New Europe, New Atheism

The International Festival is mainly performing arts but it has a series of talks this year called Borderlines about modern Europe. The first was a debate about 'whether the new Europe would be better off jettisoning its religious past and welcoming the new atheism? A discussion between a scientist (Dr John Lennox)who thinks God is great and a cultural commentator (Christopher Hitchens) who doesn't.'
JL I remember as a Lecturer in Mathematics in Cardiff and leader in the Brethren there, who gave a superb exposition about the Ark of the Covenant in his home. I think this is the same person, now a Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy and Chaplain in Green College, Oxford. Christopher Hitchens sounded vaguely familiar; now I am better informed! He is journalist, author, TV commentator, one of the 'New Atheists' -and subject of a 10 page article in the May issue of Prospect magazine!
The Usher Hall is not geared acoustically to the spoken word especially if one is hearing impaired, and a lot depends on the speaker's ability to project voice and speak clearly. Hitchens was the more difficult to follow, while Lennox was clearly used to speaking and debating with an audience. It was a super debate with good humour and without the kind of angry argument some expect. It was well reasoned with Lennox able to agree with much of the criticism of the historical institutional church while demonstrating the core of Christian belief. Ably chaired by James Naughtie, the motion proposed by Hitchen was declared lost.
All very serious!
In lighter mood I was at a Concert on Sunday evening of work by Messian played by the Scottish BBC Symphony Orchestra. I knew this composer had 'a life-long fascination with birdsong' and knowing nothing much about music, had experienced one of his compositions as great swathes of colour, so I was pleased to see the reference to his 'colourful musical language'. There were120 in the orchestra including a large percussion section of 15! It was splendid in many ways-and fortunately lively enough to keep me awake for I was so tired and shame to say I spent a lot of effort suppressing yawns.