The Holy Post
582: The Rise and Fall of New Atheism with Justin Brierley
Sep 13, 2023
Justin Brierley, host of the Unbelievable? Podcast, discusses the decline of New Atheism and the resurgence of belief in God among intellectuals. The podcast also explores the impact of historical immigration patterns on life expectancy and how it influences interpretations of the Bible. Other topics include internet use and dementia risk in older adults, burning religious texts in Denmark, and regional disparities in life expectancy in the US.
01:29:21
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Quick takeaways
- The New Atheism movement declined following the controversial incident 'Elevatorgate' in 2011, which marked a turning point in its reputation.
- Secular intellectuals are showing a growing curiosity and openness to Christianity, with conversations shifting and secular thinkers reconsidering its claims.
Deep dives
The Rise and Fall of New Atheism
New Atheism emerged after the 9/11 attacks, with prominent figures like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett leading the movement. They criticized religious extremism and argued for reason over religion. The movement gained popularity with best-selling books like Dawkins' 'The God Delusion'. However, it started declining after a controversial incident known as 'Elevatorgate' in 2011, when Rebecca Watson spoke out against misogyny and was propositioned by a conference attendee. This marked a turning point in the movement's reputation and signaled the beginning of its decline.
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