Richard C, 60, East Sussex
Occupation Cleric, broadcaster, writer and Communard (retired)
Voting record Always Labour. I was a party member for a while. I rejoined to vote for Keir; I rather like Keir
Amuse bouche Richard skydives. On his first tandem freefall, jumping from a plane at 10,000ft, he asked the instructor what was the worst thing that could happen. He said: Fuck it up completely and kill us both!
Occupation Evolutionary biologist, author, atheist
Voting record Lib Dem. To begin with it was because I liked the Oxford MP Evan Harris, one of the few scientists in parliament, and very intelligent. In recent elections I have just been passionately anti-Brexit
Amuse bouche Richard plays the EWI (pronounced ee-wee), which stands for electronic wind instrument. It looks like a clarinet, but can sound like anything that has been programmed into it trumpet, tuba, cello, accordion, panpipes
RC I grew up in a world of Christian values; I was a chorister as a kid.
RD I was too.
RC I was singing the music of the Anglican choral tradition.
RD As was I.
RC But I was an atheist from the age of eight, unshakably certain that the universe was a material phenomenon.
RD That is unusual in an eight-year-old. What led you to that?
RC My grandfathers death. I remember hearing people say well-intentioned phrases about him having gone to a better place, but I couldnt get past the idea of him decomposing in a grave it just seemed to me that was what was going on.
RD Do you think he is in a better place now?
RC Yes, as well as decomposing. Once I got to the other side of accepting faith then all sorts of possibilities opened up. The idea that we can endure in some way after the death of our material selves I find that captivating.
RD Captivating, but is it realistic? The brain has come into existence as a result of millions of years of evolution, presumably acquiring what we think of as consciousness. Why would you think that something that has come into being through evolution goes on when the brain decays?
RC At the end of my 20s, HIV took out about a third of my circle. I wanted to connect with that feeling from when I was a kid of being in chapel and loving the music.
RD Your conversion to Christianity came about because of HIV deaths?
RC Thats what got me through the door: the turmoil and devastation and thinking: where do I go with this?
RD You needed somewhere to go and the material world didnt provide the consolation you needed, so you became a believer.
RC I suppose I did get consolation, but much more than that it challenged me fundamentally about the world. It was so extraordinarily rich and surprising and counterintuitive. And I started to read the Bible seriously.
RD What about miracles, water into wine, walking on water, things like that? I presume you believe in that.
RC Highly unlikely scenarios, and in my own experience I have never come across something inexplicably supernatural. But accepting the incarnation is the big one. If God does that, God could do anything; thats the key for me.
RD I can appreciate the message in the same way I can appreciate a novel where I dont believe in the characters but nevertheless can empathise with them and love them. I dont understand why you take the gospels seriously because scholars dont.
RC Plenty of scholars do. The gospels are very complicated, there are all sorts of things going on in them some of it is eyewitness account, memory, oral tradition; some of it is theological. Its very challenging sometimes, but its worth it because of the fruits, because of the wonderful stuff that continues to captivate me and motivate me.
Sign up to our Inside Saturday newsletter for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the magazines biggest features, as well as a curated list of our weekly highlights.
RD Is the wonderful stuff an aesthetic thing?
RC Some of it, but its more about the way it makes people feel fully alive, what it does to people and for people, and Im sure a Muslim or a Jew or an atheist would be able to give you examples of that according to their own light.
RD I get that every day, from music, and the work that I do in science, from the beautiful world we live in. Part of that beauty is the fact that it is explicable, that what looks overwhelmingly like the artifice of a master creator you can actually explain, starting from simply beginning without the need for intervention from design.
RC We live in a world where Darwin seems to provide such a powerful and elegant and persuasive account of the origins of life. I dont find anything in that that I would have to surrender in order to make a commitment.
RD Youre the kind of vicar who is much harder to argue with because thats a reasonable point.
RC Im fascinated by Mendel, who was in both camps, I guess, in that he was a theologian and an abbot. He exercised pastoral responsibility in his community, but he was also an extraordinarily significant person in the development of our understanding of biology. Did you know Janek played the organ at his funeral?
RD I did not. Have you visited his monastery?
RC I have not.
RD I have. The library contains his copy of On the Origin of Species with underlined passages. Its pretty clear he read it. It also has a remarkable collection of English schoolboy fiction Percy F Westerman and Biggles.
