James Croft
@croftspeaks.bsky.social
Humanist Chaplain. Pragmatist philosopher (Cambridge, Harvard). Frank Knox Fellow. Trans Inclusive Radical Humanist. Green Party UK. Own views. 💚
Realised yesterday that I find the coordinated assault on the BBC so distressing partly because the BBC cannot properly fight back. It’s some of the worst, most shameless people in the world bullying a public service organisation that cannot hit them back, and it sucks.
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Realised yesterday that I find the coordinated assault on the BBC so distressing partly because the BBC cannot properly fight back. It’s some of the worst, most shameless people in the world bullying a public service organisation that cannot hit them back, and it sucks.
Reposted by James Croft
The utter preposterousness of this interview. A media figure talking about BBC bias while describing the president as his "friend". A child could see trough it.
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
November 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The utter preposterousness of this interview. A media figure talking about BBC bias while describing the president as his "friend". A child could see trough it.
A little difficult to work with Ella in that precise position! 🤣
#EllaEveryday
#EllaEveryday
October 31, 2025 at 3:19 PM
A little difficult to work with Ella in that precise position! 🤣
#EllaEveryday
#EllaEveryday
Students at @sussex.ac.uk voted me Most Respected Lecturer and Funniest Lecturer in their yearbook! Genuinely might cry. 🥹
Next year, Best Dressed! 🤣
Next year, Best Dressed! 🤣
October 28, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Students at @sussex.ac.uk voted me Most Respected Lecturer and Funniest Lecturer in their yearbook! Genuinely might cry. 🥹
Next year, Best Dressed! 🤣
Next year, Best Dressed! 🤣
Reposted by James Croft
I’m late to it, but this is a really useful and quite comprehensive breakdown of the statistical evidence around alleged recent Christian revival in the UK (spoiler, there’s a lot less there than the narratives on this issue are claiming). Thank you James for doing the work on this!
Is Christ returning to the UK? Here's my ludicrous, exhaustive examination of the evidence that there is a "Christian revival" in the UK. I think it is the most thorough examination of the evidence available.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
Is Christ Returning to the UK?
Reviewing the Evidence of a Christian Revival in the UK
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’m late to it, but this is a really useful and quite comprehensive breakdown of the statistical evidence around alleged recent Christian revival in the UK (spoiler, there’s a lot less there than the narratives on this issue are claiming). Thank you James for doing the work on this!
I’m not sure how niche it is anymore but I have long believed children should have a much stronger voice in our democracy, including votes.
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I’m not sure how niche it is anymore but I have long believed children should have a much stronger voice in our democracy, including votes.
Reposted by James Croft
Brilliant news for health and happiness of children and their parents in UK! Vaccines are a marvel of human ingenuity, reason, and science motivated by compassion which have transformed our civilisation. We should all do our bit to encourage uptake. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Children offered chickenpox vaccine on NHS
All young children in England and Wales will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine by the NHS from January 2026.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Brilliant news for health and happiness of children and their parents in UK! Vaccines are a marvel of human ingenuity, reason, and science motivated by compassion which have transformed our civilisation. We should all do our bit to encourage uptake. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Listening to story of Chris Brain, hearing how CofE dismissed survivors’ concerns and ignored red flags about his behaviour. Gives insight into why claims of a “Quiet Revival” are being pushed despite scant evidence. Seems CofE will welcome anything which shows bums on seats - especially young bums.
August 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Listening to story of Chris Brain, hearing how CofE dismissed survivors’ concerns and ignored red flags about his behaviour. Gives insight into why claims of a “Quiet Revival” are being pushed despite scant evidence. Seems CofE will welcome anything which shows bums on seats - especially young bums.
Is Christ returning to the UK? Here's my ludicrous, exhaustive examination of the evidence that there is a "Christian revival" in the UK. I think it is the most thorough examination of the evidence available.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
Is Christ Returning to the UK?
Reviewing the Evidence of a Christian Revival in the UK
open.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Is Christ returning to the UK? Here's my ludicrous, exhaustive examination of the evidence that there is a "Christian revival" in the UK. I think it is the most thorough examination of the evidence available.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
If you enjoy this you are a masochist - and I love you.
