Onfray writes obscurely that there is no philosophy without psychoanalysis. He prefers to say though that his 'university' is committed to deliver high-level knowledge to the masses, as opposed to the more common approach of vulgarizing philosophic concepts through easy-to-read books such as 'Philosophy for Well-being'. Both in his writing and his lecturing, Onfray's approach is hierarchical, and elitist. Nor is the content of the Université populaire de Caen radical in French terms, it is in its way, a throwback to less democratic traditions of learning. After all, 'ordinary' French University lectures are open to all, free of charge.

However, the title 'Popular University' is misleading, although attractive, as this 'University' provides no services other than the occasional delivery of lectures - there is no register of students, no examination or assessment, and no diplomas. He taught this subject to senior students at a technical high school in Caen between 19, before establishing what he and his supporters call the Université populaire de Caen, proclaiming its foundation on a free-of-charge basis, and the manifesto written by Onfray in 2004 (La communauté philosophique). Born to a family of Norman farmers, he graduated with a Ph.D. This passage is typical: 'Clearly the announcement of God's death was as world-shaking as it was false - trumpets blaring, news bellowed from the rooftops, drums thundering in an orgy of premature rejoicing.Michel Onfray is a French philosopher. I've no reason to doubt that Jeremy Leggatt's translation from the French is apt and accurate, but almost every sentence contains dramatic flourishes, florid rhetoric, elaborate metaphors, exaggerations, hyperbole - eventually it becomes tedious. Surely the lesson is that the capacity for exploitation, violence and cruelty is buried deep within human nature, whatever religious or political system we employ.

There have been empires with only rudimentary religion, such as the Mongols before they became Muslim.

We have had anti-theist regimes that try to eliminate religion - Communist Russia or Cambodia under Pol Pot, for example. But what Onfray wilfully ignores is the double truth that this is not the only aspect of the religious record and that no atheist system has been better. No believer can deny that religion's record is often blood-stained and cruel. Similarly, many of his condemnations are clearly justified.

Atheist Manifesto by Michel Onfray