 2).

For those who left their faith, even if they remain kind and well-intentioned, their decision may be seen as rejecting their family’s or community’s identity. In some cases, these relationships never recover.

It is therefore important for those who left their faith, especially those who become non-religious, to have social support networks such as the Humanist Society. It is equally important that their experiences are acknowledged and represented, including in interfaith dialogue. Their pain should not be ignored out of fear of offending others.

(Above) One of the numerous support sessions organised by the Humanist Society (Singapore).

4) Most non-religious people genuinely do not believe in God or consider themselves spiritual

A common response to the growing non-religious population is that they are “still religious”, “culturally religious”, “spiritual”, or simply “temporarily lost”. We sometimes get the sense that people wish to keep them within their religious fold.

While some non-religious people continue to hold supernatural, theistic or spiritual beliefs, our experience is that most do not.

This is supported by this Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) working paper, which found that among non-religious respondents, 65% neither followed a religion nor considered themselves spiritual, while 68.1% did not believe in God.

Source: Pg 28, IPS Working Papers No.33, “Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres”, published in 2019.

Source: Pg 34, IPS Working Papers No.33, “Religion in Singapore: The Private and Public Spheres”, published in 2019. 

5) The non-religious contribute positively to interfaith dialogue and religious harmony

The Humanist Society (Singapore) supports and has taken part in interfaith dialogues to strengthen understanding among religious communities as well as between religious and non-religious people. We support Singapore’s model of secularism, which provides space for diverse belief systems while ensuring public policy benefits all Singaporeans regardless of race or religion.

Our longstanding positions include:

  • Disagreements over beliefs should be resolved through dialogue rather than police reports or legal action.
  • Every individual has the right to hold and express their beliefs. At the same time, no belief should be beyond scrutiny or discussion. In the pursuit of truth and a better world, all ideas should be examined for logical soundness and tested against the best available evidence.

(Above) An interfaith visit to a mosque, organised by the Humanist Society (Singapore) in 2024.

Concluding thoughts 

Freedom from religion should also be part of freedom of religion.

Sadly, being non-religious, particularly atheist, is illegal or dangerous in many countries. The fact that 23.9% of Singapore residents can openly identify as non-religious reflects Singapore’s success in building a forward-looking, multiracial and multireligious society. Freedom from religion is something to be proud of, not feared or viewed with disdain. 

The Humanist Society (Singapore) will continue to monitor developments in this area and serve as a voice and refuge for the non-religious.

Blog, Featured Articles/Letters, Press

Non-religiosity and mental health

24 December 2025 by

***

There has been a lot of debate over the relationship between religion and mental health.

One common misconception that the non-religious face, is that without religion, the non-religious individual will not have sufficient psychological and emotional support in life, leading to increased risk of mental health issues.

The 2021 IMH Study

In 2021, a local study done by a team from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, set out to build upon research on the mental health benefits of religion, especially in the context of multicultural Asian populations like Singapore’s. Their findings were reported in the Straits Times – “Religion linked to better mental health, says study done in Singapore”, published on Aug 03, 2021.

Published in the International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health in March, the study assessed the positive mental health (PMH) of 2,270 adults in Singapore and identified trends relating to their religious affiliations. The data was collected from August 2016 to April 2018 as part of the larger Singapore Mental Health Study 2016, which aimed to find out the state of mental health in Singapore’s adult population.

In this study, PMH was measured using six markers: General coping, emotional support, spirituality, interpersonal skills, personal growth and autonomy, and global affect, which is the experience of being calm, happy, peaceful, relaxed or enthusiastic. In an interview with The Straits Times, lead researcher Janhavi Vaingankar described PMH as “a person’s attitudes towards themselves, ability to handle life’s surprises and ability to reach their true potential and resist stress”.

Zeroing in on predominant religions in Singapore, the study evaluated respondents affiliated to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Sikhism, which made up about 78% of those surveyed. Participants with these religions scored significantly higher in total PMH compared to those without a religion, the study found. The total PMH score did not vary much between people of different religions.

The picture is more nuanced

The Humanist Society argues that the picture is more nuanced, and there are other papers with a different conclusion. 

For example, there is a paper titled “Is religion beneficial for mental health? A 9-year longitudinal study” published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology (Volume 24, Issue 3, July–September 2024)

The abstract from the paper:

“Using a large sample of adults residing in Germany from the GESIS Panel study (N = 8146), the random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used. Data on six dimensions of religion (i.e., membership in a religious community; attendance at a place of worship; frequency of prayers; importance of religion in life; and participation in a religious organization) and three indicators of mental health (i.e., depression symptoms, happiness, and life satisfaction) were collected.

