First anniversary of the Danish Humanist Society (Humanistisk Samfund)

*Sucessful Start for Humanists in Denmark*

On 31 August 2009 the first anniversary of the foundation of the Danish humanist
organisation /Humanistisk Samfund/ (Humanist Society) will be celebrated in the Danish
capital Copenhagen. Since the foundation of our association both its activities as well
as membership numbers have been in strong growth, and a lot of our goals have been met.
Our influence and voice in public debate has become noticeable, too.

Interest in membership has been relatively high, so we now have about 450 members, with a
high level of activity, and /Humanistisk Samfund/ has now three local associations in
Copenhagen, Aarhus and Viborg. From the beginning there has been a close and successful
cooperation with the Norwegian Human-Etisk Forbund and our organisation has become a
member of the European Humanist Federation.

Providing Humanist Ceremonies

A year ago our main goal was to develop humanist ceremonies and to educate celebrants for
them. Less than a year later, we are now able to offer humanist ceremonies in all the
four areas we wanted to: wedding, naming, humanist confirmation and funeral. After one
year's work we can tell our members and all other interested parties that the
alternatives to church ceremonies are now in place in Denmark. Until now we have
organised three humanist wedding ceremonies and two humanist funeral ceremonies.

Next goal: Equal rights for Humanists

Many tasks have been solved, but many new tasks are waiting for us in the future.
/Humanistisk Samfund/ will continue its work to demonstrate the dire consequences of the
unpleasant and unfortunate bond between the Danish state and one religious institution
(the Lutheran confession, which is the official state church). Among other things, we
will use the upcoming local elections to examine, which local politicians support real
secularism in Denmark, which of them are benevolent towards neutral municipal cemeteries
and will work actively for less religious interference of priests in municipal schools.
We have invited all Danes to keep themselves updated with reading these and others
questions we want to ask the local politicians on our new website, which also has been
re-launched on occasion of our anniversary.

/Humanistisk Samfund/ will now work to get a formal wedding authorization. We demand real
equality of Humanist and religious life stances, and will no longer tolerate
discrimination in this area. It is time for Denmark to practice the separation of state
and religious interests it eagerly preaches when it concerns other parts of the world.

The anniversary will be celebrated with an open event in Copenhagen on 31 August 2009. At
this event, at which also representatives of our sister organisations in Norway and
Sweden will participate, there will be an official presentation of certificates to the
association's celebrants.

For more information please visit our website www.humanistisk-samfund.dk
<http://www.humanistisk-samfund.dk> or contact our executive board member, who is
responsible for international contacts, Rainer R. Lippold -- rrl@humanistisksamfund.dk
<rrl@humanistisksamfund.dk> -- tel. +45 2624 4862 or our spokesperson Dennis
Nørmark -- dn@humanistisksamfund.dk <dn@humanistisksamfund.dk> -- tel. +45 2843
4623.

Dr. jur. Rainer R. Lippold

Store Kongensgade 91.1
1264 København K
Tlf. + 45 26 24 48 62

Humanistisk Samfund
Jura & International

http://www.humanistisksamfund.dk

Suomen humanistiliitto onnittelee veljesjärjestöään ja toivottaa tälle menestystä ja pitkää ikää!