David Baddiel’s The God Desire is no argument for atheism

Far from being a convincing argument against the existence of God, much of the comedian-cum-writer’s new book seems to find its natural fulfilment in Christian theism, says Chris Witherall

I love David Baddiel. I like his comedy, his song about football coming home, and the fact that he’s the only celebrity I’ve ever spotted around London.

But he’s not just a funny man and stirrer of premature sporting hope. Baddiel’s first non-fiction book Jews Don’t Count (HarperCollins), which was recently made into a TV documentary, was eye-opening and sensitively conveyed.

The comedian-turned-writer seems to have started exploring deeper issues in recent years, so it’s not wholly surprising to see him wade into the God debate with his latest offering, The God Desire (HarperCollins). So far, it has garnered strong reviews, with Stephen Fry describing it as “Magnificent. Breathtaking. And shockingly rare…”