Hitchens Debates Conservative Evangelical: Nothing Happens
A new documentary called <i>Collision</i> follows the collegial debate between new atheist Christopher Hitchens and conservative evangelical Doug Wilson. Spoiler alert: Neither budges and both gloat to the respective choirs they’d been preaching to. Is this the best we can do?
Religion and Science: Toward a Postmodern Truce
The New Atheists, armed with swords and cudgels, are still doing old-fashioned battle with religion; but they haven't noticed that the skirmish may have passed them by. Are religion and science poised for a truce?
Do Atheists Borrow Religion’s Morality?
Does morality come from religion or is it merely “the language games of one’s time”? Are the most basic moral boundaries we evolved that make life easier and less chaotic a reflection of the character of God? If there is no God, or if He doesn’t care about us, then our common morality is still the result of practical, reality-based needs, which also “teach” that a good life depends on the “Do unto others…” ethic.
Pop-Eye: Blind Faith and the Invisible Font
Simply put: Font matters. Is it possible that the most pervasive typeface of late capitalism—Helvetica—is telling us what the gods wish: Do not worry. Trust in me. Put your value here, and you will be rewarded?
The Two Faces of New Atheism
We should not overlook the New Atheists’ support for science, progressive views and legitimization of non-belief as a viable alternative. Unfortunately, their record is also marked by an intolerance of religious people and the alienation of potential progressive allies.
Purpose Driven Atheism: Secular Maharishis Seeking True Believers
Do Richard Dawkins, Bill Maher, and other true believers really offer a different path, or are their methods and manner merely a mirror image of the fundamentalism they so despise? We are spiritual animals and must learn to live with the complexities and paradoxes of religion—and of the natural world as well.
40 Million Nonbelievers in America? The Secret Is Almost Out
Buried in the results of a recent survey is the fact that secularists may now be one of America’s largest minorities—larger than gays or African Americans. Will nonbelievers, traditionally one of the most loathed demographics, begin to feel their oats and demand greater recognition in the public square?
RD10Q: Is God a Delusion? A Reply to Religion’s Cultured Despisers
Are believers in God crazy? Are atheists? Philosopher Eric Reitan explains why he finds the ideas of the Dawkins-Hitchens crowd wanting and why readers—atheist or theist—who want to cheer and pump their fists as “their guy” strikes back against the opponent should read something else.
New atheist Daniel Dennet joined Charles Taylor and a host of others gathered at the New School Conference on the religious/secular divide, predicting a complex future for the culture wars.
RD10Q: Progressive & Religious: Moving Beyond the Culture Wars and Transforming American Public Life
“Taking aim” at both the Religious Right and the New Atheists, a new book aims to make progressive politics safe for the religious, and religion safe for progressive politics.
Why Bill Maher Gets a “C” in My Introduction to Religion Class...
...as do Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. Upon viewing Bill Maher's Religulous the author asks: Why are the so-called New Atheists using the archaic and theologically conservative definition of religion pushed by home-schoolers?
RDBook: Dialogue in the Dark
In his newest book, No One Sees God, neoconservative theologian Michael Novak tries to reason with the New Atheists...
Rumors of God's Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
A leading evangelical takes on the "God is dead" crowd in the flagship journal of the conservative movement, but, our writer argues, neither theists nor atheists will win this argument until they stop misrepresenting each other and misinforming their readers...