I'm an atheist. But unlike the zealous new atheists, I believe in freedom of religion, and - unlike Dawkins et al - can see the values of cohesion, hope, "the heart of a heartless world as Marx called it, religious myths provide. So a quick comment on Christmas 1/3

I still find the Christian version of Saturnalia and the Winter Equinox moving. This comes from the Gospels, but also from classic hymns and poems, from this anonymous medieval poem to Thomas Hardy and TS Eliot

The moving thing to me is the poverty of Jesus' birth, the persecution by authority, the sense that divinity is found everywhere, especially in the most humble places. And that is much more important to me than shopping, or even my favourite pub and friends at this time of year