Given that it has historically been annexed by religion, how should the non-believer mark death? Jonathan Rée dons his weeds and joins the procession. Illustration Jessica Chandler
Giles Fraser's grisly Christian ethic of noble suffering is an unwelcome distraction from the vital debate over euthanasia, says Tauriq Moosa
A barrage of evangelical dating manuals encourage Christian youth to direct their sexual desire at Jesus, and keep their hands off themselves. Ex-evangelical Jonny Scaramanga looks back at a mis-spent youth
As part of studies Laura McInerney was told she needed to get out of her comfort zone. So she joined an anti-abortion protest in Missouri. Here's what she saw
Though he is an atheist, Matthew Adams finds peace and solace in the Victorian churches of the South London suburb of Brockley. Photographs by Melissa Harrison
We've been primed by popular culture to expect a close encounter at any moment, governments have made preparations and the tin-hat brigade say they're already here. But now ufology is in crisis and alien agencies are being wound up. James Gray explores the case of the missing little green men
In a potentially career threatening move, News Editor Paul Sims gets something off his chest
Up to 20,000 girls in the UK are at risk of suffering genital mutilation, and more than 60,000 women already live with the consequences of these illegal procedures, yet there has not been a single prosecution. Could that be about to change, asks Alice Onwordi
Though belief in religion is on the wane, angels have never been more popular. Why’s that? asks Sally Feldman
Comedian, songwriter and actor Isy Suttie has been a fixture on the comedy circuit for many years and is a regular at our annual Christmas benefit. She plays Mark’s kooky girlfriend Dobby in Channel 4’s Peep Show, and will appear in the new series of Shameless. We meet her