Religion Defends Against the New Atheists

by staff writer Fritz Alvarez

When some think of Atheists the name O'Hair comes to mind, along with an image that seems kind of fringy and on the edge in societal terms. Now there is a new generation of Atheists, and they are on the offense.

"Religious belief is a destructive force that causes far more harm than good." This is the first line in the web page of Atheist
Revolution. It is one of many rather sophisticated Atheism sources that have become newly aggressive in attacking religion in general and Christianity in particular.

Why, one might ask, this new push from the anti-religious (or Pro-Disbelief as we might call them)? We at The Heathen Middle believe it is because of the angry and dogmatic efforts of those who
are trying to take over the world in the name of their religions. This includes, but is not limited to, Muslim extremists and Christian Evangelicals. Previously on this site we have commented
on these efforts. (See: What Evangelicals Believe, Biblical
Diplomacy, and Wimpy Clergy.

We have also reported in the past on the Backlash against Christian Fundamentalism. Now the backlash is taking on sweeping new intellectual tones, and the leaders of this movement are well armed for their intellectual arguments.

One example of this is one of the newest leaders of the anti-religion movement Sam Harris. Author of several books on the subject of dangers from religion, including The End of Faith and
Letter to a Christian Nation, Harris recently had the occasion to debate one of the defenders of Christian thought Dennis Prager who hosts a nationally syndicated radio talk show live
Monday through Friday mornings from Los Angeles. He's appeared on "Larry King Live," "Hardball," " Hannity & Colmes," "CBS Evening News," "The Today Show" and many others. Prager was a Fellow at Columbia University's School of International Affairs, where he did
graduate work at the Middle East and Russian Institutes. He has taught Russian and Jewish history at Brooklyn College; and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. Delegation to the Vienna Review Conference on the Helsinki Accords. He holds an honorary doctorate of laws from Pepperdine University.

The debate between Harris and Prager ran in e-mail over several days and you can catch it here:

• Day 1 (Sam Harris): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• Day 1 (Dennis Prager): Why Are Atheists So Angry?


• Day 2 (Harris): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• 
  Day 2 (Prager): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• 
  Day 3 (Harris): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• 
  Day 3 (Prager): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• 
  Day 4 (Harris): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  


• 
  Day 4 (Prager): Why Are Atheists So Angry?
  

In the debate Sam Harris continues his argument that religion is now threatening our very existence. He adds:

"Nearly half of the American population is eagerly anticipating the end of the world. This dewy-eyed nihilism provides absolutely no incentive to build a sustainable civilization. Many of
these people are lunatics, but they are not the lunatic fringe. Some of them can actually get Karl Rove on the phone whenever they want."

Even a newly released book by Carl Sagan Varieties of the
Scientific Experience is weighing in on the matter of spirituality, science, and the existence of God.

What makes the new intellectual backlash against religion most interesting is that religious fundamentalists prompted it. They have pounded all of us with their Bible slapping rhetoric for so
long that finally someone has risen to take on the reasoning and intellect behind their proclamations. It will be a long debate, and we predict religions will ultimately lose the attention of the World's young in the process.