LIVING HUMANISM
About this Site
This Living Humanism website provides a guide to living a Humanist life. It is based on the Living Humanism guides that I published in 2018.
I was motivated to write the Living Humanism books and develop this website as I feel that there is a major gap in Humanist thinking when it comes to our discussion of everyday personal conduct and action and, in fact, a similar gap in our Humanist action in terms of identifying what that good conduct involves so that we can act on our beliefs.
Further, I also think that to be of most significant value, Humanism has to be made relevant to the everyday lives and everyday personal conduct of all of us.
So, for me it is crucial that we identify our Humanist beliefs and what we see as good conduct, and that we also act based on what we see as such good personal conduct, promoting and exemplifying our view of positive conduct and promoting and exemplifying positive Humanist action within and beyond our families, communities and societies.
In that way, our Humanism will better serve to benefit not only our own lives but also the lives of others, to the maximum, which must, to my mind, be a key goal of Humanism.
As a consequence of this thinking, this website and the Living Humanism books (as well as the Living Humanism Facebook and other channels) aim to express how our Humanism is relevant to our daily lives and how we can act to support our own well-being and the well-being of all others, and reduce and prevent pain and suffering for ourselves and all others, these surely representing worthy goals in themselves and legitimate goals for Humanism.
The site is a development of the original Wix site, and has been developed by Louise James at Soka video. Thanks to Louise and the team at Soka Studio.
Who is Philip Nathan?
I have been a Humanist for around 20 years and have been both Chair as well as Media and Publicity Officer for North East Humanists. I have given a range of presentations and been involved in a range of discussions about Humanism at North East Schools and elsewhere (see activities tabs for more information about talks and presentations).
Academically I have a first degree in Biochemistry, a Masters in Biotechnology and doctorates in both Molecular Biology and Applied linguistics. I currently work at Durham University where I am Director of the MA TESOL and Applied Linguistics programme in Durham’s Centre for Academic Development (DCAD). Prior to working at Durham, I worked at Birmingham University, Sohar University (Oman), Nottingham University and the British Council in Sri-Lanka, amongst other places.
I was brought up in Caversham Park Village on the outskirts of Reading, attending Chiltern Edge Comprehensive school and King James’ Sixth Form College, Henley.
I have three wonderful grown-up daughters and I live in Chester-le-Street.
In terms of other things, I do in my current life, I am a keen ParkRunner and really enjoy longer runs (I managed my first Great North Run this year and also completed my first marathon at Kielder Water this year, though knee pain meant the last few miles were walked). I'm also a keen club cricketer. On an amateur basis, I write music, play guitar and sing at local music clubs.