

1. The Rise and Fall of New Atheism
78 snips Oct 24, 2023
Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett discuss the rise and fall of New Atheism, questioning its direction and impact. They explore the aggressive nature of the movement and its use of mockery and ridicule. The podcast also highlights the negative effects of this approach, leading to a resurgence in belief in God and a reconsideration of Christianity by secular thinkers. The flaws in the New Atheist argument and the disappointment with Richard Dawkins are also discussed.
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Reason Rally
- The Reason Rally in 2012 gathered 20-30,000 atheists, featuring figures like Richard Dawkins and Eddie Izzard.
- It symbolized the peak of New Atheism, a movement promoting atheism.
Atheist Bus Campaign
- In 2009, the Atheist Bus Campaign displayed "There's probably no God" on UK buses.
- Richard Dawkins and Polly Toynbee launched the campaign, sparking mixed reactions.
9/11 and New Atheism
- The 9/11 attacks fueled New Atheism by portraying religion as dangerous.
- Jana Harmon says the attacks gave traction to pre-existing arguments about religion's irrationality.