Norwegian Humanist Association

The Norwegian Humanist Association, known in Norwegian as Human-Etisk Forbund and commonly abbreviated HEF, is a national secular humanist organisation founded in 1956. It represents people who base their ethical outlook on human values rather than religious authority or supernatural beliefs. Although many members identify as atheist or agnostic, the association presents humanism as a democratic, non-theistic and ethical life stance rather than simply as a rejection of religion. HEF is one of the largest secular humanist organisations in the world and has an unusually high level of membership relative to the population of its home country. Reference material describes it as having more than 130,000 members, equivalent to approximately 2.3 percent of Norway's population at the time of the cited figures. The organisation is affiliated with Humanists International, the global humanist network formerly associated with the International Humanist and Ethical Union. A central part of HEF's work is the provision and promotion of humanist ceremonies. Its humanist confirmation programme, generally known as civil or humanist confirmation, offers young people a non-religious alternative to church confirmation. The programme combines a public ceremony with educational content concerning humanist ethics, identity, critical thinking, rights, responsibility and participation in society. It has become an important part of the Norwegian coming-of-age landscape. In 2018, approximately 19 percent of Norwegian 15-year-olds reportedly participated in HEF's civil or humanist confirmation, while 56 percent participated in church ceremonies, although local participation rates varied considerably. The association also supports humanist naming ceremonies, wedding ceremonies and funeral or memorial services, allowing families to mark significant life events without religious doctrine. Its bylaws identify access to humanist ceremonies and the dissemination of knowledge about humanism as core purposes. HEF additionally engages in public debate on freedom of religion and belief, secularism, equality, democratic citizenship, science and criticism of superstition or pseudoscientific claims. Historically, HEF advocated a clearer separation between the Norwegian state and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway. This objective was particularly relevant while the church retained its formal status as Norway's state church. The association criticised constitutional arrangements that privileged Lutheran affiliation and argued that the state should treat religious and non-religious citizens equally. Norway's constitutional and institutional relationship with the church later changed, but HEF continues to participate in discussions concerning secular public institutions and freedom of conscience. HEF communicates with the public through its website, events, educational activity and the magazine Fri tanke, whose name means Free Thought. It has also maintained an active youth presence through Norwegian Humanist Youth, or Humanistisk Ungdom, founded in 2007. The youth organisation extends the association's work among younger members and provides a platform for discussion and activism around humanist values. The organisation has hosted several international humanist gatherings in Norway. These include the third World Humanist Congress in 1962, the ninth in 1986 and the eighteenth in Oslo in August 2011. The 2011 congress focused on humanism and peace. HEF has therefore operated both as a Norwegian membership organisation and as a participant in international humanist institution-building. Its public identity combines service delivery through ceremonies, educational and cultural programming, advocacy for secular equality, and support for a human-centred ethical worldview.

The Norwegian Humanist Association was established in 1956 as an organisation for people seeking an ethical and meaningful worldview independent of religious belief. Its Norwegian name, Human-Etisk Forbund, reflects its emphasis on human-centred ethics. The association's outlook is consistent with the international humanist definition of humanism as democratic, non-theistic and ethical: people are understood to have both the right and the responsibility to give shape and meaning to their own lives, while supernatural explanations are rejected as the basis for public ethics. During its development, HEF became a major institutional representative of secular humanism in Norway. Its work has combined membership activity, public education, advocacy and the provision of ceremonies for important life transitions. Rather than treating secularism solely as a political doctrine, the association has built practical alternatives to religious participation. Humanist confirmation became particularly prominent, offering young people a structured educational and ceremonial alternative to church confirmation. The organisation also developed humanist services for naming, marriage and funerals, allowing families to mark these events in a non-religious setting. HEF's public-policy work has included criticism of formal or informal religious privilege. For much of the association's history, Norway's constitutional and institutional relationship with the Evangelical-Lutheran Church was a central concern. HEF argued that citizens should enjoy equal status regardless of whether they were religious, non-religious or affiliated with another faith. In 2006, Jens Brun-Pedersen, a prominent association member, called on Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to support a separation of church and state. He pointed to constitutional language favouring Lutheranism and requirements concerning church membership among cabinet ministers. Norway's relationship with the church subsequently changed, including the end of its former state-church arrangement, but the underlying questions of freedom of conscience and equal treatment remain relevant to HEF's mission. The association has also participated in international humanist cooperation. It is affiliated with Humanists International and has hosted World Humanist Congresses in Norway. HEF hosted the third congress in 1962 and the ninth in 1986. In August 2011 it hosted the 18th World Humanist Congress in Oslo, where the principal theme was humanism and peace. Levi Fragell, a former HEF secretary general, later served as president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union from 1988 to 2003 and subsequently chaired its Committee for Growth and Development, illustrating the organisation's influence beyond Norway. Public communication has included the magazine Fri tanke, or Free Thought, as well as educational and campaigning activity. In 2011, HEF organised the online scepticism campaign Ingen liker å bli lurt, translated as “No one likes to be fooled.” The campaign was intended to raise awareness of misleading claims, paranormal phenomena and pseudoscience. It attracted media attention through appearances by James Randi, a well-known scientific sceptic and critic of paranormal claims. Scepticism is not the association's sole or primary purpose, but the campaign reflected its broader interest in critical thinking and evidence-based public discussion. The organisation expanded its youth engagement with the creation of Norwegian Humanist Youth, or Humanistisk Ungdom, in August 2007. Youth activity has complemented HEF's established ceremony and educational work, particularly among adolescents and young adults navigating questions of belief, identity and civic responsibility. Reference material describes HEF as having more than 130,000 members, making it one of the world's largest secular humanist associations and exceptionally large in proportion to its national population. Since September 2021, Christian Lomsdalen has served as chairman of the board. HEF remains an active Norwegian humanist membership organisation centred on ceremonies, education, advocacy and the promotion of a non-religious ethical worldview.

