Leading philosophers A C Grayling and Roger Scruton go head to head at the Sheldonian Theatre in one of a series of Oxford Debates lined up for the city’s 2012 literary festival.

Grayling, pictured left, and Scruton lock horns on the question: Do We Need God to Survive? Scruton’s new book, published on the eve of the festival, is The Face of God. In it, he aims to show how atheist culture and a turning away from God is self destructive for us and our culture. Grayling is president elect of the British Humanist Association. His latest work, The Good Book, is described as a ‘secular bible’.

With economic uncertainty still hanging over us, former Chancellor Alistair Darling tells of his days at 11 Downing Street when the credit crunch first hit. Meanwhile, for sports fans, cricket historian David Frith and film critic, journalist and cricket obsessive Barry Norman will discuss the future of test cricket.

Also confirmed for 2012 is Mackenzie Crook, pictured right, star of Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean and BBC TV’s The Office, who has written and illustrated his first children’s book, The Windvale Sprites.

Other events for children and young people announced today include Frank Cottrell Boyce and Young Bond author Charlie Higson in a celebration of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, James Bond and Ian Fleming. African-American author Jewell Parker Rhodes discusses her children’s novel Ninth Ward and Caroline Lawrence explains how she researched her Roman Mysteries and Western Mysteries series of books.

We celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tarzan in 2012 with a visit from Andy Briggs who has brought the iconic jungle man right up to date in Tarzan: The Greystoke Legacy.

Many more events have yet to be confirmed, and the programme will be updated regularly at oxfordliteraryfestival.org. There will also be regular updates on twitter.com/@oxfordlitfest and also at facebook.com/oxfordliteraryfestival

You can book now by clicking on the links from the events pages at oxfordliteraryfestival.org or by telephoning the box office on 0870 343 1001. ← See all stories