The findings revealed that there is almost no evidence of lagged effects of religion on mental health and limited evidence regarding the role of mental health in influencing the dimensions of religion. Moreover, at the between-person level, there was some evidence of significant covariance between the trait-like components, indicating stable, trait-like differences between persons on religion and mental health.

The beneficial effect of religion on mental health may have been exaggerated in previous research.”

***

There is also another study published in 2025, and it studies the relationship between religious service attendance (not just having a religion) and mental health.

Using modeling techniques that tracked relationships over time within individuals in the joint relationships between religious attendance and mental health outcome measures, the Italian researcher came to one surprising conclusion. In contrast to the prior literature suggesting mental health would benefit from religious attendance, the effects simply weren’t there.

The actual study can be found here.

Photo above: The Humanist Society organises events every month. The picture above is a hike along the southern coast of Singapore.

We need to exercise caution

Mental health issues can be very complex and have multiple root causes.

Some mental health issues are genetic and clinical, and simply cannot be attributed to having a religion or not. Some mental health issues are caused by circumstances in life, which also cannot be attributed neatly to religiosity or non-religiousity. 

There is no doubt that supporting communities can be helpful in providing support to people who have poor mental health. And it is widely acknowledged that religious communities are often the most organised and consistently available in many countries.

Nonetheless, attributing better mental health to simply having a religion causes the following risks:

  1. If widely believed, this attribution contributes to stigma for non-religious individuals, especially faith-leavers pressured by their family and community to return to religious communities they were born into.
  • If a person’s mental health is affected by religious trauma, then more religious exposure might actually worsen the situation, rather than help. (Note: Religious trauma can be defined as a psychological condition that occurs when religious teachings and practices become sources of emotional distress.)
  • A non-religious person facing mental health issues might be pressured — even by those who are well-meaning — to join a religious community because they feel that non-religiosity is the root cause of their mental health issues.
  • A person facing mental health issues could see religion as a solution, bypassing professional diagnosis and help. While religious communities can provide a supporting community, they are ultimately not the best place to get evidence-based diagnosis and treatment.

Photo above: The Humanist Society organises the Humanist Cafe which provides peer support to people at different stages of life.

Our experience on the ground

Over the years, the Humanist Society (Singapore) has organised events for many non-religious participants, and met people from all walks of life. Like any community, we have also engaged individuals with underlying mental health conditions.

We do have small numbers of participants who come from conservative religious family backgrounds and had a challenging experience growing up. They can come with religious trauma and take many years to recover.

The Humanist Society strives to build communities to support these people, although it can be challenging given that we are an all-volunteer organisation. But from our experience, attributing better mental health to simply having a religion is most harmful to those with religious trauma.

Future studies on the relationship between religion and mental health should take into account this group, to provide a fuller picture.

Blog, Featured Articles/Letters

The non-religious should not be forgotten

30 August 2025 by

Statement by the Humanist Society (Singapore)

On 20 Aug, the Straits Times published a report titled “Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study” (20 August) on religion becoming a more important part of Singaporeans’ identity in recent years, according to latest findings by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).

The Straits Times’ summary are as follows:

1) Singaporeans increasingly view religion as vital, influencing their perspectives, as shown in IPS surveys (2013, 2018, 2024) with spirituality giving meaning to life.

2) Religious practices are evolving; more Singaporeans are engaging with religious media and individual practices like meditation, while fewer attend gatherings.

3) A stronger religious identity could lead to groups seeking greater influence in policymaking, requiring careful management to maintain religious harmony in Singapore.

The Humanist Society (Singapore) views are as follows:

On 1), Singaporeans increasingly view religion as vital, as shown in IPS surveys (2013, 2018, 2024).

Based on the Singapore census, the share of residents with no religious affiliation rose to 20% in 2020, up from 17% in 2010, and 15% in 2000. Detailed census data in 2020 also shows non-religiosity is more pronounced among younger age groups. For example, 24.2% of those aged 15-24 reported having no religion, compared to 15.2% of those aged 55 and above.

So it is not true that, for Singaporeans as a whole, religion is growing in importance. It may just be growing among those who are already religious. It is important that this nuance is captured, as the non-religious form a significant proportion of the resident population. They should not be forgotten.

On 2), religious practices are evolving; more Singaporeans are engaging with religious media and individual practices like meditation, while fewer attend gatherings.

