Why New Atheism has failed - Justin Brierley | Maiden Mother Matriarch 32
Sep 24, 2023
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Justin Brierley, author of 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God', discusses the rise and fall of new atheism, the influence of Christian principles on culture, the importance of treating sex and relationships carefully, the continuing religious drive in humans, different styles of worship within the Church of England, and the broader platform of new atheists.
New atheism failed to provide a positive ethical framework beyond its negative critiques, causing some atheists to turn to other secular intellectuals for a more comprehensive worldview.
The decline of shared narratives in today's social media age has contributed to mental health issues and a meaning crisis; rediscovering a different story is key to finding purpose.
Both highly traditionalist liturgical services and modern charismatic services offer immersive and transformative worship experiences that transport individuals beyond the mundane and provide a different understanding of reality.
Deep dives
The Rise and Fall of New Atheism
New atheism emerged in the mid-2000s as a more media-savvy and dogmatic form of atheism. It was influenced by the rise of the internet and gained popularity by critiquing religion, especially in the wake of events like 9/11. However, it eventually faced internal divisions and controversies, with different factions forming around various social justice issues. The movement failed to provide a positive ethical framework beyond its negative critiques, and many atheists turned to other secular intellectuals like Jordan Peterson for a more comprehensive worldview.
The Influence of Christianity on Western Culture
Many aspects of contemporary Western culture, including principles like equality, human rights, and dignity, have Christian roots. While new atheism sought to dismantle religious stories, it unintentionally created a void that allowed other quasi-religious stories to emerge. The absence of a comprehensive alternative to Christianity has led some secular intellectuals, like Tom Holland and Paul Kingsnorth, to recognize the relevance and resonance of the Christian faith in addressing questions of purpose and meaning. There is a possibility of a Christian revival as people reconsider the Christian story in a post-Christian age.
The Holistic Appeal of Christianity
Christianity offers a comprehensive and internally coherent worldview that addresses existential questions and provides a sense of justice and redemption. Unlike secular humanism, which may lack a realistic understanding of human brokenness, Christianity acknowledges both the capacity for good and the propensity to mess things up. It offers hope for ultimate justice, transformation, and vindication, addressing the deep sense of justice and longing for meaning that many individuals have. The Christian story, while believed to be true, is seen as a viable alternative for navigating a world that often lacks justice and purpose.
The importance of rediscovering the power of storytelling and shared narratives
In the podcast episode, the speaker discusses the decline in shared narratives and the impact it has on individuals, especially young people. They believe that in today's social media age, where people are bombarded with different ways to shape their identities, the lack of a shared story has contributed to mental health issues and a meaning crisis in our culture. The speaker suggests that rediscovering a different story, one that still holds immense resonance and power, is key to making sense of the world and finding purpose.
The appeal of traditional and charismatic styles of worship
The podcast also explores the different styles of worship in the modern church. The speaker mentions that both highly traditionalist liturgical services, such as the Anglican-Catholic tradition, and modern charismatic services, like those conducted by the Holy Trinity Brompton, have attracted followers. These worship styles share the ability to transport individuals out of their everyday experiences, offering a sense of otherworldliness and mystery. The speaker acknowledges that while each style has its advantages and potential drawbacks, what is ultimately attractive is the immersive and transformative experience that takes people beyond the mundane and offers a different understanding of reality.
Justin Brierley, a writer, broadcaster and author of a new book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. On the podcast we spoke about the rise and fall of new atheism; the role of religion in politics and in the extended episode we spoke about the relationship between new atheism and other religions particularly Islam. To find the extended episode, bonus episodes and the MMM chat community go to louiseperry.substack.com
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