The Gifford Lecture Series 2008
Date: Tuesday, April 15 2008
Time: 18:00
Venue: Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, University Avenue, Glasgow University
Category: Public Lectures
Speaker: Professor David Fergusson
David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, will present the Gifford Lecture Series 2008.
 
Founded in 1887 by the bequest of Lord Gifford, the annual Gifford Lecture Series was established to promote, advance and diffuse the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of that term. The focus of this series will be 'Religion and its Critics.'
 
The appearance of a steady stream of recent writings critical of religion has been heralded as ‘the new atheism’. Its leading exponents include Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Michel Onfray, Anthony Grayling, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. Unlike earlier forms of scepticism, religion is no longer regarded as a harmless and quaint life-style choice lacking in social significance. Instead, it is seen as unscientific, irrational, dangerous and requiring more robust public criticism. These lectures will attempt to set this new movement in context before offering some analysis of its standard claims and arguments. As an exercise in natural theology, the lectures will outline ways of variously conceding, accommodating and countering criticism.

More details of other dates in this series of lectures.