US-Saudi relationship has helped to restore authoritarian rule in the Middle East Patrick Cockburn

The Church has allowed itself to be enslaved to a list of practices outlawed during the Bronze Age Paul Vallely

The actor sums up a non-religious approach to the big questions of life in just three minutes Joan Smith

Are their parties the stuff of nightmare, or will they fade in an economic dawn? John Lichfield

Why expend your time and energy on something you dislike? Stoking negative emotions can cause untold misery Katy Guest

In our society, modern mothers occupy an awkward dual role Ellen E Jones

If only more couples could be as honest as Gwyneth and Chris - it would be better for the kids and the adults Janet Street-Porter

After the furore over the new Noah film, perhaps the end is nigh for biblical stories on screen John Walsh

This Saturday I will be raising a toast to every couple starting a new life together Tina Stowell

There just aren’t enough betting shops on Britain’s high streets. Let’s convert cathedrals and A&E; departments Mark Steel