Mick Hartley

I've been tagged by Norm with this atheism quiz, so….

Q1. How would you define 'atheism'?

No belief in God.

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

My father was a vicar's son (Anglican), from a long line of Reverends down the paternal line. It was his (my father's) generation that made the break: he and his siblings were, as far as I could tell, totally devoid of any religious sentiment, though in those days you just didn't call yourself an atheist. My mother dragged my brother and me to the local church every week though. A couple of months after I was confirmed (age 14 or so) it all left me, never to come back. I enjoyed the singing, though – I was in the school choir.

Q3. How would you describe 'Intelligent Design', using only one word?

Crap.

Q4. What scientific endeavour really excites you?

Oh I don't know. It doesn't work like that if you're not a scientist yourself. Depends what they come up with. I can think of lots of questions I'd be excited to get the answers to, mind – on our evolutionary past, for instance.

Q5. If you could change one thing about the 'atheist community', what would it be and why?

What atheist community?

Q6. If your child came up to you and said 'I'm joining the clergy', what would be your first response?

Incredulity. I mean, it's not going to happen. In the spirit of the question, though, I'd say it wouldn't honestly bother me that much, if they were genuine.

Q7. What's your favourite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

I don't know if "favourite" is the right word, but the argument from design is/was surely the most persuasive. Before Darwin it must have been a clincher: even if you were entirely unpersuaded by the usual sermonising, and could see right through all this nonsense about an all-loving God, with the evidence before your eyes of so much unnecessary suffering, you've have had no comeback when some William Paley type started on at you about watches and design. Game set and match to the fella with the dog collar. Which of course is why Intelligent Design is such a huge issue. Now you just have to talk about Darwin and evolution.

Q8. What's your most 'controversial' (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

I have a soft spot for Buddhism.

Q9. Of the 'Four Horsemen' (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

Hitchens, I suppose. He's a superb polemicist. My favourite book on the subject, though, is Dennett's Darwin's Dangerous Idea.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Iran's Ahmedinejad. Speaking to the ranks of the faithful on Iranian TV: " I got involved in some online discussion last night. Some guy in London. I tell you, it opened my eyes. Really. You know, all this stuff about the return of the 12th imam – what on earth was I thinking? It's complete nonsense, I can see that now. What a bunch of fuckwits we are. The way I see it, we've got just the one life, so make the most of it. Right, I'm off down the pub…."

The Pope'd be good, too….