Ralph Jones
Ralph Jones writes comedy and articles on a range of issues including religion, language and the media. He has been published in New Statesman, The Independent, and Vice, and he is 50% of comedy sketch group The Awkward Silence (www.theawkwardsilence.co.uk).
Articles by Ralph Jones
The reluctant sceptic
From atheist YouTuber to praying for divine revelation, what has happened to Alex O’Connor?
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Laugh or you’ll cry
When comedian Richard Herring got cancer of the testicle, it confirmed his belief that life is precious – and ridiculous
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Book review: The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God
Justin Brierley wants to convince us that belief in God is on the rise. The problem is, he doesn’t offer any evidence
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Book review: Survival of the Richest
Tech billionaires harbour an escapist fantasy that they might leave behind the messy debris of real life and start afresh - if not in the real world, then in a virtual one, writes Douglas Rushkoff
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Funnier than fiction
Nathan Fielder's "The Rehearsal" is part of a new wave of TV comedy that makes us question what is real.
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How to dance with the dead
Two new books examine how we cope with the inevitable, and suggest that Britain has much to learn from other cultures.
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Index: A History of the
The story of the humble index is dotted with big personalities, scandals and moral panics, as a fascinating new book explores.
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Book review: Infinitely Full of Hope
On becoming a dad, philosopher Tom Whyman was confronted with the question: "is it cruel to bring new life into an awful world?"
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Working nine to eternity
Many American Christians believe that work doesn't stop in Heaven. Why is it so hard for them to imagine a jobless afterlife?
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Is the Anglican Church shifting position on homosexuality?
In an unusual move, the Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned a senior Nigerian archbishop for homophobic comments. But Justin Welby's position on gay Christians and same-sex marriage remains unclear.
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The face we give the devil is a mirror of our times
For centuries, Satan was a terrifying figure. The hit TV show "Lucifer" shows how far we’ve come.
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Should places of worship have special lockdown status?
Faith leaders in England, frustrated by Covid-19 restrictions, are demanding that more exemptions be made for services. Should religion be treated differently?
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Book review: O, Let Me Not Get Alzheimer’s, Sweet Heaven!
Dementia is the most common cause of death in England and Wales. Should sufferers have the right to end their own lives?
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Book Review: The Galileo Affair
A thorough account of the persecution and trial of a man for "the most significant breakthrough in the history of science".
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O Lord, banish the virus!
The Covid-19 pandemic presents a profound conundrum for religious leaders around the world.
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Book review: A History of the Bible
John Barton's book refuses to perceive one translation as perfect or another critic as unbiased.
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Book review: The Goodness Paradox
A new book explores the question of what domesticated Homo sapiens.
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Book review: Seven Types of Atheism
John Gray's latest book goes to great pains to underline the debt that non-religious intellectuals owe religion.
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Book review: The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve
It might be a preposterous story, but we are shaped by the Adam and Eve myth - as Stephen Greenblatt's latest book explains.
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The fundamentalist Christian preacher who became an atheist
After 19 years as a self-proclaimed "extremist", Dan Barker renounced his faith – and he wants everyone to know about it.
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The Church rejected me because I’m gay
Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch talks to Ralph Jones about how personal experience has shaped his ideas about sex and Christianity.
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American lawmakers are sabotaging their own Constitution
A new law in Mississippi will give businesses the right to refuse to serve people on religious grounds. It's a clear violation of the US First Amendment, says Ralph Jones
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Should burqas be allowed in court?
As a defendant refuses a judge's request to remove her veil at her Hackney trial, Ralph Jones argues that religious sensitivities must not be allowed to obstruct the legal process
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Q&A: Tuesday and Billy Cain
Tuesday Cain's response to Texas's latest bid to restrict women's reproductive rights was to hold up a sign saying 'Jesus isn't a Dick'. The storm of controversy she faced reveals the febrile politics around abortion in America. Ralph Jones put the questions to Tuesday and her father Billy
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Jesus isn’t a dick
Fourteen-year-old Tuesday Cain's sign has caused outrage in the US but the real scandal is the Texas law scrapping abortion provision. Ralph Jones talks to her
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God is not invited to my wedding
No creepy deities are welcome when Ralph Jones ties the knot
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