Pandaemonium is four years old (its birthday was in January, so it is actually four-and-a-half now). In those four-and-a-half years Pandaemonium has gone from being a tiny blog hosting weekly, small-scale posts to a major website carrying regular thrice-weekly posts, and mostly longform essays. It has grown into a space for ideas and arguments that have helped shape the wider debate – on free speech, multiculturalism, radical Islam, immigration, religious freedom, moral reasoning and scientific advance – and a set of resources for those making a case for freedom, equality and reason.

It has built up a regular audience, too. Shortly after its fourth birthday, Pandaemonium received its millionth visitor. What heartens me even more is the development of a community of regular commenters on posts, often critical, but always welcome. I don’t unfortunately always have the time to reply to every comment (too busy writing the next post…), but I do appreciate them greatly, and Pandaemonium certainly wouldn’t be the same without that community.

This year I am hoping that Pandaemonium will expand even further. I want to launch a series of ebooks, podcasts and possibly videos, too. The first ebook should come out later this year As, hopefully, should a series of podcasts on the history of morality.

All this will take time and resources. I have for a while thought about introducing advertising on Pandaemonium, but am reluctant to go down that road (though I may, in time, invite sponsorship). So, instead, I am joining Patreon, and asking you to become a patron of Pandaemonium.

Patreon is like a cross between Kickstarter and Paypal. It is a crowdfunding platform that allows supporters (that’s you, hopefully…) to help fund the work of writers, artists and musicians by making small monthly contributions – anything from $1 to $50 (or more if you wish…). Unlike, say, Kickstarter, it is not a one-time relatively large donation but a small recurring pledge. Here is a video explaining how it works:

The only difference is that on Pandaemonium, rather than asking you to make a payment for specific content, I am asking supporters to make a monthly contribution. Think of it as a kind of (voluntary) subscription. Pandaemonium will continue regardless. But, hopefully, it will become much better with some funding. And in return for your pledge/subscription you will get some small goodies:

For $1 a month – You will receive my gratitude, hopefully a better Pandaemonium, and your name on a special Pandaemonium page dedicated to those supporting the blog. Plus free copies of my ebooks as they are published.

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For $5 a month – All the above. Plus signed copies of each of my future books as they are published.

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For $10 a month – All the above. Plus, every year, a ticket (or a pair if that is feasible) to any meeting at which I am speaking if I can reasonably arrange it. And a 12×10 print of any photo from my photography website, Light Infusion. And, as an extra special bonus, a signed copy of a Jesus & Mo cartoon. (For those who don’t know, Jesus & Mo is a brilliant, irreverent cartoon strip, in which Jesus and Mohammed – and sometimes the atheist barmaid – discuss the meaning of life, religion and everything. It’s well worth supporting on Patreon, too)

. – All the above. Plus, signed copies of two of my previous books (or, at least ones I can get hold of, as some are out of print). And, as an extra special bonus, a signed copy of a wonderful Jesus and Mo cartoon. (For those who don’t know, Jesus & Mo is a brilliant, irreverent cartoon strip, in which Jesus and Mohammed – and sometimes the atheist barmaid – discuss the meaning of life, religion and everything. It’s well worth supporting on Patreon, too)

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More than $50 a month – A great big, wide-eyed ‘Wow’! A very large thank you. And, in addition to all of the above, for having given me the resources to allow me to write more freely, your name in the acknowledgements of my next book. And, if you arrange a meeting or lecture at which you would like me to speak, I will do my best to do so (though, if it is outside London, I will need travel and accommodation costs).

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To support Pandaemonium via Patreon you need first to set up a Patreon account (very easy) and then make a pledge to Pandaemonium (search for me by name or for Pandaemonium).

Trying to fund Pandaemonium through Patreon is a leap in the dark. I hope, with your help, it works. Many thanks to all those who already support Pandaemonium, and even more thanks to the Patrons who do sign up.