How do you make any sense of history, art or literature without knowing the stories and iconography of your own culture and all the world's main religions?

This is indeed a clash of civilisations, not between Islam and Christendom but between reason and superstition.

But instead of standing up for reason, our government is handing education over to the world of faith.

Islam, Christianity and Judaism all define themselves through disgust of women's bodies.

Thresholds of pain, indignity and incapacity are entirely personal.

Is anyone serious about the politics of happiness? David Cameron dipped a toe in the water, using the word lightly, but denying the hard policies it implies. Labour shies away from it, but should take up the challenge.

One in six people suffer depression or a chronic anxiety disorder. These are not the worried well but those in severe mental pain with conditions crippling enough to prevent them living normal lives.