Faith & ethics

Chris Worfolk is a student at Leeds University and after realising that there were plenty of opportunities for the curious to find out about various faiths but little chance to discuss atheism, decided to come together with like-minded friends to found the Leeds Atheist Society at the University in December 2006.

Since its founding, the society has established strong links with the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society and seeks to be a forum for all those people (not just students) who wish to get involved in debate about the age-old questions on the nature of existence.

Chris explained about how the group came to fruition: "When I wandered around the campus I noticed that there were plenty of groups representing the main faiths - Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism - and that these societies were getting funds from the NUS to promote their activities."

"So, as a lifelong atheist, I thought it was about time there was a group to put a different view forward, and show the students on campus that just because you were interested in the meaning of life, it doesn't necessarily mean that organised religion will provide you with the answers you seek. I think it's important for people not just to see us as oppositional, it's about a philosophical stance on the world."

"We hold weekly meetings as well as organising debates, talks by guest speakers, film screenings and other events such as Darwin Day - which as you may have guessed is a celebration of one of the heroes of secularism, Charles Darwin."

"We happen to think that debate is always healthy and will never turn down an opportunity to put forward the atheist viewpoint. Invites are constantly sent out to the religious societies at the University to debate with us but so far only the Christian Union seem happy to accept the invitation."

"The LAS aims to become part of a wider national network of atheists and secularists, and organise events on a national level. I think this is important in view of the current issues being raised in Parliament about the blasphemy laws and the future of faith schools. We have to stand firm in our belief in dissenting voices, especially after the furore of the Danish cartoons and their depiction of Islamic figures."

"Indeed, after they were reprinted we had a meeting that got a little heated and there was some hostility to our ideas about free speech which I think emphasises the need to be vigilant in protecting this kind of freedom in Britain. We have to be an available option for those wanting to oppose the imposition of belief. I think people have overstated or overhyped the growth of religious groups in the UK, but we still have to make sure that our voice is heard."