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Hay Festival 2005

A number of festival events look at these issues.

Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens are lined up for what promises to be a high-octane debate on blasphemy, chaired by Joan Bakewell on 28 May (9.50pm).
Two (probably quieter) events focus on sacred texts:
- On 31 May, renowned scholar Geza Vermes examines the key differences between the Christian Gospels (12.45pm).
- Muhammad Abdel Haleem discusses his new translation of the Qur'an on 1 June. This groundbreaking version aims to use contemporary, idiomatic English, while retaining the resonances and references of the sixth-century Arabic. (7.15pm)
In his talk 'The Sighted Watchmaker' on 2 June, physician and author Raymond Tallis argues that Darwin's theory of evolution does not necessarily mean that humans are not of a different order of creation (10.15am).
Finally, also on 2 June, neuroscientist Kathleen Taylor talks about her book Brainwashing: The science of thought, which analyses how our brains respond when invited – or pressurised – to accept beliefs (1pm).