Tim Minchin: Happy 50th Birthday, Dude!

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Thought For The Day: John Gray

Universal values don’t add up to a universal morality. Such values are very often conflicting, and different societies resolve these conflicts in divergent ways. The Ottoman empire, during some of its history, was a haven of toleration for religious communities who were persecuted in Europe; but this pluralism did not extend to enabling individuals to move from one community to another, or to form new communities of choice, as would be required by a liberal ideal of personal autonomy. The Hapsburg empire was based on rejecting the liberal principle of national self-determination; but – possibly for that very reason – it was more protective of minorities than most of the states that succeeded it. Protecting universal values without honouring what are now seen as core liberal ideals, these archaic imperial regimes were more civilised than a great many states that exist today.

For many, regimes of this kind are imperfect examples of what all human beings secretly want – a world in which no one is unfree. The conviction that tyranny and persecution are aberrations in human affairs is at the heart of the liberal philosophy that prevails today. But this conviction is supported by faith more than evidence. Throughout history there have been large numbers who have been happy to relinquish their freedom as long as those they hate – gay people, Jews, immigrants and other minorities, for example – are deprived of freedom as well. Many have been ready to support tyranny and oppression. Billions of human beings have been hostile to liberal values, and there is no reason for thinking matters will be any different in future...

John Gray, The Guardian's Long Reads.

The Big Issue: Richard Coles Vs Tim Minchin

Richard or Tim?

Don't ask me to choose!!!

The Big Issue is not available online - please buy from a vendor.

Edit: Oh. Bits of it are. Here's the rev...

I’m not the first Christian to have come from a fairly fruity background. It’s a very ancient tradition going back to the very beginning of the church. The other day I was with the Mothers’ Union and thinking, how is debauched layby sex going to go down with you guys? In my experience people are surprisingly unfazed by the misadventures of life. It happens to all of us in one way or another.

Thought For The Day: Jonathan Miller

"My disbelief in God is as trivial as my disbelief in witches - I don't think it deserves a name."

Jonathan Miller, polymath and that, Meeting Myself Coming Back, BBC Radio 4