The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God 4. Alex O'Connor: Losing faith in New Atheism
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Nov 15, 2023 
Alex O'Connor, aka Cosmic Skeptic, discusses his changing relationship with new atheism and why he's reevaluating his early takes on Christianity. They explore the decline of the new atheism movement, the evolving perceptions of atheism and religion, and how personal experiences play a role in belief in God. The episode also includes a bonus interview with Alex discussing his YouTube channel and podcast.
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Early YouTube Atheist Videos
- Alex started making atheist videos as a teenager mainly to have fun and respond to religious arguments.
- He now sees those early videos as immature and poorly argued compared to his current work.
Value of Intellectual Humility
- Alex shifted away from confident dismissive rhetoric because it encouraged arrogance and closed-mindedness.
- He now prefers calm, open discussions that welcome being proven wrong as a success.
New Atheism and Meaning Crisis
- New atheism's decline links to a meaning crisis where lack of belief in God leaves existential gaps.
- People find atheism intellectually plausible but less fulfilling, reducing enthusiasm for the movement.