Honoring Authentic Lives: World Humanist Day and Inclusive Deathcare

By Tee Rogers

You’ve heard me say it before – every dying person, and every grieving person, of every identity, deserves to be authentically honored in deathcare. Walk with me a moment…

June 21st marks World Humanist Day – a time to celebrate the power of human reason, compassion, and ethical living. For Humanists and many other secular individuals, it’s a day to reflect on how we can build a more just, equitable, and humane world, grounded in shared human values.

Humanism focuses on life and its inherent possibilities; it also offers a profound framework for approaching life’s inevitable end. Let’s take a moment to turn our attention to a critical area where the experience of Humanist people is often overlooked: deathcare planning and end-of-life support for Atheists, Humanists, and other Secular Identities (AHoSI).

The Unseen Challenges of Secular Identities in End-of-Life Care

For AHoSI individuals, navigating daily life often means encountering subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination, marginalization, and faith bullying. This can range from unwanted proselytization to a general lack of understanding about secular worldviews. These challenges, unfortunately, are amplified at the vulnerable and difficult time of facing one’s own death or the death of a loved one.

While hospitals, hospices, and funeral homes may say they genuinely strive to serve everyone, and professionals may say they welcome all, the reality for secular individuals can be quite different. A lack of awareness about secular perspectives, values, and even simple terminology can lead to:

Discomfort and alienation: Religious rituals or language may be assumed as default, making secular individuals feel unseen or out of place.
Inauthentic ceremonies: Funeral or memorial services may inadvertently incorporate religious elements that do not reflect the deceased’s beliefs or values.
Lack of understanding from providers: End-of-life conversations might lack the nuanced understanding of a secular person’s sources of comfort, meaning, and ethical frameworks.
Emotional distress: The weight of religious trauma or added burden of educating professionals or advocating for one’s identity during a time of grief can be incredibly taxing.

Like anyone else, secular people often don’t plan for deathcare in advance, meaning these challenges often hit unexpectedly – a surprise blow when they’re already deep in grief.

What is Humanism? A Brief Overview for Professionals

For deathcare professionals – from hospice nurses and social workers to funeral directors and grief counselors – understanding Humanism is not just about a checkbox or reciting verbiage about inclusion; it’s about providing truly person-centered care.

At its core, Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms the human ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment, aspiring to the greater good of humanity. Key tenets often include:

Emphasis on reason and critical thinking: Decisions and understanding are based on evidence and logic.
Ethics rooted in human well-being: Morality is derived from human experience and a desire to minimize suffering and maximize flourishing.
Commitment to compassion and empathy: Recognizing shared humanity and the importance of caring for one another.
Belief in human agency and responsibility: Humans have the power to shape our own lives and contribute to a better world.
Valuing human experience and the natural world: Finding meaning and wonder in the experience of the world around us.
Rejection of dogma and authoritarianism: Openness to new ideas and a questioning spirit.

Like anyone else, Humanists find meaning in relationships, community, art, nature, science, and the pursuit of knowledge. Humanist values are often expressed through acts of kindness, social justice, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Why Respecting Secular Perspectives Matters in End-of-Life Care

Treating individuals with respect and authentically honoring who they are is fundamental to ethical health and death care. For deathcare professionals serving AHoSI clients this specifically means:

Ensuring Dignity and Autonomy: Everyone deserves to have their final wishes and values respected. For Humanists, this might mean a focus on a life well-lived, contributions to the community, and the legacy they leave behind, rather than religious rites.
Facilitating Authentic Grief: Grief is a deeply personal experience. When end-of-life ceremonies or support systems are misaligned with a person’s identity, it can hinder the grieving process for both the dying individual and their loved ones. Authentic honoring allows for genuine closure and remembrance.
Building Trust and Comfort: Professionals who demonstrate an understanding and respect for secular worldviews foster an environment of trust. This allows AHoSI individuals to feel safe, understood, and genuinely cared for during a vulnerable time.
Promoting Inclusive Practices: Learning about Humanism and secular values enriches the entire deathcare profession, helping to dismantle assumptions and build truly inclusive practices that serve the diverse fabric of our society.

Practical Tips for Deathcare Professionals

I encourage all deathcare professionals to take a step towards greater inclusivity. Here’s how you can make a difference:

Educate yourself: Seek out resources on Humanism and secular worldviews. Organizations like the American Humanist Association or the Humanist Society offer valuable insights.
Ask open-ended questions: Instead of assuming religious affiliation, ask about a person’s beliefs, values, and what gives their life meaning.
Offer secular options: Be prepared to discuss non-religious ceremonies, readings, and forms of remembrance.
Use inclusive language: Be mindful of your own “bless language” and other words and phrases you use that assume others share your perspective. While such verbal signals may build rapport with some, it can destroy your connection with others.
Connect with secular organizations: Partner with local humanist or atheist groups to better understand their community’s needs.
Review your practices: Assess your facility’s forms, literature, and training to ensure they are welcoming and inclusive of secular individuals.

By embracing a mindset of compassion, deathcare professionals can ensure that everyone receives the respectful, authentic, and dignified end-of-life care they deserve. As professionals in health and deathcare, we serve everyone. Let’s work together to honor all lives, and all deaths.

Read more in the Identity Affirming Deathcare Directives, a FREE workbook for all LGBTQ+ and diverse Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities (RSSI) to reflect on how their own identity impacts deathcare decisions and the experience of deathcare: IADDResource.org