Editorial Staff

Articles by Editorial Staff

Mubarak Bala wearing a blue suit, looking directly into the camera

Free Mubarak Bala

The imprisoned Nigerian humanist has had his sentence reduced – but the scourge of blasphemy laws remains

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The cover illustration of New Humanist's winter 2023 issue shows a science fiction-esque image of an eye and test tube. The cover line reads: 'The baby wars'

Baby wars: New Humanist winter 2023 is out now

Our latest issue features Pavan Amara on the new technologies revolutionising reproduction, Gabriele Di Donfrancesco on Europe's battle over "family values" and Rachael Lennon on a decade of same-sex marriage. Plus, a new column from Shaparak Khorsandi!

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A pile of US dollar bills

COP28: Time to dig deep

Rich countries have consistently failed to deliver climate funding for lower-income countries – but we have to face this challenge together

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Protests in solidarity with Mahsa Amini in Ottawa, Canada

How have the protests changed Iran?

Six months after the killing of Mahsa Amini, the protests in Iran have changed the country. We ask journalist Soraya Lennie, is the damage to the Islamic Republic beyond repair?

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HTLGI festival will return to the banks of the River Wye this May bank holiday

A festival of big ideas

HowTheLightGetsIn festival, in Hay-on-Wye this May, will bring together some of the most exciting thinkers from across the globe.

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From 'The Divorce' by Jean-Baptiste Lesueur

Untying the knot

Some Christian organisations are deeply upset by the new no-fault divorce laws in England and Wales. Why do they want to keep unhappy couples together?

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Sheffield Hallam

Losing our humanities

Rishi Sunak's comments on "low value" degrees come off the back of a round of cuts to arts and the humanities. What do we lose when these subjects become the preserve of the rich?

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Capitol Hill mob

White fright in America

Decades ago in France, a theory known as the Great Replacement was born. It soon found an audience among far-right groups in the US.

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Top 20 of 2021

We hope you enjoy our selection of the essays and podcast episodes that most enriched our minds during another difficult year.

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A funny old island

The current government often frames "Britishness" as imperilled by outsiders. Our "unique" sense of humour, so it thinks, is under particular threat.

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Predators in the Church

Revelations that Catholic clergymen in France abused 230,000 children over 70 years is irrefutable evidence of a deep rot within the Church

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Protecting our human rights

A major coalition has come together to raise concerns over the threat posed to human rights in Britain, along with the ability to challenge the state.

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The right to die

England's laws around assisted dying have been thrown into the spotlight by acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr Henry Marsh.

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A boost for antibiotic resistance

An unusual grant from a private company to the University of Oxford may signal a growing appreciation of the need to prevent global health crises before they occur.

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Wollstonecraft in relief

A new book on the writer, philosopher and advocate of women's rights sheds light on the ongoing furore over the statue at Newington Green.

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Top 20 of 2020

The top 20 pieces that gave us the most joy, inspiration and food for thought in a truly challenging year.

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Taking sex robots seriously w/ Kate Devlin

Will future sex tech be more inclusive? What role should robotics play in human relationships? We talk to the author of "Turned On: Science, Sex and Robots" about her research on technology and intimacy.

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Leaving the black church

Audrey Simmons, a key member of the Association of Black Humanists, on the challenges faced by black apostates and the need to ensure humanism is welcoming to all.

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When sceptics get it wrong

There is almost complete consensus amongst climate scientists that the Earth is warming and human behaviour is a key factor, yet denial continues.

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british museum

The science of belief: a conversation

Scientists Colin Blakemore and Tom McLeish examine how the cognitive impetus that drove the emergence of science might be considered to be the same impetus that fostered religion and other metaphysical beliefs.

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Seeking a cure for HIV

A child in South Africa appears to have been "cured" of HIV - and has lived treatment free for nearly nine years. What can this tell us?

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Clearing Patient Zero

Gaeten Dugan, one of the most vilified patients in medical history, was not responsible for bringing HIV to the US.

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9 things we learned this week

From Christian decline to deep space travel, and emotional prawns to Twitter activism, these are the subjects we've been talking about over the last seven days

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Milton Keynes

The return of garden cities

The Deputy Prime Minister is enthusiastic, but the Mayor of London is opposed. Are new towns mere folly, or do they offer a humanist solution to the housing crisis?

