Although I was raised as a strict Irish-style Roman Catholic, after many years of deep thought, I am now an atheist, humanist, rationalist and sceptic, and have come to the conclusion that this is the most important unanswered philosophical question. I do not believe there is any need to postulate a creator, because belief in a creator god leads to the obvious next questions of who or what made god, and who or what made who or what made god, and so on indefinitely.

The public seems to be content with castigating honest and reasonable mistakes while overlooking genuine issues in favour of “weapons of mass distraction”.

Could the legitimisation of the guilty pleasure mean the end of judgmental music criticism (good riddance!), or are new hierarchies of taste emerging?

And I don’t wanna talk to a scientist.

Can you tell us how we, the people, convince the United nations to act as a genuine force for good in the world by bringing together the might of the world’s most powerful nations to rectify, at its source, the trauma these individuals are enduring? Or can you suggest other ways we can act? I’m asking this question out of sheer frustration that we can do nothing more than be compassionate to the world’s victims AFTER the event. People power has achieved results before, so perhaps those caring people can do more now – but how?

It seems to create the notion that we can never be satisfied with what we have.. Perhaps it’s needed to keep us motivated to keep doing the job.. However, it can ale lead to constant stress in the work place and dampen creativity.

As the irrefutable evidence of the effects of human causation of global warming through increasing production of greenhouse gasses gains traction,it seems that a new economic paradigm (other than growth) must be urgently considered. After all, it’s about the survival of the next generation(s).

Because the EU is in turmoil, countries are being held to ransom by market volatility and austerity is fueling social unrest.

Whether it’s gun control or bicycle helmets, Australia’s Common Law leads to a duty of care. What would the world look like if this was adopted internationally?

What makes for a more fulfilling life?

My politics, formed in late high school, which views the world through a feminist, social justice and environmentalist lens has barely changed since I was 17 years old. Having children has made my feminism a bit more nuanced, thoughtful and even gentle in some ways, but otherwise I am unchanged. What does it take to change your opinion? And is change only possible with generational change, like we have seen with the huge support for marriage equality?