David Baddiel writes a God-loving book on atheism

Comic argues the idea of a divine being is so appealing we HAD to invent Him

David Baddiel has written a book about atheism,

The God Desire – which is described as ‘more understanding of the value and power of religion’ than other tracts – is to be released on April 12.

In it the comic argues that it is the intensity of humanity’s desire for God to exist that proves he doesn’t, as we will inevitably assume anything so deeply wished-for is real.

And he includes himself in wanting God to exist, even though the comic is sure he doesn’t.

Baddiel said that the book emerged from his successful book about antisemitism, Jews Don’t Count.

He told trade website The Bookseller: ‘One of the things that Jews Don’t Count outlined was how antisemitism is racism, not religious intolerance, because I’m an atheist, but that would have got me no free passes out of Auschwitz.

‘The God Desire expands on that: on what it means to be a member of a minority associated with religion, and yet an atheist. It begins from the perspective that many people’s identities, including mine, are deeply intertwined with religion. It is an atheist polemic but one that – hopefully – understands and engages with the hard-wired need that humans have for some version of God in their lives.

‘It is perhaps the first-ever atheist polemic, in fact, that includes a love of God. It’s also got a fair amount of jokes.’

TLS Books will publish the title in hardback, e-book and audio – read by the author – on April 13.

Baddiel will also be talking about the book at the Hay Festival, it has been announced today, with his session at the prestigious literary event taking place on May 26.

Josie Long will also be appearing on the same night present her short story collection Because I Don’t Know What You MeanAnd What You Don’t, which will have been published the previous day. And comedian and social media star Fats Timbo will be at Hay to talk about her book Main Character Energy: 10 Commandments for Living Life Fearless

There will also be comedy shows from Dara Ó Briain, Natalie Haynes, Tom Allen, Jason Byrne, Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Mark Steel, plus a line-up of Palestinian comedians – Alaa Shehada, Diana Swity and Hanna Shammas – and other line-up shows featuring Robin Morgan, Toussaint Douglass, Sam Campbell, Jen Brister, Athena Kugblenu, Isy Suttie and others. And the Early Edition will feature comic news analysis from Marcus Brigstocke, Carrie Quinlan, Robin Ince, André Vincent and Rachel Parris.