Oh God. Or maybe not. There’s a letter in the Guardian today from assorted unbelievers asserting their right to a place on Radio 4’s God slot, Thought for the Day. ‘It’s time for the BBC to open Thought for the Day to humanists. Religion doesn’t hold a monopoly on ethical worldviews. Humanists… make sense of the world through logic, reason and evidence, and always seek to treat others with warmth, understanding and respect…’ Etc.
It’s signed by Sandi Toksvig, Julian Baggini, the philosopher, agony aunt Virginia Ironside and Peter Tatchell. Plus 29 others.
Consider folks. Is there a gap in your life that comes from not hearing enough of Sandi Toksvig? Is reading Julian Baggini’s biting reflections on Christianity in the Guardian not enough for you? Is the thing that strikes you about the BBC, and the broadcast media generally, that there aren’t enough mouthy agnostics? Why, all that’s missing from the lineup, and it can only be an oversight, is the name of Stephen Fry: he qualifies as an atheist, surely, with more self regard than any bishop you will ever meet.
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