RD When I did Desert Island Discs one of the things I chose was Mache Dich, Mein Herze from Bachs St Matthew Passion. Sue Lawley, who was doing it at the time, couldnt understand. Its just sublime music.
RC I suppose I want to alight on sublime Richard.
RD I dont know what the dictionary definition is; youre probably one up on me there. Bach was a genius. When there was some talk about what to send out into space as a sort of advertisement for humanity, one scientist, I forget who, suggested the complete works of Bach, but then said, but that would be boasting.
RC Indeed. And on every manuscript I believe Bach wrote for the greater glory of God.
RC I think there is this idea in our public discourse that the force of your opinion and the force of your feeling and the passionate adherence to a belief is what validates it, and I dont think thats true. Id much rather talk something through, look at inconsistencies and incongruences.
RD What is difficult arguing with Richard is he is not swayed by factual evidence; it is feeling that matters. Feelings are important, but they dont tell us what is true.
The Rev Richard Coles Murder Before Evensong is published by Orionat 16.99. To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Richard and Richard ate at the Colony Grill, London.
Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
Continued here:
- Judge tells atheist father to bring son 'in good order and not upset' to mother for first communion ceremony - Irish Independent - May 3rd, 2024 [May 3rd, 2024]
- Iowa town removes Nativity scene after out-of-town atheist steps in - Yahoo News - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- I'm an atheist, but Israel-Hamas war has pulled me closer to my Jewish roots - USA TODAY - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Universalism and Nonresistant Nonbelief - Word on Fire - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Proof God, Prayer Transforms Public Schools? How Atheists' Antics Could Inadvertently Fuel Spread of the Gospel - Faithwire - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers to run holiday billboard AnneLandmanBlog.com - AnneLandmanBlog.com - December 16th, 2023 [December 16th, 2023]
- Why this atheist celebrates Christmas - The Spectator Australia - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Against the Tide: John Lennox and Stephen Meyer - Discovery Institute - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Higher Ground: Atheists outraged over 'In God We Trust' - Washington Times - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Atheists rip Utah city for 'In God We Trust' motto, demand removal - Washington Times - December 12th, 2023 [December 12th, 2023]
- Can Anyone Give An Actual Argument For Atheism? - The Federalist - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Mori atheism on the rise: the legacy of colonisation is driving a decline in traditional Christian beliefs - The Conversation - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- 3 Science-Related Arguments for God's Existence - Reasons to Believe - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- God and Nature: What is the difference - The Bubble - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Critiquing Hazony - On Religion and Rationalism - Econlib - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Macbeth Revisited: The Decline & Fall of Friedrich Nietzsche - The Imaginative Conservative - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Occam's Razor: There is a Creator | In Focus | Courier-Herald - Enumclaw Courier-Herald - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- We've officially entered the Miracle Zone - The Oxford Eagle - Oxford Eagle - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Album Review: Muse - Absolution XX Anniversary - Soundsphere magazine - November 30th, 2023 [November 30th, 2023]
- Atheism's obsession with God: Is it 'cultural theism'? - The Christian Post - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- McCaul, Smith, Mast Demand Answers From State on Grants ... - House GOP Foreign Affairs Committee - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- TILL THE DIRT (ATHEIST) Streams New Single "Starring Role" - Metal Injection - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Dostoevsky the Prophet - The Imaginative Conservative - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- 'Sex Really Is Binary': Even Atheist Biologist Richard Dawkins Is ... - CBN.com - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Sombreros, baseball caps and new friendships: Vignettes from ... - National Catholic Reporter - August 5th, 2023 [August 5th, 2023]
- Watch: ATHEIST Performs Special 30th-Anniversary Set In San ... - BLABBERMOUTH.NET - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- July 2023 Hard Rock And Metal New Releases - XS ROCK - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Legal abortion widely supported globally, especially in Europe - Pew Research Center - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- United Nations Takes U.K. Bishop's Advice on Persecution - The Living Church - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Part 2The First of the 7 C's of History: Creation - Answers In Genesis - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Stephen Colbert And Elon Musk Had Opposite Views About Life On ... - TheThings - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Hope for living: Anger against Gods word, people has a spiritual ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Whanganui actor Russell Penton enjoying rehearsals for The Lion in ... - New Zealand Herald - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- Three Jewish leaders named to US heritage government agency - JNS.org - June 20th, 2023 [June 20th, 2023]
