Talk by Andrew Copson on Tuesday November 21st 2017

At South Farnham School, Menin Way, Farnham GU9 8DY

Did you know you can be both secularist and religious? Please click here for John Cregan’s full write up of the event which was published in the Farnham herald.

Andrew Copson is the Chief Executive of Humanists UK and President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

He represents Humanism extensively on TV and radio programmes such as Newsnight, The Big Questions and Radio 4’s Today programme.

Three free signed copies of Andrew’s new book on Secularism: politics, religion, and freedom were raffled at the event.You can also now buy it online and from good book shops.

Some reviews of Andrews’ book:

“This is an exceptionally careful, fair-minded and positive introduction to the many meanings of a word often carelessly used. It will be an enormous help to all who want to understand better the current controversies about religious belief and modern society.” (Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury)

“Secularism is of growing importance all over the world, yet it is also an approach with deep roots reaching far back into our history. Andrew Copson elegantly explores this history as well as secularism’s importance today, showing how it evolved and how it is the key to de-escalating so many of the modern world’s points of conflict.” (Dan Snow)

“Andrew Copson is one of the most thoughtful people in the world on secularism. We have never needed a sane, intelligent, persuasive guide to secularism more than now – so I’d say thank God for this excellent book, if that wasn’t too obviously ironic.” (Johann Hari)

“A timely tour de force and indispensable analysis for anyone seeking to get to grips with the roots, philosophy, and current controversies surrounding secularism which are challenging our vexed world.” (Professor Francesca Klug, author of Magna Carta For All Humanity: Homing in on Human Rights)

“A secular state embraces freedom of religion or belief, the equal treatment of persons regardless of faith, and the separation of religious and state authorities. In this wide-ranging and timely study Andrew Copson describes the virtues of secularism as the guarantor of equal dignity, freedom, and security for all, but also the various platforms from which it is opposed, and its fragile and increasingly beleaguered state across the world. Scrupulously fair, his book brings much-needed clarity into a confused and embittered area of dispute.” (Simon Blackburn, author of Ethics: A Very Short Introduction and Plato’s Republic: A Biography)