Lesley Hazleton

Lesley Hazleton was a British-American writer and journalist celebrated for exploring the intersections of politics and religion. She is renowned for her insightful examinations of the figures of major world religions.

Lesley Adele Hazleton was born in Reading, Berkshire. Hazleton earned degrees in psychology from Manchester University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Her career began in Israel, where she worked as a journalist from 1966 until 1979, contributing to notable publications like Time and The Jerusalem Post. In 1979, she relocated to the United States, continuing her journalism career and becoming a U.S. citizen.

Hazleton's unique background—considering a rabbinical path, her experiences in a convent school, and her agnostic stance—shaped her nuanced approach to religious and political themes. Her blog, The Accidental Theologist, was a platform where she shared her agnostic views on various existential topics, emphasizing the complexity and paradoxes of life.

She once noted, "Everything is a paradox. The danger is one-dimensional thinking."

Her most recent book, Agnostic: A Spirited Manifesto, published in 2016, was a profound exploration of agnosticism, arguing for a perspective, that transcends the binary of belief and disbelief.

Hazleton received numerous accolades, including The Stranger's Genius Award in Literature. She was also the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence at Town Hall Seattle.

In her notable talk, The Doubt Essential to Faith, at TEDGlobal 2013, she delves into the core mystical moment of Islam, questioning what happened to Muhammad the night he received the revelation of the Koran. Hazleton's research reveals that Mohammed's initial reaction was not one of divine certainty but of doubt and fear, a perspective that challenges traditional narratives and emphasizes the importance of doubt in faith.

Lesley Hazleton passed away on April 29, 2024, in Seattle, where she had lived in a floating home since 1992. Diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer, she chose to end her life through assisted suicide, making a final, profound statement about personal choice and dignity.