iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Listening to the BBC Radio 4 documentary 'Faithless' last night, I was moved by the courage of the apostates who shared their stories, and heartened to see the BBC spotlight such an underrepresented group. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Illuminated - Faithless - BBC Sounds

Examining the line between religious devotion and unhealthy control.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

An honour to attend this meeting last night. The @apphg.bsky.social is a vitally important group for ensuring progressive, humanistic policies are pursued in Parliament. At a time of extreme challenge to humanistic politics, their work is crucial!

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thanks to @andrewcopson.bsky.social, @humanists.uk, and the more than 220 people who joined us last huge to celebrate #StarTrek60! It was a delight! 🖖🏻

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Sixty years ago today, the starship Enterprise launched and with it, a vision of the future where humanity had moved beyond its divisions. I was there at the beginning, and I can tell you...

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Thanks Tammy - so glad to have you with us! 🖖🏻

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Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A detail missing from The Times story… the woman who took the photo shared it to a Facebook group called ‘South east patriots’.

Facebook post showing the photo of three white women on a train with a group of black-clad, masked men being shared to a group called ‘South east patriots’

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University of Sussex @sussex.ac.uk · 07/09/2026

Why can it sometimes feel easier to open up to a stranger? Sussex psychologist Dr Gillian Sandstrom spoke to BBC Radio 4 about the value of talking to strangers and how psychological distance can make difficult conversations easier. Listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0030c74

Two people sit talking on public transport, while another passenger stands nearby.

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Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

NEW | It’s all a stitch up, apparently… REFORM’S SECRET DONATIONS PLOT, NEWSPAPERS TURNING A BLIND EYE, AND WHAT’S NEXT How Farage will try to get out of this one, why the media is largely ignoring the story, and the influence of poisonous polling. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/reforms-se...

brokenbottleboy.substack.com

Reform’s secret donations plot, newspapers turning a blind eye, and what’s next...

Some thoughts on how Farage will try to get out of this one, why the media is largely ignoring Channel 4’s story, and the influence of poisonous polling.

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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 04/09/2026

With all respect to the BBC, the reason this story "matters" is not about whether it distracts from Reform's conference. It "matters" because it is important our leaders are not conspiring to break the law.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Slight inconsistency between the behaviour expected of others and the behaviour displayed there, George! Happy Pride, darling. 💀

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

An incredible start to Pride weekend last night at the Pride Gala at Brighton Pavilion! It was my honour to accompany Kara Lagerfeld to the palace. 🥰 First three photos by Michael Cheetham

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Ethical Society of St. Louis @ethicalstl.org · 26/07/2026

Dr. Croft (@croftspeaks.bsky.social) shared the text of his Platform from this morning: croftspeaks.substack.com/p/unlocking-...

croftspeaks.substack.com

Unlocking the Piano

Beauty is matter in resonant relation

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Not bad for a queer Humanist and atheist! 😎 substack.com/@croftspeaks

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

“major movements for social change have never achieved their goals by making marginalised communities maximally palatable to hegemonic majorities… We did not make ourselves palatable: we made ourselves visible, then powerful, then inevitable.”

open.substack.com

Be More Queer, Not Less

We Need Solidarity and Radical Pride, Not Timid Assimilationism

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

It should be every child's right to learn more about the diverse human cultural heritage to which we are all heirs, to have the opportunity to develop their own beliefs and values, and to learn enough about their fellow citizens to be a good neighbour and citizen themselves.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Another milestone for humanist ceremonies! This recognition reflects the dedication, professionalism, and care of our celebrants, who work so hard to create meaningful ceremonies that genuinely reflect the couples they work with.

humanists.uk

Humanists UK’s wedding ceremonies accredited under European Humanist wedding standard

Humanists UK’s work to provide humanist wedding ceremonies has been formally accredited by the European Humanist Services Network (EHSN), recognising it as meeting the highest standards of humanist we...

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

This contemptuous article provoked me to write about contempt - an attitude that closes the mind, deadens the senses, and flattens people. My new article: croftspeaks.substack.com/p/against-co...

croftspeaks.substack.com

Against Contempt

Contempt closes the mind, deadens the senses, and flattens people. We should be loving instead.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Yesterday, three students invited me to pray. Not to pray with or for them, but to pray to God to see if God might respond, and thereby prove Their existence. Here are my thoughts on that, as a chaplain who is also a Humanist.

open.substack.com

When My Students Ask Me To Pray

Why prayer is not like trying new tea

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

US Christian nationalist and Defence Secretary Hegseth has said that humanism is ‘an infection’ in the US armed forces chaplaincy. This dehumanising language to talk about the non religious is a growing feature of the US administration. A disgrace. www.sltrib.com/religion/202...

sltrib.com

Are Latter-day Saints Christian? The U.S. Defense Department doesn’t appear to think so.

LDS Church left off Department of Defense’s list of Christian religions.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

What makes something a genuine explanation? I explore abductive reasoning, detective fiction, Intelligent Design, Panpsychism, and what I call “nonsplanations” — theories that feel explanatory without connecting cause and effect. A good explanation helps inquiry move. Nonsplanations don't.

youtu.be

Fording the River of the Unknown | Panpsychism, Intelligent Design, and Other Nonsplanations

YouTube video by Deep Humanism

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This was a brilliant sharp read. To the point and devastating.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Ella doing her best tiger in the brush impression…

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

We don't have to raid the vaults of religion, like starving wanderers in a wasteland blasted by the apocalyptic death of God. We live in a garden of existential abundance - if only we have eyes to see. We can make meaning and community. Everything we need is at our feet. youtu.be/R6pbQL0KJFM?...

youtu.be

Spirituality Without Supernaturalism | Everything We Need Is at Our Feet

YouTube video by Deep Humanism

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Had a great moment with Ella in my office at @sussex.ac.uk today! 🥰

James Croft with his dog Ella in his office at the university of Sussex.