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Skulduggery Pleasant

Q&A: Derek Landy

As The Last Stand of Dead Men, the eighth book in his best-selling Skulduggery Pleasant series, is published, Irish author Derek Landy talks to New Humanist about his skeleton sleuth, not believing in magic and the influence of Buffy The Vampire Slayer

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Islam and evolution illustration

RA Podcast March 2013

Islam's evolution problem, Jim Al-Khalili on humanism, the merits of interfaith, Stewart Lee on faith schools – it's all there for your listening pleasure in our latest podcast

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Isy Suttie crop

Q&A: Isy Suttie

We talk to the comedian, songwriter and actor Isy Suttie, who plays Mark’s kooky girlfriend Dobby in Channel 4’s Peep Show

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Pope and jockeys

Race for the Papacy 2013 Sweepstake

As Pope Benedict XVI steps down and the race for the top job begins, a Papal Conclave simply wouldn't be the same without a sweepstake. As well as having a flutter on your favourite cardinal, give yourself a second chance of a windfall by pooling together with work colleagues, or a combination of family and friends, and having a lucky dip. It looks like an open race, so best of luck! (Words by Christina Martin & RA Editors)

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Q&A: Labi Siffre

During his 50-year career singer-songwriter Labi Siffre has played Soho jazz clubs, been covered by Madness and Kenny Rogers, sampled by Dr Dre and Kanye West and gained global status with his anti-Apartheid anthem ‘Something Inside So Strong’. We find out what keeps him strong.

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Q&A: Alice Roberts

Alice Roberts’ career as a science broadcaster has flourished with a series of popular documentaries like The Incredible Human Journey, Are We Still Evolving? and Prehistoric Autopsy. She is also Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Birmingham University. She spoke to us about belief, evolution and why she loves bones

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Iain Banks

Q&A: Iain Banks

The author of 26 literary and science fiction novels, Iain Banks is a bestseller across two genres. New Humanist interrupted his writing to probe his views on life and the universe, and hear why he’s embarrassed for Homo Sapiens as a species

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Q&A: Shazia Mirza

Taboo-busting comic Shazia Mirza has combined an international reputation for close-to-the-bone gags with a belief in Islam. But now she faces her greatest challenge as she submits to New Humanist’s very own inquisition

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Q&A: Tom Watson

The MP for West Bromwich East and Deputy Chair of the Labour Party Tom Watson has made his name as the relentless pursuer of tabloid hackers as a member of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, even comparing James Murdoch to a mafia boss. We hacked into his private thoughts to find out what makes him tick

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Q&A: Al Murray

The Oxford-educated, history-loving comedian behind the hugely popular Pub Landlord tells New Humanist what it’s like living with the nation’s favourite guv’nor

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Q&A: Marilynne Robinson

She has won the Pulitzer and Orange prizes for her fiction, and been called the greatest writer of prose in the English language. With her new book she enters the God debate. We talk to Marilynne Robinson, author of Absence of Mind

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An audience with the Pope

If you were invited to address Benedict XVI during his UK visit, what would you say to him? Richard Dawkins, Philip Pullman, Claire Rayner, Ben Goldacre and many more take part in our Pope quiz. Illustrations by Ralph Steadman

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Q&A: Daniel Dennett and Linda LaScola

A powerful new piece of research by philosopher Daniel Dennett and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola features interviews with five Christian ministers who have lost their faith but continue to preach. At the top are quotes from two of the priests, and below we speak to the authors

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Outside story

A new exhibition space, The Museum of Everything, features hundreds of works by ‘the untrained, unintentional and unseen creators of our modern world’. New Humanist goes inside

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Laurie Taylor by Martin Rowson

Laurie Taylor – a life in cartoons

For over six years our cartoonist, Martin Rowson, has been drawing cartoons for Laurie Taylor's regular column. For the first time we've brought these all together, hoping the shocking nature of the images will alert you to the perils of living the life of a dedicated heathen. You have been warned.

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Obituary: Harold Blackham

Harold John Blackham, prominent British and international humanist and founder of the British Humanist Association, has died at the age of 105

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New Humanist Advent Podcasts

Richard Dawkins, Ricky Gervais, Dara O'Briain, Tim Minchin, Ann Druyan, Simon Singh, Marcus Brigstocke, Stephen Fry and a host of other atheist angels speak up for their scientific saviour in our 24-bite-sized podcasts

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Deatil of Martin Rowson's Gaza Taliban

Gaza Taliban?

On the eve of the Palestinian elections in 2006, Aya Yasmina May asked what we can expect of Hamas

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Taliban tendency

What is the right balance between authority and autonomy, between prohibition and freedom? This has become the overarching question during Tony Blair's third term.

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Rotten to the core

After the free-for-all of sentimentality that reigned from John Paul II's faltering on Easter Sunday, through his demise and funeral, right up to the emergence of white smoke from a Vatican chimney, we can now settle back into our regular pattern.

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Blunkett’s folly

This might be one of the last issues of New Humanist you read. Our particular brand of God bashing could soon get us in quite a lot of trouble.

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Plus Ca Change

An occasional column dedicated to items from the past that ring a familiar note in the present

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Creationism Expounded

Professor Andy C McIntosh & Dr Stuart Burgess, two scientists, explain here the scientific views of creation from a creationist perspective. Rationalists should be aware of the counter-evolutionary arguments put forward seriously by some scientists in order to understand a view with which they probably disagree.

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Straw Dogs

Let loose the dogs of war? Noam Chomsky replies in an interview with Svetlana Vukovic.

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