Jonathan belongs to the Humanist Ceremonies™ network and is accredited to deliver funerals to the highest possible standards of excellence. If you are not familiar with the philosophy, a Humanist ceremony is for everyone, whether you identify as a Humanist or not however the following paragraphs may help you decide whether your loved-one subscribed to Humanist principles.

Humanists believe that it is possible to live a good and fulfilling life without the need for religion or a God. We use logic, reason and evidence to guide our decision making. We believe it’s our obligation to, in some way, fuel the progress of humanity, refining our methods of living to make the world a better place for those with whom we share it.
Empathy, compassion, understanding and respect calibrate our moral compass.

Humanism has grown over the centuries from our search for honesty and truth, and from our love and concern for our fellow men and women. Humanists see each life – each particular journey between birth and death – as part of the cycle of nature. We believe that what matters in life is the wonder of living it and our contributions to the lives of others.

Humanists do not believe in life after death and this informs the way we live. It encourages us to make the most of our time here: relishing our human experience and cherishing the people we love. To quote the author, Mitch Albom, “Life has to end, love doesn’t.” We all must die, but that is what makes life worth living. Death gives life a deadline; it gives us a rough timeframe to do whatever we set out to do.  Death makes us want to do things – to live and to love – it helps us appreciate life because we know it will end eventually.

If we want to experience all that life has to offer like excitement; adventure; love; nature; fulfilment, we need to experience it now. If we want to be happy, we have to create our happiness now. Rather than be afraid of death, or simply ignore it, we use death as a motivation to really live!

A Humanist Ceremony is a magnificent opportunity to celebrate the deceased’s positive outlook on life by the telling of a dignified and genuine story of a life well-lived.