• 2021

  Christian Lomsdalen becomes board chairman

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Christian Lomsdalen began serving as chairman of the association's board in September 2021.

• 2011

  Hosts the 18th World Humanist Congress

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  HEF hosted the international congress in Oslo from 12 to 14 August under the theme “Humanism and Peace.”

• 2007

  Norwegian Humanist Youth founded

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Humanistisk Ungdom was established as the association's youth wing.

• 1986

  Hosts the ninth World Humanist Congress

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association hosted the ninth World Humanist Congress in Norway.

• 1962

  Hosts the third World Humanist Congress

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  HEF hosted the third World Humanist Congress in Norway, beginning a recurring role in international humanist gatherings.

• 1956

  Association founded

  [1]Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Norwegian Humanist Association, or Human-Etisk Forbund, was founded in Norway to promote human-centred ethics and a non-religious worldview.

A national membership association for secular humanism, positioned around non-religious life ceremonies, humanist education, freedom of thought, equal treatment of religious and non-religious citizens, and democratic ethics.

• Ceremony and education

  Humanist confirmation

  HEF's humanist confirmation programme provides a non-religious coming-of-age alternative for young people. It combines educational sessions with a public ceremony and addresses humanist ethics, identity, critical thinking, responsibility and participation in society. The programme is one of the association's most visible activities and has attracted substantial participation among Norwegian adolescents.

• Ceremonial services

  Humanist life ceremonies

  The association provides or supports non-religious ceremonies for major life events, including naming, marriage, funerals and memorials. These services give individuals and families a way to mark personal transitions using humanist language and values rather than religious doctrine.

• Magazine and publishing

  Fri tanke

  Fri tanke, meaning “Free Thought,” is the association's member and public magazine. It serves as a channel for humanist perspectives, commentary and information about secular ethics, religion, science, society and freedom of thought.

• Education and public affairs

  Humanist education and advocacy

  HEF conducts educational, informational and advocacy work concerning humanism, secularism, freedom of belief, equality and critical thinking. Its activity includes public discussion, campaigns and support for a society in which religious and non-religious citizens receive equal treatment.

• 2011Ingen liker å bli lurt

  Norway

  An online campaign whose title translates as “No one likes to be fooled.” It raised public awareness of scepticism, paranormal claims and pseudoscience, with the campaign receiving additional attention through appearances in Norway by James Randi.

  Outcome. The campaign generated media discussion about misleading claims and critical evaluation of extraordinary assertions.

  Source

• 2006

  Public advocacy for church–state separationStrategy

  Background

  Norwegian constitutional provisions and government practices continued to give the Evangelical-Lutheran tradition a privileged position. HEF had historically opposed unequal treatment of citizens based on religious affiliation.

  Action taken

  Prominent HEF member Jens Brun-Pedersen called on Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to support a clearer separation between the Norwegian state and the church.

  Aftermath

  The intervention contributed to public debate over religious privilege and constitutional equality. Norway later changed its formal church–state arrangement, although the association's broader secular-equality concerns continued.

  Source

1. 1Norwegian Humanist Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Norwegian Humanist Association official websitehuman.no