June 21 is also World Humanist Day – An Explainer

Humanism is a philosophical stance or ideology that considers reason and common humanity as the approach towards life and recognises moral values based on human nature and experiences.

Hyderabad: Everyone knows June 21 is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, aka the Summer Solstice, but the day is also World Humanist Day.

The word ‘humanist’ derives from the Latin word ‘Humanitas’, which means human nature, civilisation and kindness and June 21 has been celebrated as World Humanist Day since the 1980s.

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Humanism is a philosophical stance or ideology that considers reason and common humanity as the approach towards life and recognises moral values based on human nature and experiences.

According to several schools of thought, it rejects the religious ideas and morals that religious books define and project, and instead, focuses on secular, individualistic spirit and to human welfare. It originated in northern Italy during the 13th and 14th centuries and later spread throughout Europe, especially during the Renaissance period.

Among the famous philosophers who are known humanists are Desiderius Erasmus, Thomas More, Carl Sagan and some well known Indian humanists are Kotapati Murahari Rao, Babu Gogineni, Malladi Subbamma among others.

There is also an Indian Humanist Union, a humanist organisation established in 1960 and it is affiliated to Humanist International, a consortium of political parties associated with universal humanism.

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