'The Audacity of Belief' - John Richards, Atheism Society

John Richards’ talk is inspired by the title of Barack Obama’s 2004 speech to the Democratic Convention - “The Audacity of Hope”. In this he implicitly asks the question, “Is it hope that is audacious, or is it belief?”, pointing out that hoping that our belief in a better world will make it so is not enough. We have to work to change it.

There are many everyday sayings from various revered, usually religious, sources which seem to support the idea that belief is enough. The human tendency is, like gamblers, to rely on recent events & lucky signs. Christians rely on faith, hope & charity, hope springs eternal, & whatever is, is right. How does this inform the way that free-thinkers live their lives with hope and audacity, but without belief?

John Richards is a retired science teacher who can't stop! Following almost four years as Publications Director for Atheist Alliance International, he set up the Free Thought channel on YouTube where you can see more than 500 videos. Since being elected to lead Atheism UK he has recruited Prof A C Grayling as Honorary President and organised the Changing Minds in Changing Times event.

Atheism UK states that it is Britain’s only distinctively atheist organisation, run by atheists, for atheists. Atheism UK’s main goal is the ‘normalisation’ of atheism. It focuses on the advancement of atheism, and challenging the false and irrational beliefs of religious faith. It considers that everyone is born into this world without any religious beliefs until they are indoctrinated by parents, guardians, or the societies in which they live.

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