About Me

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Australian philosopher, literary critic, legal scholar, and professional writer. Based in Newcastle, NSW. My latest books are THE TYRANNY OF OPINION: CONFORMITY AND THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM (2019) and AT THE DAWN OF A GREAT TRANSITION: THE QUESTION OF RADICAL ENHANCEMENT (2021).

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Atheists for individual liberty

My talk at the forthcoming Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne is scheduled at 9.30 am next Saturday, 13 March. I'll also be signing books that morning (most likely copies of 50 Voices of Disbelief ... but hey, if you have copies of any of my other books I'm happy to sign them).

Here's what I'll be talking about:

Topic: Freedom From Religion: Atheists for Individual Liberty

Synopsis: One of the best reasons for challenging the authority of religion is that religion is, all too often, a powerful enemy of individual liberty and freedom of speech. Those things are worth defending for their own sake, but atheists and other critics of religion have especially strong reasons to defend them. We need the freedom to speak out against religion's flaws and its numerous attempts to control people's lives; and we need a social environment that favours individual liberty, since this provides us with room to organise and to live our own lives by standards of that we have chosen. There is a strong synergy between atheistic thought and classical notions of political freedom such as those advocated by John Stuart Mill. Atheists should work to defend such ideas as free speech, separation of church and state, and Mill's harm principle, which forbids the use of the criminal law merely to enforce religious or other ideas of morals. Beyond this, we must develop strategies to push religion's political influence to the margins. This will require a consistent political vision, and decisive actions to achieve both short-term and long-term goals. In that regard, we have much to learn from our conservative Christian opponents.

4 comments:

Daniel said...

I'm very much looking forward to hearing you speak in person. Flying down from Brisbane to see the show, getting more than a little bit excited!

Gerald said...

I think you meant 13 *March*...

Have fun!

Sean Og said...

Were any of ye at Dawkins in the Opera House last night?

Unknown said...

You crazy militant atheists. Did you not take the hint from the giant hailstones last week? I mean, how clear does the Good Lord's disapproval need to be??

Unfortunately, Carol and I could only get tickets for the Sunday, and I'm sure you'll be rushing around like a man (ahem) possessed, but hopefully we'll get a chance to say at least a quick hello in person.