Lord Roy Hattersley lecture in York Minster
Lord
Roy Hattersley, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, will
deliver the first in a new season of Ebor Lectures at York Minster
on 3 October.
The free lecture on ‘Atheism and ethics: Are
God and the good life inseparable?’ is part of a series of seven
Ebor lectures entitled The State of Religion? Establishment,
Tolerance and Civic Society, which focus upon the role of religion
in civic society; the contemporary relevance of an established
Church; the rise of ‘new atheism’ and its implications for the role
of religion.
Commenting on his forthcoming lecture at York
Minster, Lord Hattersley said: “In the good society, power and
wealth are distributed as equally as is possible. That greater
equality increases, rather than diminishes, the sum of freedom and,
in the long term, benefits not only the poor but also the wealthy
who contribute to the process of redistribution. It would be an
impertinence for me, an atheist, to argue that defence, or even
tolerance, of the divisions which scar our country and the world
are incompatible with the Christian ethic. But I am entitled to
express surprise that men and women who believe that we are all one
in the sight of God accept, or even promote, great disparities in
the quality of life on earth.”
Lord Roy Hattersley is a politician turned writer. He was
elected to Parliament in 1964 and served in each of Harold Wilson’s
governments and in Jim Callaghan’s Cabinet. In 1983 he became
deputy leader of the Labour Party.
As well as contributing to a host of national newspapers, Lord
Hattersley has written nineteen books including the much acclaimed
Who Goes Home? His latest book is entitled David Lloyd
George: The Great Outsider.
The 2012-13 Ebor lectures are organised by
York St John University, York Minster, York Institute for
Contemporary Theology and the Methodist Church.
Since launching in 2006, the lecture series
has established an enviable reputation with prestigious speakers,
promoting debate on topical issues and broadening discussion. Past
speakers have included the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Shadow Secretary
of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Rt Revd. and
the Rt Hon Richard Harries, Former Bishop of Oxford; Mr Peter
Taylor, journalist and BBC Presenter; Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop
of Canterbury; Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York; Robert Peston,
the BBC’s Business Editor; the Rt Hon Tony Benn, legendary
parliamentarian; and Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation
of the Commonwealth, Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.
Admission by ticket only, begins
at 6.30pm and the lectures start at
7.00pm. Each lecture is followed by a short question and
answer session with an anticipated end time of 8.30pm. Tickets are
free and can be booked online at www.yorksj.ac.uk/eborlectures or
by contacting the Ebor Lectures Co-ordinator on T: 01904 876474 or
E: eborlectures@yorksj.ac.uk
For further press information
please contact Louise McKenzie, PR & Communications Officer on
T: 01904 876466 or E: l.mckenzie@yorksj.ac.uk