- CS Lewis' magnificent journey from atheist to transformational ... - The Christian Post - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Atheism and Dreaming - Psychology Today - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Atheism, spiritual experiences, and ESP | Dan Peterson - Patheos - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rainn Wilson says our world needs a spiritual revolution - CBC.ca - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Harvard's humanist chaplain speaks on finding meaning and purpose without a religious faith - ABC News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Minnesota humanists take out billboards to spread the secular word - Star Tribune - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Even atheists need the beauty of churches - Daily Mail - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Islamic group PA 212 rejects Coldplay's Jakarta concert over band's ... - Coconuts - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- As I See It: The absence of spirituality - Pine and Lakes Echo Journal - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 47 percent globally say religion does more harm than good in Ipsos ... - Kentucky Today - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Dawkins Test Returns an Answer: Intelligent Design - Discovery Institute - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Advocacy group: Bible must be banned if other books stripped from ... - cnhinews.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Putin gave Orthodox Church famed icon because of its importance ... - Reuters - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Siddaramaiah, the Congress's southern satrap - Deccan Herald - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Kirk Cameron, aka right-wing Raffi, has a new kids' book for Pride ... - Literary Hub - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- I am proud to be a Christian, Sanghis will burn after learning this, says atheist DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at a Christmas event - OpIndia - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- God Help Me: Surfing Millionaire Shared About Converting From an Atheist to a Believer Back in 2016 - EssentiallySports - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Im an atheist, but I fell in love with the spirituality and magic of Quito, Ecuadors capital - Toronto Star - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Atheist Doctor Becomes a Believer After Near-Death Experiencer ... - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Atheist Drug Addict Gets Saved While On The Verge Of Suicide, Now Preaches The Gospel On Streets | God TV News - GOD TV - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- FFRF and FACT erect four 'I'm an atheist and I vote' billboards in San Antonio - Freedom From Religion Foundation - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Amber Roses Ideal Man Is An Atheist, And This Is What Social Media Has To Say About It - MadameNoire - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Most Americans believe in heaven or hell, but their ideas aren't always biblical - Baptist News Global - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Do You Need to Believe in God to Convert to Judaism? - Jewish Journal - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Readers reply: when I die which religion will offer the best deal? - The Guardian - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- We Don't Have to Let the Dead Die Twice - Sojourners - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Why the Phillies and Eagles successes might have you feeling happier, even if youre not a fan - The Philadelphia Inquirer - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- A Socratic Response to Revelation - The Imaginative Conservative - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- FFRF: Nationwide cop event this weekend should be secular and inclusive - Freedom From Religion Foundation - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Atheist Keir Starmer avoids reference to God in pledge of loyalty to King Charles III - The Telegraph - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Sunday 11th September 2022 - ConservativeHome - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Former cocaine addict and atheist shares about her powerful conversion - Aleteia - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- How can one explain to an atheist that everyone will eventually enter Paradise? - The Weekly Al Hakam - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Engaging With The Teenage Atheist - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- From Nietzsche to John Lennon: Death and Resurrection of Western Religiosity - Patheos - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- God, the Gipper, and Gorbachev | WORLD - WORLD News Group - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Where is heaven? Ancient believers have answers for modern question - Times Record News - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Five business lessons from Lord Ganesha - Times of India - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Stephen Meyer, Charlie Kirk: Return of WHAT God Hypothesis? - Discovery Institute - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Teaching theology to teens? Be open to unexpected answers - U.S. Catholic magazine - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- All humans are believers - Big Think - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- Adam Driver likes what he sees as he gets plump for Venice film - Reuters.com - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- A top neurosurgeon looks to the future as he confronts questions of life and death - The Tablet - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- For anyone with Palestinian roots like me, Netflixs sitcom Mo is groundbreaking TV - The Guardian - September 2nd, 2022 [September 2nd, 2022]
- A Decade After the First Reason Rally, What Happened to Americas Atheist Revolution? - Religion & Politics - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]
- It Only Takes One Generation - Answers In Genesis - August 30th, 2022 [August 30th, 2022]