Meditation is not necessarily religious. Sam Harris, the American philosopher and neuroscientist who wrote the book The End of Faith (2004), is one prominent atheist public figure who supports meditation. Over the years, he is a promoter of meditation practices without the need for any religious beliefs.

On 3), a stronger religious identity could lead to groups seeking greater influence in policymaking.

In an increasingly polarized world, eroding the secular nature of the state will not be good for Singapore. Religious fundamentalism can significantly impact policymaking, often leading to tensions between religious values and individual rights. In the United States, debates over reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ issues frequently involve conflict between religious beliefs and personal freedoms. Recently, in Malaysia, recent state policies like mandatory prayer attendance demonstrate the potential consequences when religious fundamentalism heavily influences governance.

We need to maintain balanced approaches that respect both religious diversity and individual liberties. And such a balance is not possible without secularism.

Conclusion

We need to uphold our secular common space and be inclusive of non-religious perspectives, which are crucial in ensuring that Singapore remains a harmonious, multi-faceted society.

Singapore’s strength lies in its diversity, and this diversity should extend beyond race and religion to include those who identify as non-religious. While we are a relatively silent minority, we still need to be heard, our concerns addressed.

Featured Articles/Letters, Press

Coverage of International Humanist Conference 2024

15 May 2025 by

The following articles were written following the International Humanist Conference 2024, hosted by the Humanist Society (Singapore) from 30 Aug to 1 Sep 2024.

“One of the big takeaways was how much research and how many projects exist related to secularism and interfaith harmony. It often seems like atheism and secularism are not interesting topics for study, as religious scholars tend to focus on new ways of understanding spirituality and religiosity. But at this conference, I saw excellent speakers presenting fascinating research on secularism and interfaith projects and sharing real-life experiences. They offered practical, perhaps diplomatic, approaches to handling interfaith projects.”

“Singaporeans are lovely people, especially older people. For some reason, I connect more with older people because I’m always seeking wisdom from those more experienced than me. I had great conversations with Nora and Peter from Humanists International. Nora has been exceptionally kind and helpful, always going out of her way to assist the attendees. Peter, in particular, was very interested in Ghana and how things are going here. I had many enjoyable conversations with both of them. I also met another remarkable woman, Gerda. It’s quite impressive how we are not alone in our activism. Even though we may have different experiences, the underlying principles—equity, empathy, and so on—remain the same. I enjoyed that aspect of my interactions with everyone.”

“Humanist Society (Singapore) did a fantastic job hosting the dozens of delegates who came by preparing six enlightening talks surrounding Interfaith Dialogue and tapping the Ministry of Home Affairs to give us three tours tackling the history of the city’s social diversity. The Society also gave us plenty of time to mingle and befriend one another during several social nights, which my extroverted side (trust me, it’s usually not that active) appreciated!”

“I met people from the Humanist Society (Singapore) without knowing they were staff or in leadership positions. Just meeting them as members of the tour was amazing to me. I emphasize relationality, one of the main frameworks I’m constantly trying to embody, practice, and center in my work and life.

The Humanist Society (Singapore) curated various tours from various organizations. They were ushering us into a world that isn’t my own and listening to how they frame their histories. They live in a relatively young society, yet the design, intentionality, and work that went into building what they have is impressive. That speaks to human creativity and capacity—what can be achieved in what some might call a modern world.

That leads me to the Humanist Society (Singapore) itself. We were able to come in and see the work they’ve done and are still doing, especially in collaboration with Humanists International, to put together this international conference. I’m still reflecting on and cherishing that in my work here and in conversations with peers.”

It was refreshing to be on the road again and to reconnect with fellow humanist friends. The experience may not have been as new or surprising to me as it was for others. Still, I did appreciate the warm Singaporean welcome, generous hospitality, and positive, energetic way of speaking. The honesty in how Malaysians and Singaporeans express themselves resonates with me. The welcome from the humanist community in Singapore was fantastic.

In the lead-up to the conference, there were some concerns about government oversight, surveillance, and their interest in our activities—particularly about speaker visas—which might have conflicted with the human rights values held by many of us. While some concerns did come up, they didn’t overshadow the event. The immigration process was smooth, and the friendliness and dedication of the people immediately struck me.

