What is a Humanist Celebrant
A Humanist Celebrant is a celebrant who espouses Humanism. Humanism
is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art,
and motivated by compassion. It is
defined by the International Humanist and Ethical Union as
... a
democratic and ethical life
stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and
responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands
for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on
human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry
through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and does not accept
supernatural views of reality.
A Humanist celebrant treats others with
courtesy, dignity, respect and tolerance, and without prejudice or
bigotry.
Humanist ceremonies celebrate the joy and beauty of life that the
Humanist spirit affirms and that has its roots in love, caring and
compassion between the principal parties in the ceremony (bride and
groom, parent and child and so on)
I believe that principles of tolerance preclude my taking a hard
secular line in ceremonies. If you wish to express your beliefs it is
my role to respectfully facilitate that.
As a Humanist Celebrant I have mindfully analysed the structure and
content of marriage and other ceremonies. In Australia the secular or
civil marriage ceremony very closely follows the order and content of
the traditional religious marriage ceremony, particularly that of the
Church of England.
In secularising this ceremony civil celebrants have converted religious
practices, such as incorporating three readings and the blessing of
wedding rings before their exchange by the couple, into their secular
equivalents without necessarily questioning their purpose within the
religious marriage ceremony.
The reason there are three readings in the religious marriage ceremony
is because a Christian religious marriage ceremony is defined as a
service of worship and all services of worship include a reading from
the Old Testament, New Testament and the Epistles. In a civil ceremony
you can choose to have as many or as few readings as you wish.
The reason that words are spoken about the rings is that at that point
in the ceremony the rings were blessed before they were exchanged.
The traditional religious ceremony includes gender stereotypes and
practices that
are not required by Australian law. so they can be edited or altered to
reflect your beliefs and ceremonial requirements. I suggest
alternatives that send powerful
messages of equality between bride and groom and inclusiveness.