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 08/05/2026

Today we’re celebrating the 100th birthday of humanist and naturalist David Attenborough! Thank you for a lifetime of curiosity, wonder, and tireless dedication to science, nature, and helping us better understand the living world.

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PoliticsHome @politicshome.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Bias, predetermination and a closed mind – a judgement on the OfS Today's High Court ruling is a good judgement for the University of Sussex, and a good judgment for everyone who cares about the proper & effective governance of our higher education institutions, writes the Uni's Prof Sasha Roseneil

politicshome.com

Bias, predetermination and a closed mind – a judgement on the Office for Students

The High Court ruling is a good judgement for the University of Sussex, and a good judgement for everyone who cares about the proper and effective ...

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

University of Sussex resoundingly won its case against the Office for Students on freedom of speech. Judge found that the process was “vitiated by bias” that it “unlawfully predetermined the decision”. This is a stunning vindication of our university and a stinging rebuke of the OfS. We won!

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New Humanist @newhumanist.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

"Science may aspire to objectivity, but it is practised by humans, people riddled with cognitive biases, egos, tribal instincts and professional anxieties." A new book explores why some revolutionary scientific discoveries are overlooked #scicomm #philsci

newhumanist.org.uk

Book review: I Told You So!

A book by Matt Kaplan tells the stories of the scientists whose discoveries were overlooked

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Sarah Murphy @13sarahmurphy.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

“Brexit betrayal” - oh for god’s sake.. Every day, we’re paying to be poorer. We’re paying to be second class citizens on our own continent. We’re paying to queue. We’re paying for more red tape. We’re paying to be less secure and less trusted. Brexit IS the betrayal. And so is defending it.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Just now on Sky News: “A good night for Europe and a great disappointment for President Trump and Vladimir Putin.” I still have the ability to feel shocked when hearing words like that out loud and remembering that the current US and Russian governments are on the same side.

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Pasquinel 🦇🎃👻 @pasquinel.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Hungarians celebrated the landslide defeat of Orban by singing "We Are the Champions" out in the streets

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University of Sussex @sussex.ac.uk · 10/04/2026

Thanks to everyone who has shared photos of our 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. campaign across Brighton and beyond. It's helping more people discover what makes Sussex an exciting place to be — celebrating ideas, research, collaboration and the difference we make. Find out more: ow.ly/ouqR50YvQ87

Large University of Sussex billboard on the side of a building beside a Brighton street, displaying the message “Averting an insect apocalypse” above a close-up image of a bumblebee and flowers under a clear blue sky.

University of Sussex poster inside a train carriage promoting wellbeing in education, showing two students smiling and holding ice creams, with the headline “Supporting wellbeing in education” above turquoise Southern train seats.

University of Sussex advertising display inside Brighton railway station, showing a campaign poster about protecting the real-life Paddington Bear, surrounded by travellers beneath the station’s high glass-and-steel roof.

“Revealing the history of the Universe” appears beside a Phantom of the Opera advert, with London location and social media story text overlaid on the image.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Great report on the radical right network being funded by Orban in Hungary. The recent conference on Christianity and “post-liberalism” at Pusey House, Oxford was funded in part by The Danube Institute. It drew major voices like Graham Tomlin and Iain McGilchrist. The should not have attended!

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

This is such an interesting discussion! I don’t see why we have to plump for any of these grand metaphysical frameworks, honestly. If they help advance inquiry, we can employ them as and when. But to me many of them seem not to advance inquiry at all - not enough payoff for the epistemic cost!

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Last August I released an exhaustive analysis of the evidence supporting the claim that a Christian revival was underway in the UK. I said that reports of a revival were not credible, and that the Bible Society's claims were overblown given the data. Now they are saying essentially what I said then.

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 27/03/2026

Very happy to see this on the BBC. Last April headlines far and wide parroted the Bible Society uncritically. We've uncovered the truth. All hard evidence points to religious decline, not 'revival'. And, as of yesterday, the Bible Society pulled its report. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Church attendance report pulled after YouGov finds 'fraudulent' responses

The original report claimed a rise in young people attending church in England and Wales.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Momentous. The Quiet Revival report kickstarted a conversation about a so-called revival in the British church, shaping global religious discourse, helping create a narrative that religion was returning to public life. Now it has been retracted - as critics have been requesting for months.

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Thanks to Vansh Deswal who interviewed me for his podcast The Human Lens - we talk about meaning, spirituality, morality, faith, and God. I love speaking with Gen Z creators because it’s like talking to my students, and that’s peak no cap. 😎 youtu.be/S9tyBaWGz3g?...

youtu.be

The Atheist Chaplain: On God, Meaning, and What We Get Wrong About Religion

YouTube video by Vansh

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

'Secularism’ is often muddled with 'atheism' or 'non-religion' when really, it's a political position advocating for the separation of the state from religion – or indeed, non-religious beliefs – so that human rights are guaranteed for *all*. It's supported by humanists but many religious people too

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Alice Roberts @profaliceroberts.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Secularism - a principle accepted by many religious and non-religious people - puts the human right to freedom of religion and belief front and central, together with separation of religion and state. This is a great new resource for schools from @humanists.uk

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James Croft @croftspeaks.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Andrew is absolutely right here. There is no single, definitive interpretation of any religious tradition, and it dodges the issue to say “Christian nationalists aren’t REAL Christians”. What’s important is how the symbolic resources of the faith are being employed and the effects that has.

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 24/02/2026

Reform UK have suggested introducing a new ‘patriotic curriculum’ based on Christianity to give children ‘things to take pride in again’. However, there is already plenty that children and young people can and do take pride in. 🧵

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