Sidmennt
The
Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, was founded in 1990. The
association advocates humanism, freethought, and a life stance
independent of religious dogma. The association organises and/or
assists with secular ceremonies at the various transition stages
in life (name-giving, coming of age, marriage, and funerals) and
works for separation of church and state in Iceland.
We publish a newsletter, hold regular meetings, and maintain two
web sites (English versions): www.sidmennt.is/english
and www.samt.is/english.
The second site is part of our atheist brunch discussion group.
Both sites have English summaries. We also write articles in the
newspapers and on various web sites about humanism, religious
freedom, secularism, and the rights of non-believers.
Activity for young people
Our main activity is an annual youth education program, a preparation
course for 13-14 year-olds in ethics, human relations, human rights,
equal rights, relations between the sexes, skepticism, prevention
of substance abuse, the teenager in a consumer society, and what
it means to be an adult and take responsibility for one's views,
decisions, and behaviour.
At the end of the course we hold a grand and festive civil confirmation
ceremony in the largest auditorium in Iceland where many of the
teenagers perform, either on musical instruments, or by making
speeches or reading poetry.
Since 2001, Sidmennt has offered this program to the entire nation.
Around 500 teenagers have participated in the 14 years of civil
confirmation in Iceland and close to 7000 have attended the ceremonies.
Contact Sidmennt:
Contact person: Sigurdur Holm Gunnarsson, vice president
of Sidmennt
Vallarhusum 6,
112 Reykjavik, Iceland,
e-mail: siggi@sidmennt.is,
website: www.sidmennt.is/english.
@Written by Hope Knutsson
Involvement
in IHEYO
Sidmennt is a member organisation of IHEU (IHEYO is the youth
section of IHEU). And Sidmennt was present at the 2002 International
Humanist Youth Conference.
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