Rites and Rituals
People often mark major life events with special religious occasions, like christenings, weddings and funerals. Atheist and Humanist organizations offer and set up their own rituals for these events without any religious content.
Non-religious Weddings and Civil Partnerships
- Wedding traditions do not depend on the religion but on the culture.
- As much as religious weddings, the non-religious wedding marks the commitment of two people sharing their lives together.
- Any supernatural power has no has no place in the marriage or wedding for they are founded on efforts and relationship of the couple.
- Atheist and Humanist wedding ceremonies allow much more personalization than the religious weddings.
- Atheist and Humanist weddings rituals often stress on the equality of the couple.
- Such wedding ceremonies may include:
- Music
- Ritual actions, like exchange of rings and candle-lighting
- Non-religious blessing
Namings
- Naming the baby welcomes the baby(ies) into the world and gives friends and family the opportunity to help and protect the baby from that moment on.
- Often during the ceremony, chosen individuals come forward to commit to caring for the child in the humanistic version of "God Parents".
Non-religious funerals
- Non-religious funerals are legal and funeral directors and cemeteries are accustomed to arranging them.
- If the deceased was an atheist, the funeral will contain to religious content as a way of respecting the dead person's beliefs.
- A Humanist funeral focuses on the person and what they have contributed to the world.
- The ceremony may include:
- Music
- Readings of of poetry and pose
- Eulogies
- Humanist funerals often contain moments of silence that can be used by people who have faith to pray.