As for my takeaway, I was particularly pleased that interfaith dialogue and harmony were central themes at this conference. The International Humanist Conference (hosted by Humanists Society Singapore) and the Humanists International General Assembly took place over the long weekend. Interfaith dialogue is a significant aspect of my Humanism and is why I joined the humanist movement. I am a humanist ambassador, someone who engages in dialogue with other faiths and beliefs rather than being inward-looking. Singapore embodies that spirit, and I left with renewed motivation and inspiration to continue my interfaith work. That message truly resonated with me.

“It was quite an experience. It was the first time we hosted such a large conference. We’ve had events like the Asian Humanist Conference, but that was on a smaller scale. That event was back in 2015 and lasted only a few days. But when we bid to host this event, we had our doubts. However, everyone on the committee unanimously said, “Let’s go for it.”

If other countries like Australia and New Zealand can do it, why not us? So, we took the opportunity and won the bid. Initially, it wasn’t very comforting because it was such a challenge. But we eventually came together as a team, and everyone played their part.

For the first time, people from all different countries came together. It was overwhelming, exciting, and yet nerve-wracking because we didn’t want to disappoint anyone. We wanted to ensure that everyone who came to Singapore would have an unforgettable experience. What we learned from organizing such a big event is invaluable. It was a great experience, and we’re glad we did it. It’s a challenge, but you’ll never know what’s possible if you don’t take that first step.”

“The Humanist Society Singapore, whose motto is: “Guided by reason, informed by evidence, and driven by compassion,” were gracious hosts. They started events on Friday, August 30th, with a guided discussion and tour of the nation’s Harmony in Diversity Gallery, where we learned that Singapore is the most religiously diverse country globally but also sees some of the least religiously motivated conflicts. This is no accident. As their presentation showed, they intentionally create shared pluralistic spaces, encouraging engagement between people of differing beliefs and educating about religion and nonbelief to reduce othering and bring people together positively.”

Other articles

Featured Articles/Letters

A Christian among Humanists: A Chat over Easter #3

9 May 2025 by

Over the long Easter weekend, Christians worldwide commemorated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Easter, the Humanist Society (Singapore) also occasionally carries out interviews with a handful of Christians have been regularly attending our events for years. They are independent-minded, well-read, and supportive of many Humanist causes. Their perspectives are valuable as a bridge between Christian and non-religious communities.

Previous interviews are with John Hui (2017) and Mathia Lee (2020) and a summary of both interviews are found at the bottom of this post.

This year, we feature Angela Ow (photo below, first from left), who has been participating in Humanist Society (‘HumanistSG’) events for the past seven years. Her favourite events were the hikes at nature parks, as well as our Humanist Cafe series.

Q: What is your religious faith and what religious services do you attend regularly?

Angela: I identify as a Catholic Christian. My father was an agnostic atheist and my mother was Roman Catholic, so I grew up with a mix but went through Catholic formation from a young age. These days, I go to a non-denominational community church, but I still attend Catholic Masses on many occasions.

Q: When did you start attending Humanist Society events? And what attracted you to our events?

Angela: I can’t remember exactly, but I think it was sometime around late 2018? That’s when I started going to the monthly Humanist Cafés and joined the hikes whenever they were held (I love hiking!). Back then, the Cafés didn’t have set themes, so the conversations just flowed naturally. I remember some interesting discussions on history, astronomy, and science. There was even one on quantum physics that totally went over my head – haha!

Q: What is your first impression of HumanistSG?  What was the biggest surprise to you?

Angela: One of the things that really stood out to me was how intellectual and analytical everyone was! I remember thinking, “Wow, these guys can really discuss very cerebral topics!” It was a little intimidating at first, but I also learnt a lot during the Humanist Café conversations.

Back then, I also noticed that there weren’t many women around – it was mostly a male-dominated space. That was a surprise to me! But it’s been really great to see more women joining Humanist Society events nowadays. It feels more balanced than before, and it’s nice to have a wider mix of perspectives and experiences in the discussions.

Q: How did the humanists, atheists and agnostics etc. react when they learnt you are a Christian? How did you respond to them?

Angela: People are usually surprised when they find out I’m Christian. Some get curious and ask why I’m volunteering with the Humanist Society. Right now, I help out as a Humanist Café facilitator as well as organize bimonthly hikes.

I volunteer because I find these events meaningful – they bring HumanistSG people together and help create a sense of community and friendship. This is especially important since most in the Society do not join religious groups, so they may not have access to the many fellowship and bonding activities that religious groups offer.

Photo above: Angela (standing, 2nd from right) at a HumanistSG hiking event.

Q: Did you feel hurt whenever the Humanist Society releases statements that are critical of religion/religious institutions?

