ontents Summer 2014

Regulars p. 5 Editor’s Note p. 7 Letters p. 8 The Q+A Campaigner Peter Tatchell on winning the battle for equal marriage p. 11 Witness Dispatches on culture,

science and politics p. 72 Community Our readers’ rules for living a good life p. 73 Quiz Set by Chris Maslanka columns p. 10 Cosmos The dark side of our universe By Marcus Chown p. 18 Politics Could the law overprotect our children?

By Alex Stevenson

, Panos

M athews yJ en p. 71 Football Never meet your heroes

By Juliet Jacques p. 74 Endgame Stranded in the sea of compromise By Laurie Taylor

Egypt’s power shift, page 20

Teju Cole, page 46

‘‘It’s important to dream big and appreciate the small and keep trying’’

Josie Long, page 42

Features p. 20 Egypt The military regime consolidates its power

By Rachel Aspden p. 26 Storytelling Is the story of Noah really appropriate for kids?

By Myra Zepf p. 36 History How imperial racism helped to cause the First

World War By Kenan Malik p. 42 Interview The irrepressible optimism of comedian-turnedactivist Josie Long By Ariane Sherine p. 28 Cover story What motivated Bertrand

Russell’s pacifism? By Jonathan Rée p. 34 Ideas A brief history of peace

By Paul Sims ulture p. 46 Literature How novelist Teju Cole uses new technology to pursue his work By Fatema Ahmed p. 50 Philosophy Even some atheists think that, without God, something is missing in our lives – but they’re wrong

By Peter Watson p. 56 Television HBO’s Girls depicts a middle class in the midst of its own demise By Mark Fisher p. 60 Film Nymphomaniac and the ethics of director

Lars von Trier By Agata Pyzik

Books p. 64-70 Reviews Vron Ware on the military’s capture of the home front; Will Wiles on the second coming in Brussels; Owen Hatherley on an intellectual witchhunt; Alice Bloch on the benefits of doubt poetry p. 49 “Bad Tidings”, by

Antonella Anedda p. 55 “The Avenue” by

Mimi Khalvati p. 59 “The Old Man Who Wept” by Fady Joudah p. 63 “Almond Blossom” by

Fiona Benson

New Humanist | Summer 2014

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