About Humanist Coming of Age in Norway
As Norway is the country with the most popular Humanist Coming of Age, it may be good to know some background on how it developed.
For hundreds of years the Lutheran State Churches had a monopoly on confirmation ceremonies for 14-year-olds (the year they become 15). As a result of religious liberty, modernism, and secularization, non-believers have felt a need for a different kind of celebration that is just as emotionally satisfying for the participants, but which is based on new knowledge of the world, new ideas of a good life and free from religious dogmas. In 1951 the first civil (later humanist) confirmation in Norway took place in Oslo and the Norwegian Humanist Association took over this responsibility when it was founded in 1956.
The young participants attend a course where they discuss lifestances and world religions, ethics and human sexuality, human rights and civic duties.
In short, the main subject is how we should behave towards one another. At the end of the course the participants receive a diploma at a ceremony including music, poetry and speeches.
Now, over 10,000 youths celebrate their Humanist “confirmation” in Norway every year. That is approximately 15% of the cohort, so this activity has become widely popular, both in urban and rural parts of the country.
Normally the course starts in the beginning of February and the groups meet for two hours one evening every week for ten weeks. The ceremony at the end is usually held on Saturday in May or early June, and fits well with the Norwegian spring.