Reposted by James Croft
The lovely people at @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social are offering a 10% discount on my new book! Just use the code LOVEBOOKSHOPS
About Time: A Children's Guide to the History and Science of Time a book by Alom Shaha, Rebecca Struthers, and Lucy Rose.
A children’s guide to the science and history of telling the time and clockmaking in a fun and interactive way.This interactive book will help children aged 7-9 understand how clocks work and learn ho...
uk.bookshop.org
August 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The lovely people at @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social are offering a 10% discount on my new book! Just use the code LOVEBOOKSHOPS
Reposted by James Croft
Enriching Multifaith & Belief Conference for Higher Education Chaplains @ King's College London. Thank you to fabulous hosts @kcl-chaplaincy.bsky.social 🙏 Insightful workshop by @croftspeaks.bsky.social challenging misconceptions about #humanism. @humanists.uk @profaliceroberts.bsky.social #druidsky
July 5, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Enriching Multifaith & Belief Conference for Higher Education Chaplains @ King's College London. Thank you to fabulous hosts @kcl-chaplaincy.bsky.social 🙏 Insightful workshop by @croftspeaks.bsky.social challenging misconceptions about #humanism. @humanists.uk @profaliceroberts.bsky.social #druidsky
Reposted by James Croft
Humanist beliefs are not permitted to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day. The BBC had a legal requirement to represent everyone equally – not just religious people. If you agree, please lend your support by signing our petition.
humanists.uk/action/thoug...
humanists.uk/action/thoug...
Let humanists speak on BBC Thought for the Day
Why is the BBC excluding non-religious voices from Thought for the Day (Radio 4) and Pause for Thought (Radio 2)? These programmes claim to offer ‘reflections for everyone,’ yet humanist and other non...
humanists.uk
June 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Humanist beliefs are not permitted to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day. The BBC had a legal requirement to represent everyone equally – not just religious people. If you agree, please lend your support by signing our petition.
humanists.uk/action/thoug...
humanists.uk/action/thoug...
It is frustrating that our publicly funded broadcaster privileges religious messaging, even to the point of allowing people to denigrate nonreligious worldviews. There are many Humanists would could give a more inclusive - and more inspiring - Thought for the Day.
R4 Today's 'Thought for the Day' this morning was anti-humanist twaddle (as a change from the usual religious platitudes). Will #BBC #R4Today allow a right of reply? Why is there never a humanist 'Thought for the Day'?
@andrewcopson.bsky.social
@profaliceroberts.bsky.social
@humanists.uk
@andrewcopson.bsky.social
@profaliceroberts.bsky.social
@humanists.uk
June 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
It is frustrating that our publicly funded broadcaster privileges religious messaging, even to the point of allowing people to denigrate nonreligious worldviews. There are many Humanists would could give a more inclusive - and more inspiring - Thought for the Day.
Reposted by James Croft
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
June 9, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
Reposted by James Croft
On the eve of a House of Commons debate, new YouGov polls show that both the public & MPs are overwhelmingly in favour of legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales (& that's consistent across all political parties & religious groups too). Urge the government to listen!
New polls reveal huge public and MP support for humanist marriage recognition
New YouGov polls show that both the public and MPs are overwhelmingly in favour of legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales. The data has been released on the eve of a House of Com...
humanists.uk
June 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM
On the eve of a House of Commons debate, new YouGov polls show that both the public & MPs are overwhelmingly in favour of legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales (& that's consistent across all political parties & religious groups too). Urge the government to listen!
I’m supposed to be working on book projects while I have some time away from work, but some days I find it difficult to write anything! Any other writers find particular topics, ideas, or projects especially hard to get into? I feel like my brain is broken, it is so dispiriting.
June 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I’m supposed to be working on book projects while I have some time away from work, but some days I find it difficult to write anything! Any other writers find particular topics, ideas, or projects especially hard to get into? I feel like my brain is broken, it is so dispiriting.
Reposted by James Croft
Many people are humanists without knowing it. If you are non-religious and look to science, reason, empathy, and compassion in order to live an ethical and meaningful life, consider doing our quiz to see if you're a humanist too.
humanists.uk/humanism/how...
humanists.uk/humanism/how...
How humanist are you?
