The Human Project – Creating Meaning
Our conversation on Monday was about one of life’s most enduring questions, and it began began with reflections on how meaning, once rooted firmly in religious belief, is now widely accepted to be something created through lived experience.
Dawn shared that even after stepping away from Christianity, she still finds meaning in acts of service and kindness. Quoting Bono, she reminded us: “I can’t change the world, but I can change the world in me.”
For her, love and kindness must be at the core of any meaningful act, while Sarah, who is a practicing Christian, said “perhaps CS Lewis might have my last word? “When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall”.
We set the topic of the meeting months ago, so we were pleased to find we’re on the zeitgeist because the search for meaning is the leading article in the current issue of New Humanist magazine.
We agreed that Humanism isn’t about the absence of belief – it’s about actively crafting meaning, in relationships, communities, and culture, and we concur with its proposition that “the search for meaning is a condition of being human.” Meaning is not handed down from above – it’s something that emerges through engagement with others.
Secular Ceremonies: Sources of Meaning and Connection
Susan and Sharon shared powerful stories from humanist funerals, which had surprised and deeply moved attendees who hadn’t expected to find such profound meaning in ceremonies without religious elements.
Sharon recounted a funeral where a guest said she left feeling uplifted rather than sad – a testament to how humanist ceremonies focus on celebrating life, not just mourning death. Similarly, Bjarni described how Icelandic funerals, infused with music, reflection, and community, often lead people to express both gratitude and surprise at how fulfilling a non-religious ceremony can be.
Coming of Age, Naming, and Ritual
A standout theme was the importance of ritual. Bjarni spoke about Iceland’s “Coming of Age” ceremonies for 13- and 14-year-olds, a rite of passage that’s continuing to grow in popularity. Susan contrasted this with the UK, where that tradition doesn’t yet exist, but highlighted the power of Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies as moments when families and friends make promises to each other and their children – building meaning through intentional commitments.
These ceremonies, we agreed, are where humanists truly shine – not so much through philosophical debate, but through marking life’s most important transitions in deeply personal and very human ways.
Meaning as a Human Responsibility
Drawing on Jean-Paul Sartre’s essay ‘Existentialism is a Humanism’, Tim quoted his famous dictum, ‘in a world without gods, what we become is up to us’. Life itself has no intrinsic meaning – only what we give it. Humanism provides a framework not only to understand this truth but to live it.
Richard agreed saying, “Meaning is made”, citing Wittgenstein’s statement that “the meaning of a word is its use in the language.” As he went on to say, “Meaning is something we construct, through how we speak, act, and live. A word like kindness only means something because we see it. Meaning comes through commitment. It’s something we build through what we care about and stick with – relationships, causes, rituals, even routines. Meaning grows where we choose to invest our attention. It’s also something that tends to reveal itself in hindsight. It can be hard to see meaning in the moment, but we start to see patterns, connections, even purpose when looking back. Meaning is often shaped in the stories we tell later.”
That prompted Tim to recall a recent book by Richard Holloway, in which the former Episcopal Archbishop of Edinburgh talks about the limitations of language as a way to describe human experience. “Some of the keenest human experiences are beyond any words to describe. Take the feeling of loneliness as an example. It’s not easy to communicate it in words, but artists like Hopper have painted it with heartbreaking clarity…. Words are the names we give things, the signs, we create point to them, but the things themselves are not what we say they are: the word water is not drinkable, nor is the word bread, edible.”
Bruce said “the creation of meaning is a pre-requisite of our consciousness and self-awareness. Existing without the stories we provide for ourselves would rob us of the social glue that makes communication possible, so meaning is a pre-requisite for good and ill; it is both made and infinitely contested,” and Stuart said, “Ritual is fundamental to human life, being part of a community, forming relationships and feeling part of this vast, marvellous universe.”
Conclusion: A Human Task
Ultimately, the conversation circled back to a powerful truth: meaning is made – not found. Whether through funerals, weddings, coming-of-age rituals, or daily acts of kindness, each of us has the power – and the responsibility – to shape a life of purpose.
In a secular age, humanists are not simply replacing religion – we’re redefining what it means to live well, love fully, and mark life’s milestones with sincerity and grace.
As Susan concluded, “Creating meaning is what we do – it is the human purpose.”
Next Steps
Our next Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, when the topic will be, ‘Spirituality – What Does That Mean to You?’ If you’d like to share your own thoughts on the subject, please join Humankind.
Meetings are on Zoom; an official invite will be sent a week in advance, and those unable to attend are encouraged to submit contributions in writing.