IN YOUR DIARY -Michel Onfray at the French Institute - Thursday, May 10th

In the twenty-first century, religion is making a comeback, bringing in its wake extremism of all kinds. From Christian anti-abortion campaigns to suicide bombers claiming the righteousness of Islam, we are witnessing a resurgence of fundamentalism. Michel Onfray's response to the threat of a post-modern theocracy is to lay down the principles of an authentic atheism. 'A wonderful, invigorating blast of sanity delivered against the fog of high-toned mumbo-jumbo we have to endure everywhere today' (William Boyd).

Born in 1959 in Normandy, French philosopher Michel Onfray is the author of twenty books which map out a theory of hedonism.

He will discuss his best-selling essay, In Defense of Atheism (translated by Jeremy Leggatt, Serpent's Tail, 2007) with British philosopher Anthony C Grayling. Early reservation recommended thu 10 may at the Institut français In French & English £3, conc. £2