"A moment of quiet reflection amongst the turmoil of politics"

Thought for the Day is a fixed part of my morning agenda. Over the years I have welcomed those two minutes during the Today programme when the political mud-slinging stops, and time is briefly given to consider the ethical, moral and spiritual aspect of an item of current affairs. Of the regular contributors, I have my favourites. Lionel Blue - of course, Tom Butler, Giles Fraser - who's anthology of writing in the Guardian, Church Times and Thought for the Day, "Christianity with Attitude" I am currently enjoying - and would heartily recommend to anyone - Christian or not - who cares about ethical issues. If you wonder or despair at how the term "Christian" seems to have become almost synonymous with a poisonous, narrow, right wing fundamentalism in a very short period of time, Fraser is a welcome antidote (you can download a pretty representative chapter for free here).
The one commentator who never ceases to annoy is Anne Atkins- scourge of gay people (especially Christian ones), wooly liberals and anyone else who doesn't subscribe to her definition of "family values" - almost to the point that I'm switching to Five Live as soon as I hear the words "from our Oxford studio, writer and broadcaster...". I know that at some point in the next 120 seconds I will be shouting and swearing at the radio as she puts forward some right-wing evangelical claptrap in her oh-so-reasonable but incredibly patronising manner. As another blogger put it "Why not play a recording of a pneumatic drill for two minutes? It would be more relaxing". Yesterday's Thought on abortion was disgraceful - as she started by stating that "No civilised person wants...to force a woman to give birth to a baby she dreads" but then goes on to equate abortion with the slave trade and the holocaust.
On today's programme I was glad to hear that the Today mailbox had been overwhelmed with critical responses to the item.
On a related topic, I was also glad to hear the discussion has reopened as to whether thought for the day should be opened up to representatives of non-faith groups - humanists, secularists etc. I see no reason why not. The faith groups do not have a monopoly on ethics. I'd welcome the thoughts of secular philosophers more than those of right wing tub thumpers like Atkins.