For those of you who might not have any idea of what I’m talking about, Thought for the Day is a five-minute slot on BBC Radio 4’s flagship news programme, The Today Programme in which representatives from various religions all get to talk varying degrees of nonsense about what they believe. If I listen to TFTD in the morning, it’s bad for two reasons: one — it means I’m running late and two — it annoys me intensely.
Anne Atkins is a particular favourite or bête noire of mine, depending on my mood. Basically she’s an incredibly smug, patronising, horribly conservative Christian who likes to point out how awful secular liberals are for doing things like stopping religious bigots like herself discriminating against people they don’t like.
This morning’s was a corker. In summary it went something like this: our liberal secular society is intolerant and we should show a bit more charity (her word, used sans irony) when dealing with people of faith who refuse to act within the law because their beliefs tell them they shouldn’t. She quoted the example of a registrar in Islington who refused to conduct same-sex ceremonies and who claimed she was harrassed because she refused to do so. Religious intolerance won the day on this occasion. Basically, said Anne, us intolerant liberals should be learn to be kinder to these people of faith and cut them some slack when they want to act outside the law.
I have no problem with people holding these views of course, but I do have a bit more of problem with a publicly-funded broadcaster providing a mouth-piece for them. Still, on the other it’s nice to be reminded occasionally why I’m an atheist, and this did the job nicely. Thanks Anne.
I am so pleased to see the comments on Anne Atkins. I can’t stand the rubbish she comes out with on the Today programme. I have beeen unable untill now to put my finger on just what it is that sends me mad. Now I can see! Thanks for helping me and let us start today a protest to get her off the Today show.
Hi Keith. Thanks for the encouraging words. We’re not alone — in fact there’s a Facebook group called “We hate Anne Atkins” — putting it a little strongly maybe, but the sentiment is there.
There’s also this which I haven’t signed up for yet: “I will email the BBC to object to Thought for the Day” http://www.pledgebank.com/thoughtfortheday.
Time for the revolution
Sure, shut up people like Anne and anyone else who dares to think or opine – R. Dawkins too. That way you won’t have a say either, and neither would I, whatever we believe. Silence is golden?
Not sure I totally understand your comment but thanks for taking the time. I would never condone shutting her up. For one thing, she’s just too damn funny. Although I find her ideas vile and offensive, I can live with that. We do live in a democracy after all and everyone’s got to be prepared to take some offence in the name of freedom of expression.
In terms of “having a say”, this is one thing that TFTD doesn’t permit to those who hold non-religious views. C’est la vie.
[...] David Little summed Anne Atkins perfectly when he described her as “an incredibly smug, patronising, horribly conservative Christian who likes to point out how awful secular liberals are for doing things like stopping religious bigots like herself discriminating against people they don’t like.” [...]