WOTM: Is The New Atheism Dead?
It's become quite fashionable to dump on The New Atheism and the people who led that charge. People are even saying The New Atheism is dead. I think it's simply evolved into the Deconstruction movement — which owes everything to The New Atheism, which is arguably the most successful social movement since... well, I don't want to kill the joke.
This is a bit of a retrospective from someone who was there. Enjoy! And thanks again, you beautiful, brilliant patrons o' mine. Love you all!!! B
Comments (4)
As with most things that apologists and christians posit, it’s hypocritical projection. How many christian fads and trends from the early 00 and 10’s have aged terribly and are now awkward and cringy? - Christian alternatives to everything (GodTube, Bibleman, copycat bands) - “I kissed dating goodbye” and purity rings - Christianized Pop Music Parodies. Churches and youth groups pumped out parodies of secular hits with “holy” lyrics. - Rapture-Obsessed Fiction and Prophecy Charts. Evangelicals who are so desperate to follow the culture invariably lag several years behind anyway, somehow managing to look awkward and clumsy by always failing to keep in step, no matter how hard they try. Meanwhile, the new atheists movement has aged quite gracefully, and especially Sam Harris is still going strong.
"Deconstruction movement"—I hadn't heard this term before. I like it and will be happy to be considered part of this movement. 🅰️
It’s certainly not dead for me, as I became a “new atheist” years before the “four horsemen” published their books or Mr. Deity made me laugh ’til I cried. Given the fact that all three of my daughters have since also relinquished Mormonism, I would venture to say that at least among my family the “new atheism” is expanding. That the evangenitals think that they are “winning” is truly pathetic.
Yeah, I became a "New Atheist" in 1992. Left Mormonism in '93 after learning about the whole September Six debacle. When did you leave?