Angela: I don’t think I’ve come across the Humanist Society putting out any statements that were openly critical of religion or religious groups. From what I’ve read, the statement releases have always come across as fair and balanced. What I like is that they highlight the perspectives of non-religious people – views that sometimes get overlooked in our society as Singaporeans with religions still largely outnumber those without.

Q: What is the biggest misunderstanding that many atheists, agnostics, humanists have about Christians?

Angela: I think a lot of non-Christians tend to see Christians as one monolithic group – like everyone believes the same things and acts the same way. To be fair, we all kind of do this sometimes with groups we’re not a part of (I think the term for it is “outgroup homogeneity bias”). It’s common for people to mainly come across Christians who are really active in converting non-believers – whether in public or within their own circles – so it’s easy to assume that all Christians are like that. But that’s not the case. Different Christians choose to live out their faith in different ways, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing.

For me, one thing that stood out in the stories of Jesus was how he was always on the lookout for people in the margins of society, people who didn’t fit in, and actively reaching out to them, even if it meant breaking social norms of the time. This aspect of Christianity resonates with me and living out my faith as a Christian means seeking to do the same. That is quite different from seeking the conversion of others, which is often considered by many to be the mainstream or core pursuit of Christianity.

Q: What is the biggest misunderstanding that many Christians have about non-religious people? (atheists, agnostics, humanists etc.)

Angela: I’m not sure if it’s the biggest misunderstanding, but I’ve come across some Christians who think that people without religion don’t have a moral compass – or worse, that they’re amoral and don’t care about doing what’s right.

From what I’ve seen, that’s just not true! Religion and sacred texts can be an important source of guidance, but they’re not the only ones. A person’s sense of right and wrong is also shaped by many other things – their upbringing, the values of society, culture, their lived experiences, and an education that encourages critical, rational and moral thinking.

Take my father, for example. He’s an agnostic atheist, but he’s one of the most honest and considerate people I know – especially for the less abled. Not having a religion won’t make a person less moral or amoral. We all have a conscience, and life is about following one’s conscience to the best of our ability.

Q: How do you think our mutual misunderstandings can be resolved?

Angela: I believe having an open and honest conversation is the best way to go. If we are willing to set aside our preconceived notions, make the effort to see things from the other person’s perspective, and perhaps the hardest part – the courage to be wrong (let’s face it, we all have blind spots and biases), I believe a lot of our misunderstandings can be resolved.

The point of a conversation isn’t about agreeing on everything. We may not see eye to eye as we are all shaped by different lived experiences, ways of thinking and personalities. But that should not preclude us from working together for good. 

Whether it’s doing good because of one’s faith in God, or doing good for goodness’ sake, we all have something to contribute to our shared humanity.  I believe religious and the non-religious have a lot more in common than we think.

Past Interviews

John Hui (2017): John is drawn by its commitment to critical reasoning, secularism, and support for the non-religious community. Despite holding Christian beliefs, including in the resurrection of Jesus, John uses evidence-based reasoning to reconcile his faith with humanist values, engaging respectfully with atheists and agnostics who often question his stance. He sees the Society as a valuable platform for promoting rational discourse and pluralism in Singapore, and believes it can empower progressive religious individuals to stand against religious fundamentalism.

Mathia Lee (2020): Dr Lee sees her faith as a personal moral compass rather than a set of Western-influenced rituals, and appreciates HSS’s respectful but critical stance on harmful religious practices. She highlights the importance of mutual understanding through dialogue, emphasizing that both Christians and non-religious people often hold misconceptions about each other that can be resolved through open, respectful engagement.
Blog, Featured Articles/Letters

ST Forum: Beyond counter-terror drills, people have a vital role to play

4 April 2025 by

The Humanist Society (Singapore) submitted a letter to the Straits Times Forum:

In the letter, our President Nora expressed concern over the recent cases of self-radicalised individuals in Singapore.

She suggested NGOs, including various interfaith groups, can conduct closed-door table-top exercises to simulate first responses to various scenarios of terrorism aimed at weakening social cohesion. And if such exercises already exist, these exercises can be expanded to involve more NGOs and self-help groups.

She added that “scenarios can be based on past attacks that have happened abroad. Scenarios should also change according to how terrorists are adapting to the latest security measures.”

“During an exercise, NGOs and self-help group leaders can take the lead as “social first responders” in the information space, simulating and coordinating their statements and publicity materials, including both social media and mass media,” she said.

Blog, Featured Articles/Letters, Press
Next Page »