The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God | with Justin Brierley – Part 1
Mar 1, 2024
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Explore the surprising resurgence of belief in God among intellectual atheists, with insights on the shift from secularism to Christianity. Delve into the collapse of the new atheist movement, Christian influence on Western values, and the compatibility of Christianity with science. Discover the transition from atheism to Christianity among secular intellectuals and the debate on atheism vs. theism.
Highly intellectual atheists are increasingly embracing Christianity due to its continuing resonance and relevance in modern society.
New atheism's decline stems from its lack of intellectual depth and failure to provide a comprehensive worldview.
Deep dives
A Surprising Trend: Intellectuals Turning Towards Belief in God
There is a notable resurgence of belief in God among former atheists and agnostics who are highly educated and intellectual individuals. Justin Briarley highlights the shift in intellectual circles towards considering and embracing Christianity. The podcast and book, 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God,' feature conversations and insights from intellectuals who are transitioning from atheism to seriously contemplate the values of secularism derived from Christianity.
The Rise and Fall of New Atheism
The emergence of new atheism post-9/11 marked a period of heightened atheistic sentiment, bolstered by figures like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. However, the movement's fervor eventually waned as internal conflicts and dogmatism led to its collapse. New atheism's lack of intellectual depth and inability to provide a cohesive worldview contributed to its decline.
Intellectual Evolution: Secular Thinkers Returning to Christianity
Secular intellectuals like Jordan Peterson, Douglas Murray, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, once aligned with atheistic ideologies, are now shifting towards Christianity. These figures, while not all embracing Christianity fully, acknowledge the limitations of atheism in addressing life's profound questions and turn towards recognizing the Christian origins of societal values and morality.
The Quest for Meaning: Transition from Atheism to Alternative Beliefs
As atheism fails to provide a comprehensive worldview, individuals often turn to substitute ideologies like environmentalism, feminism, and social justice as quasi-religious belief systems. People inherently seek something larger than themselves to worship and find purpose, leading to a cultural trend of replacing traditional religious beliefs with secular ideologies.
Could we be witnessing a return of belief in God during our generation? It seems that the Christian narrative that shaped the West has been replaced by sweeping secularism. But is that the end of the story?
In recent years, a number of highly intellectual atheists have abandoned their secularism and found themselves surprised by the continuing resonance and relevance of Christianity in today's modern world. Is it possible that the new atheist movement is now dealing with a massive downward spiral of its own? And what's pushing this new generation of secular thinkers to reconsider the Christian worldview in a positive light?
This week, Frank speaks with the one and only Justin Brierley, former host of the popular show 'Unbelievable' and author of the new book, 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again.' In conjunction with the release of the book, Justin is here to share the details on his new documentary podcast of the same title, and how this project has reignited his hope for the survival of the Christian faith in secular society. During the episode, Frank and Justin will answer questions like:
Why did Justin end his time on 'Unbelievable'?
What is the focus of Justin's new podcast?
What contributed to the rise of New Atheism after 9/11?
Is Richard Dawkins a "Christian Atheist?"
Why did Christianity fuel the modern scientific revolution?
Who are the prominent voices leading the exodus of new atheism?
Justin and Frank will also touch on some of the splits within the new atheist movement and highlight the ways in which atheism maintains its own version of dogmatism and religiosity. Want to dive deeper into the unfolding story of 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God'? Be sure to check out Justin's new book and podcast!
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Justin’s book: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/
The Surprising Rebirth podcast: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/
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