For some Americans, atheism is clearly an emotional issue. A HuffPost piece I wrote this week about so-called "New Atheists" who urge fellow God-deniers to "come out" provoked a slew of comments in public fora and in private e-mails. Many seem offended, irritated and outraged by my comments....

An atheist association's decision to take their latest billboard campaign to the heart of Muslim and Jewish enclaves in New York and New Jersey today seems like an outright provocation. "You know it's a myth ... and you have a choice", the billboards being erected say - in...

In photography, juxtaposition is a compositional concept that can produce surprising or jarring images. A picture that's 'gone viral' on Facebook in the past week seems like a textbook example. It shows a surveillance camera mounted outside the former residence of George Orwell. At the time of writing, the photo...

So-called "ethical Christmas gifts" have become a familiar feature of the holiday season. Every year, charities like Oxfam, Christian Aid and World Vision encourage us to give up presents in favour of certificates for things like goats, dung, condoms and hygiene instruction for people in the developing world.

It is...

On Black Friday, the true colors of the Occupy Wall Street movement really shone through.

Premised on the idea that it speaks on behalf of 99 percent of Americans, the Occupy movement is in fact deeply contemptuous of the masses. In no way was this made clearer than through...

This week marked the two-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. With the Zuccotti Park encampment in lower Manhattan cleared and hundreds being arrested in demonstrations in the financial district, it appears protesters have adopted an unflattering victim mentality.

There's a whole lot of talk and tweeting going on about...

Americans are really into Halloween. For weeks now, stoops, window sills and shop fronts here in New York have been decorated with cob-web, red and orange lights, ghost figures and jack-o-lanterns. Adults and children alike are busy planning their outfits for the annual parades, costume parties and trick-or-treating on...

Gathering the who's of American letters, commentary and screens, last weekend's New Yorker Festival offered a blend of hot air, laughter and stardust.

There was Steve Martin, eschewing his role as comedian and star of the show by interviewing New Yorker art critic Peter Schjeldahl about the art of...

When I visited the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City's financial district earlier this week I heard repeated messages about peace, non-violence and egalitarianism. This 'leaderless resistance movement' aims to 'restore democracy in America' by camping out on Wall Street for a few months.

A key...

In the run-up to the 10-year-anniversary of 9/11, it seems two cities have emerged in lower Manhattan where the Twin Towers once stood.

On the one hand, there is the carnival of grief that is the 9/11 memorial project, with incessant implorations that we 'must never forget' and...

Before all the gruesome details of Friday's harrowing attacks in Norway had emerged, speculation was rife as to who was responsible and how Norway should respond. In international television studios and opinion pages several commentators remarked on Norway's 'lack of preparedness' and false sense of safety. There was outright condemnation...

Opening my email inbox this morning I found a string of press releases from the UK Tar Sands Network, a campaign group which apparently opposes tar sands oil developments in Canada. The emails proudly proclaimed that the group had managed to disrupt a live broadcast the previous night...

In the words of Massive Attack, "The last thing Palestine needs is a pop song." But yet, the trip-hop duo has joined a line of artists, writers, charities and high-street brands to endorse the new single "Freedom for Palestine." Released this week, the music video for the single...