WHY I AM AN ATHEIST – THE VIDEO

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This is a video of a conversation I had with the sociologist and broadcaster Laurie Taylor on ‘Why I am an atheist’. It was one in a ‘daisy chain’ of discussions on belief organized by 5×15 at the Wellcome Collection in London in December. The daisy chain featured, as well as Laurie Taylor and myself, Laurie’s son Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA (and a fellow-panelist of mine on The Moral Maze), Nick Spencer, director of research at the religious think tank Theos, and Linda Woodhead, Professor of the Sociology of Religion at Lancaster University, each interviewing the next daisy in the chain, as it were. My conversation with Laurie Taylor is at the top. Videos of the other conversations are below.

DEBATES, DEBATES, DEBATES

Three public meetings over the next three weeks, each of which promises to unpick a crucial issue of the moment.

17 January
The Leveson Debate
Conway Hall
Red Lion Square,
London WC1R 4RL
7pm

A debate, organized by Soho Skeptics, on the fallout from the Leveson report and whether the state should have a role in regulating the press. With Nick Cohen, Suzanne Moore, Evan Harris and Natalie Fenton; moderated by Helen Lewis, deputy editor of the New Statesman. Unfortunately, I was unable to take part in this debate, but my views are clear.

24 January
Banaz: A love story
Fritt Ord Foundation,
Uranienborgveien 2,
Oslo
7pm

The film, Banaz: A love story, about an ‘honour killing’ in Britain, made by the British-based Norwegian singer, film maker and activist Deeyah receives its first screening in Oslo. I am moderating a discussion with Deeyah, Diana Nammi, director of the Justice For Banaz campaign and of the International Campaign Against Honour Killings, Scotland Yard detective Caroline Goode, and Unni Wikan, Professor of Social Anthropology at Oslo University .