Let’s Discuss! Bertrand Russell, A Free Man’s Worship

On Saturday, 13th of June, we’re going to meet and discuss the essay by Bertrand Russel, A Free Man’s Worship. First published in 1903, it remains one of Russell’s best-known and most reprinted essay.

In the essay, Russell reflects on the human condition, with its beauty and sorrow. As an atheist, he asks whether a meaningful life is possible without religion and whether we can find purpose in a universe that seems indifferent to us. If life is brief and suffering unavoidable, what should we live for? What ideals should guide us? Let’s discuss!

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and public intellectual, widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 for his writings in defence of humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.

***

Anyone is welcome to join! No background in philosophy is needed. Before the meeting, please read the essay (it’s only 6 pages long), think about it, and note any passages you find especially interesting, challenging, or worth discussing. We’ll share our thoughts and interpretations during the meeting.

Organizational notes:
📍 Attendance is free
⏳ Spots are limited
🔗 Please register via the app so we know how many people to expect and can reserve a table accordingly

***

Some questions to contemplate:

• Can people accept that the universe may have no inherent meaning without falling into nihilism?
• Is everyone capable of this? What qualities might it require? How should we think about those who are not?
• Do people need religion to live meaningful lives, or can meaning be found elsewhere? Dostoevsky, for example in Demons, doubted that anything good could come from atheism – was he right?
• Which values does Russell consider worth admiring? What values do you personally see as ultimate or worth ‘worshipping’?
• What roles do Nature, Fate, and Time play in Russell’s worldview?
• What does modern society present as ultimate values – beauty, success, power, status, comfort? Do these provide meaning?
• What role should the state play in shaping values? When can it do too much – and when too little?
• How do you personally deal with nihilism or existential dread? Do you experience it at all?