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New Humanist | Summer 2024
Editor’s Note
Holding back the religious right
I JA K U Z N E C OVA
J EVG E N
This year will see elections in 64 countries, votes that will shape our future and the health of our societies. Many are facing a stark choice, between parties promising democracy and those whose appeal is built around the allure of flag, faith and family.
On page 18, Mary Jo McConahay exposes the influential bishops who want to instill their vision of Catholicism into all aspects of US law and society. They’ve been remarkably successful thus far. What might they achieve under a second Donald Trump presidency? In Israel, Alona Ferber discovers how the politicisation of faith threatens to split the country, as the current conflict puts strain on the meaning of a “Jewish state” (page 42).
How do we resist the rise of the fanatics? Political philosopher John Ralston Saul has some inspiring ideas on reclaiming our power as citizens (page 6), while James Ball aims his wit and ire at the progressive keyboard warriors who say everybody they disklike is “on the wrong side of history” (page 26). Fighting intolerance is crucial, and we talk to broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham on how being the target of an arson attack only increased his determination to help save the planet (page 34).
Elsewhere, we find some light relief, as Marie Le Conte rails against the “triumph of the introverts” (page 48) and Caroline Crampton delights in onscreen odd couples, especially when it’s female friends behaving badly (page 56). John Merrick, an editor at Verso Books, calls for more risk-taking to spice up our jaded publishing industry (page 52), while David McAllister thinks about race, power and design at the V&A’s Tropical Modernism exhibition (page 60).
Samira Ahmed visits the studies of famous thinkers, including the late great physicist Peter Higgs (page 8). What does the clutter we keep around say about what’s going on in our minds? In our science feature, Richard Pallardy explores the influence of viruses – we are each of us home to a veritable zoo, and many of them are good for us (page 22). We also pay tribute to Daniel Dennett, whose humanist views and groundbreaking work in the philosophy of mind made an enormous contribution to society (page 13). And finally, in a column that could inspire us all, Shaparak Khorsandi extolls the surprising wonders of having fun while sober (page 74). Cheers to that! l Niki Seth-Smith
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