Guest: Richard Dawkins, Prominent atheist author and biologist. The podcast explores the revival of belief in God after the rise of New Atheism. It discusses the conflict between atheism and morality, the resurgence of Christian philosophy, and the impact of atheist thinkers. It also highlights personal journeys of faith, the question of ethics in atheism, and the influence of New Atheism on belief in God.
The rise of new atheism led to a revival of Christian apologetics, sparking increased intellectual engagement and confidence in defending belief in God.
Former atheists have evolved in their thinking and appreciation for Christianity, realizing the importance of intellectual humility and being convinced by rational arguments for God.
The argument from morality highlights the need for a moral lawgiver, demonstrating the inadequacy of a purely materialistic worldview in accounting for objective moral values.
Deep dives
The Rise of Christian Intellectual Confidence
The podcast episode discusses how the rise of new atheism prompted a revival of Christian intellectual confidence. It highlights the increasing impact of Christian philosophy and apologetics in academia, with renowned philosophers and thinkers making a case for God. This resurgence has also spread to the church community, with apologetics ministries flourishing and a flood of resources available to churches. The episode emphasizes the impact of YouTube and social media in hosting debates and discussions between atheists and Christians, and how it has played a role in changing perspectives and drawing people towards faith.
The Changing Views of Former Atheists
The podcast highlights the changing views of former atheists who have evolved in their thinking and appreciation for Christianity. It mentions the case of Alex O'Connor, formerly known as Cosmic Skeptic, who regrets some of his earlier atheist rhetoric and emphasizes the importance of intellectual humility when engaging with arguments. The episode also features the stories of individuals who were convinced by the rational arguments for God, such as the fine-tuning argument, the origin of the cosmos, and the evidence for the resurrection of Christ. These experiences demonstrate the impact of intellectual engagement and the compelling reasons that led them to reconsider their atheistic worldview.
The Argument for Morality and God
The podcast explores the argument from morality as a powerful case for the existence of God. It discusses the philosophical notion that if objective moral values and duties exist independent of us, a purely materialistic worldview cannot account for them. The episode mentions the debate between Richard Dawkins and the podcast host in Oxford, where they discussed whether atheism can justify the belief that rape is morally wrong. The argument highlights the need for a moral lawgiver, God, to explain the existence of objective moral values. The episode also features personal stories, such as that of Sarah Irving Stonebreaker, a historian whose encounters with Christian philosophers at Cambridge challenged her assumptions about the opposition between Christianity and science.
The Influence of New Atheism
The podcast discusses how the new atheist movement influenced the style of argumentation and rhetoric surrounding atheism. While the speaker acknowledges being influenced by figures like Christopher Hitchens, they highlight that the influence was more stylistic rather than in terms of specific beliefs or arguments. The new atheists' emphasis on cutting away at beliefs and identifying fallacious ways of thinking shaped the speaker's approach. However, when it came to specific topics like the ontological argument, the speaker notes that the new atheists did not provide substantial discussion or analysis. Overall, the new atheists' impact was more on the style and method of engagement rather than the actual content.
Reconsidering Atheism
The podcast explores how some individuals who were initially atheist or agnostic have revisited their beliefs. Through encounters with online apologetics and exposure to arguments against atheism, they began to question their own identification as atheists. The rhetoric of the new atheists, which often portrayed religious belief as weak or deluded, contributed to their doubts. Additionally, personal experiences and the search for answers to questions on topics like pain, suffering, and morality played a role. These individuals found that atheism did not provide satisfying answers to their existential and ethical inquiries, leading them to consider alternative perspectives, such as Christianity. While they may not have fully embraced faith, they describe themselves as being on a journey of exploration and open to further inquiry.
New Atheism sought to demolish belief in God. Ironically, it led to a revival in Christian apologetics and even the conversion of a number of atheists. Justin Brierley speaks to thinkers, skeptics and converts who have reconsidered their approach to faith and are grateful that Richard Dawkins opened up the God question for them.
