Volume 120 Issue 3 May/June 2005

Cover Story

Floodgates of reform: Elections in June offer the chance for transformation in Iran. Mohsen Sazegara, a former aide to Ayatollah Khomeini, offers his solution for escaping theocracy

Not waving, but dying: "Down a bit lower. That's it. Now, look at the camera. And now look puzzled. That doesn't look like 'puzzled'. Really puzzled. Hold it. Now, can you get even lower?"
Rotten to the core: After the free-for-all of sentimentality that reigned from John Paul II's faltering on Easter Sunday, through his demise and funeral, right up to the emergence of white smoke from a Vatican chimney, we can now settle back into our regular pattern.
Buggering on a pinhead: Martin Rowson is delighted to report that religion is on it's last legs
Requiem for a Nightmare: Julian Baggini holds back the tears for John Paul II
Not the Natural History Museum: a trip to the Genesis Expo: Padraig Reidy misses a few links in Portsmouth Harbour
Reel time: Andrew Tudor salutes Ken Loach's unique vision
Very big ideas: Julian Baggini weighs up a hefty tome
The holy zygote: Raffaella Malaguti on Romeï¿½s birth controllers

First amendments: Shannon Gilreath reveals how Christian fundamentalists are rewriting American history
Nothing for the weekend: Terry Sanderson warns that conscience chemists are coming your way
Onions in your navel: Sally Feldman sticks a few pins in the ancient custom of cursing
How long does it take to belong?: Ireland is attempting to cope with unprecedented levels of immigration. Mark Maguire asks if the experience of the Vietnamese 'boat people' can offer any lessons
China Syndrome: Hugo de Burgh reports on the emergence of investigative journalism in the People's Republic and its unexpected effects
Defender of faiths: Laurie Taylor interviews Eileen Barker: Eileen Barker, the world's leading expert on religious cults, tells Laurie Taylor how it takes an agnostic to truly understand why people choose to believe