New Humanist Update

The search for intelligent life goes on

Paul Davies runs the Beyond Institute in Arizona, chairs the SETI Post-Detection Taskgroup and writes like a dream. In this exclusive extract from his new book The Eerie Silence Are We Alone in the Universe, he explains the assumptions that underpin the search for aliens, and argues that we should widen the search to include... our own backyard.

What kind of animal are you?

One of the conundrums of humanism is that regarding how we understand our relationship to other animals. We put the 'human' – rather than the divine – at the centre of things, yet Darwin urges us to see the human as just another animal. How then do we understand man, as a cousin of the apes and ants, or something completely unique. And if the latter in what does that uniqueness consist? For Raymond Tallis we are more than just "pieces of nature", and he uses the example of pointing to explain.

Meanwhile John Appleby looks at recent arguments in 'Posthumanism' and animal studies that are challenging the idea that man is the unique (and dominant) species.

What is the point Tony Blair's Faith Foundation ?

Given his track record on God few were surprised when Tony Blair set up his Faith Foundation once he left office. But what, exactly, is it for? We asked Ruth Turner, the chief executive, and she explains it in Leap of Faith. Readers are not convinced.

Laurie Taylor, toilets and reviews

Read the rest of the current issue online, including Laurie Taylor's hilarious run-in with the woo-meisters down on the farm (more from the issue coming online next week).

And since we're talking about issues we are deep in commissioning for the May/June one which will feature: AC Grayling on Terry Eagleton's new book On Evil, Irene Khan responding to Ruth Turner, Roger Scruton's argument against optimism, Jonathan Rée on Hugh Trevor-Roper, Laurie Taylor interviewing novelist Rebecca Goldstein and articles on the politics of denial, what humanists can learn from religious art and Ian McEwan's science.

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A new comedy and science event in May

Comedian Robin Ince the man behind our sell-out Nine Lessons shows, is producing a new event at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on 7 May, in association with New Humanist. We haven't come up with a name yet, but we know that the night will feature Professor Brian Cox (currently presenting the excellent Wonders of the Solar System on the BBC), comedian Marcus Brigstocke, singer Gavin Osborn, science writer Adam Rutherford and (no doubt) many more. Tickets on sale next week.