Alice Roberts | Morals Without Religion: the Unholy Mrs Knight and the Hypocritical Humanist

A meaningful and thought provoking talk given by an intelligent and articulate woman. Alice Roberts is a welcome breath of fresh air who fights for the right of ordinary people to think for themselves.

An interviewer asked Frank Zappa what he thought it took to be a good parent and raise good kids. His reply, "keep them as far away from religion as possible, until they're old enough to choose a religion for themselves if they like, or to choose no religion at all".

What an accomplished person Dr. Alice Roberts is, a M.D., a PhD. in anthropology and a humanist with communication skills we need for our societies. Thank you Dr. Roberts for trying to help.

We’ve definitely had enough of, religion without morals.

She's a brilliant communicator. For me morals based on following the rules because of an abstract idea you'll get payback in some imaginary afterlife is fundamentally IMMORAL - the atheist/humanist who does right because it's the RIGHT thing to do is far more moral in my eyes. Dx

What an excellent lecture this is. I shall now hunt for a copy of Margaret Knight's radio essays and I won't stop until I find one.

Let's just call Professor Roberts what she is, a national treasure. Incredible and facinating person.

Always liked Alice Roberts for her tv programmes, now I have admire her as well for her beliefs and courage speak of them. I wish I had a morsel of her use of the English language.

Such a pleasure to listen to Dr Alice Roberts on this topic. I had never heard of Margaret Knight, but she is now one of my heroes.

On a personal, family level, apostasy can be a very traumatic experience to go through. It splits the closest of families apart, especially if the head of the family has deeply held religious views. Alice's mother sounds just like my own mother, tolerant on most issues except that of what religious views her children are expected to hold. This is why I remained the "respected" church-going non-believer for well over 20 years. I admire Alice for her honesty in the way that she confronted her parents about her convictions, doing so at just 15 years old. I admire her more so for her having the courage to stick to those convictions despite the parental hostility she had to endure because of those views. It took me until I was 35 before I stopped living the pretence of going to church. If we meet, to maintain the peace, talking religion is a taboo subject with my immediate family members, the elephant in the room who is going no place elsewhere. Everyone else I associate with, all my friends and work colleagues, are aware of my atheist beliefs. I am always open with them on the subject. It's just my own family that talking religion is a no no. That good morals require a religious based belief is just another delusion of the religious mindset. Keep up the good work Alice.

I remember reciting the Nicene Creed every Sunday. One day I decided to only say what I agreed with; I was quite quiet.

What a stupendously intelligent speaker! I envy her for her eloquence and for the quality of her thinking.

Enjoyable and thought-provoking as ever. Dropping the Hitchens quote in just after all the old ones - delightful.

I was raised a Mormon and became a Pentecostal in my teens. My childhood was disturbing to say the least. I was adopted because my mother didn't want me, my adopted parents abused myself and my fostered siblings, so I would constantly be asking god to help, to no avail. so I began asking him to kill me just so it would stop. As you can see I had already deceived myself into believing in something that could not help. Obviously there is a lot more to this story. however what I have written is enough to make my point.... Ethics and morals should not be taught by any religion or belief system. Simply because they can do damage to a young developing mind. As far as I'm concerned Dr Alice is completely right, religion should be taught as myth and legend. Religion should not have a say in education or politics.

You've made my day with this keynote speech! What a wonderful gift you've given me for YOUR birthday today! I hope you have a warm, mellow, memorable celebration for having completed yet another spiral around the sun.

As I grew up in the 1950's, in the USA, Church was an important part of daily life. My family went to Church 3 times a week. We still had prayer in school everyday. There were "Blue Laws" still in place that kept stores and bars closed on Sundays. Since then I've met many moral and honest people who were either agnostics or atheists. I've also met many religious churchgoing people who were in trouble with the law. I have concluded over the years that religion is not required for a person to adopt a good solid moral code or develop a solid ethical backbone to stick with it.

When one person is delusional, it’s called insanity. When many people are delusional, they call it religion.

Wonderful stuff Alice, keep up the good work and don't let the so and so's grind you down - this talk is inspirational and one I will share with some family members who are very religious and like to try and evangelise me sometimes so could take a dose of their own medicine - your Mum can't be all bad as she brought you into the world but I admire people who can stand up to the kind of emotional blackmail that comes from families whilst still keeping on good terms - and as a flexitarian well on the way to vegetariansim it shoes how strong ethics and values tend to coalesce around the same important issues. Good on you!

Excellent talk - thank you Alice. The school my son went wasn’t Religious as such - here in my part of South Wales, the choice was RC - which there was NO chance of getting him into had we wished, and we didn’t, or mildly Protestant with no ‘interference’ from the clergy. He’s now a healthy 20-year-old skeptic with a profound sense of good, bad, and most importantly, equity. I’m very proud of him.

Much respect for a clear, intelligent and brave person.