Take our quiz and find out. Many people are humanists without even knowing it. If you are non-religious and look to science, reason, empathy, and compassion in order to live an ethical and meaningful ...
humanists.uk
June 5, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Many people are humanists without knowing it. If you are non-religious and look to science, reason, empathy, and compassion in order to live an ethical and meaningful life, consider doing our quiz to see if you're a humanist too.
humanists.uk/humanism/how...
humanists.uk/humanism/how...
Reposted by James Croft
As white Christian nationalists seek to reshape the United States, we hear from the frontlines of the resistance
The volunteer atheist army standing up to Trump
As white Christian nationalists seek to reshape the United States, we hear from the frontlines of the resistance
newhumanist.org.uk
June 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
As white Christian nationalists seek to reshape the United States, we hear from the frontlines of the resistance
Reposted by James Croft
EP 2, S7 out now! #WhatIBelieve. With bestselling author & @humanists.uk patron @janefallon.bsky.social. A lovely chat about her love for animals, veganism, and transitioning from TV producer to writer of ‘Chick Noir’. Do have a listen! bit.ly/4kghe9t
Latest episode of #WhatIBelieve is out now! With our patron, bestselling novelist @janefallon.bsky.social. She chats to
@andrewcopson.bsky.social about a lifelong love of animals, her journey to veganism, and how she became a popular author of 'Chick Noir' 🎧 bit.ly/4kghe9t
@andrewcopson.bsky.social about a lifelong love of animals, her journey to veganism, and how she became a popular author of 'Chick Noir' 🎧 bit.ly/4kghe9t
May 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
EP 2, S7 out now! #WhatIBelieve. With bestselling author & @humanists.uk patron @janefallon.bsky.social. A lovely chat about her love for animals, veganism, and transitioning from TV producer to writer of ‘Chick Noir’. Do have a listen! bit.ly/4kghe9t
Reposted by James Croft
How atheists, humanists and democrats are coming together to resist the influence of white Christian nationalism under Trump
The volunteer atheist army standing up to Trump
As white Christian nationalists seek to reshape the United States, we hear from the frontlines of the resistance
newhumanist.org.uk
May 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
How atheists, humanists and democrats are coming together to resist the influence of white Christian nationalism under Trump
Reposted by James Croft
Mourning without myths can be lonely. But it can also be honest. It can be rooted in what we know to be true: that life is finite, that love is real, and that meaning is something we make together.
thehumanist.com/commentary/m...
thehumanist.com/commentary/m...
Mourning without Myths – A Humanist Way to Grieve - TheHumanist.com
"Grief, like love, needs no god to be sacred."
thehumanist.com
May 27, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Mourning without myths can be lonely. But it can also be honest. It can be rooted in what we know to be true: that life is finite, that love is real, and that meaning is something we make together.
thehumanist.com/commentary/m...
thehumanist.com/commentary/m...
It’s baffling that Peterson is hailed as a great intellectual, or any sort of intellectual at all. His answers to these teenagers are risible. I literally laughed out loud.
This is genuinely so bad, he can’t even answer basic questions from budding teen atheists lmfao. It’s like that scene in game of thrones when all the children ganged up and stabbed grand maester pycelle to death
May 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It’s baffling that Peterson is hailed as a great intellectual, or any sort of intellectual at all. His answers to these teenagers are risible. I literally laughed out loud.
Reposted by James Croft
“Hard Brexit was xenophobic, economically illiterate and narrow-minded.
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
From the day Britain left the EU, this reset was inevitable. What a pointless waste of time, money and effort | Simon Jenkins
Keir Starmer is not blameless when it comes to Brexit, but he is moving in the right direction. Even the Tories attacking him know that, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:37 AM
“Hard Brexit was xenophobic, economically illiterate and narrow-minded.
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by James Croft
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
May 22, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
No. The aesthetic quality of the work inheres in the work itself. The objective features of the work don’t change if you discover anything whatever about the author. We may want to reassess other contextual judgments but the work is the work.
If you read a short story and quite enjoy it (you have a positive aesthetic experience) and so assess it as "good," but then a month later you discover the story was generated entirely by generative AI, does that retroactively diminish that aesthetic experience, or invalidate your "good" claim?
May 21, 2025 at 9:33 PM
No. The aesthetic quality of the work inheres in the work itself. The objective features of the work don’t change if you discover anything whatever about the author. We may want to reassess other contextual judgments but the work is the work.