Let me be upfront about something: I recognize that some of the major figures of "New Atheism" (quotes because I don't believe it is new at all) have made some irrational, scaremongering, and hyperbolic comments before, among other things—Sam Harris, my favorite intellectual out of all of the "Four Horsemen," has made some fatally mistaken and hyperbolic statements before ,for example. I also know that some of them have made blanket generalizations in negative ways more than once.
That said, I can see a lot of value in the movement. For all of its faults, I have never heard any of the famous New Atheists say something like "all believers will go to Hell" or "we should outlaw religious belief." These kinds of statements are par for the course for millions of religious believers in many parts of the world, yet for how much demonization has been directed at the major figures of New Atheism, I have never heard or read statements like those coming from them.
Furthermore, let's get real here: the spread of heavily proselytizing and dogmatic religions like Islam and Evangelical Christianity is not going to simply be countered by sitting at home and saying, "No, we are not going to oppose religion because that's an intolerant thing to do." Aside from the fact that there is a huge difference between rejecting religions and rejecting people, some dogmas are harmful and need to be countered in ways that may well be politically incorrect and combative in the eyes of some people. That's a necessary evil, if we can even call it an "evil."
What do you think? Am I the only one who sees so much value in New Atheism?
That said, I can see a lot of value in the movement. For all of its faults, I have never heard any of the famous New Atheists say something like "all believers will go to Hell" or "we should outlaw religious belief." These kinds of statements are par for the course for millions of religious believers in many parts of the world, yet for how much demonization has been directed at the major figures of New Atheism, I have never heard or read statements like those coming from them.
Furthermore, let's get real here: the spread of heavily proselytizing and dogmatic religions like Islam and Evangelical Christianity is not going to simply be countered by sitting at home and saying, "No, we are not going to oppose religion because that's an intolerant thing to do." Aside from the fact that there is a huge difference between rejecting religions and rejecting people, some dogmas are harmful and need to be countered in ways that may well be politically incorrect and combative in the eyes of some people. That's a necessary evil, if we can even call it an "evil."
What do you think? Am I the only one who sees so much value in New Atheism?
