Nihilism Now: Politics After Atheism Christianwashing Atheism: Slavoj Zizek, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, Jordan Peterson, Ken Wilber.
Nov 25, 2024
The podcast dives into the concept of 'Christian-washing' of atheism, questioning the sincerity of figures like Zizek and Peterson. It connects Marx's philosophy to classical literature and debates biblical influences in modern thought. Post-9/11, it critiques Dawkins' and Harris' responses on morality, revealing gaps in advocacy for atheism. The discussion also reflects on the harms of childhood conditioning, and it emphasizes the need for a unified atheist movement that challenges traditional religious narratives.
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Leftist Endorsement Of Christianity
- Slavoj Žižek now argues for an "authentic Christian approach" as politically necessary despite being a leading leftist intellectual.
- This mirrors positions across the spectrum where atheists valorize Christianity for cultural or political ends.
Cross-Ideological Christian-Washing
- The host links Žižek's language to similar claims by Jordan Peterson and Ayaan Hirsi Ali to show a cross-ideological pattern.
- This reveals a broader trend of 'Christian-washing' among public intellectuals regardless of politics.
Origin Context Matters
- The host emphasizes an originist critique: texts must be read in their original contexts, which Žižek and Peterson ignore.
- Ignoring origins produces distorted claims about religion's historical role and meaning.
