David Baddiel: The Reluctant Atheist, Part 2

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2023

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is the second instalment of a three-part episode. David Baddiel would love there to be a God. The comedian and bestselling author has spent a lot of time fantasising about how much better life would be if there actually were a supreme being – which for him would be some kind of Superhero Dad who chased off Death. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t. Or at least, that’s Baddiel’s view, and it’s the starting point of his new book The God Desire. In April 2023 Baddiel came to our stage at The Tabernacle in Notting Hill, London, to argue that it is the very intensity of his, and everyone else’s, desire for God to exist that proves God’s non-existence. Baddiel was joined on stage by comedian, actor and film-maker Richard Ayoade and theologian and broadcaster Ben Quash for a conversation that tackled this most ancient and fundamental of questions: is our need for there to be something greater than ourselves anything more than just that – a need? We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2. And if you’d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Ian Stirling and I'm with one of McCain's farmers who grow their potatoes hang on these are odd-looking potatoes
0:06.0	That's kale Ian. You do know you need potato to make chips, right?
0:10.5	Yes, but we don't just grow potatoes. We actually rotate different crops to help keep the soil healthy. So we eat McCain chips
0:16.8	I'm helping do some good. Exactly. Yeah, you're supporting the move to regenerative farming
0:22.3	By the way, I do know the difference between kale and potatoes
0:26.1	Of course you do.
0:27.6	McCain, let's all chip in.
0:30.8	I mean Stirling and today I'm at a McCain potato field being chased by a massive war
0:36.4	It's just a lady bird Ian. Well, it had a real war spanner, Jay. Why are they here? Well, we plot wildflowers to help encourage wildlife
0:44.7	Like birds and insects. So we eat McCain chips. I'm helping do some good. Yeah, exactly. You're supporting the move to regenerative farming
0:52.1	Okay, this time it's definitely a wasp. My life's in danger
0:55.6	Ian, that's a butterfly. McCain, let's all chip in
1:00.4	Welcome to intelligence squared. I'm senior producer Connor Boyle
1:04.2	We rejoin our conversation today with David Badil the comedian and writer discusses his relationship with faith
1:10.7	And why believing in a higher power is something many of us strive for it with mixed results
1:15.2	It's the topic of his recent book The God Desire and joining him on stage for this event which was recorded earlier in 2023
1:22.3	where the comedian actor and filmmaker Richard Iowati and the theologian and broadcaster Ben Quash
1:27.8	If you haven't heard the first part then do jump back to the previous episode and catch up before diving into this one
1:33.7	And if you'd like to hear this episode add free and enjoy the full length version
1:37.6	including our exclusive members only part three
1:40.1	You can support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversation by heading to intelligence squared.com
1:45.9	slash membership or by subscribing to the channel via apple members will also get access to our exclusive bright sparks quick fire interview with David Badil too
	...

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