The New Atheism

I have seen much fuss being made in the media regarding a phenomena called “The New Atheism.” Writers, scientists and social commentators such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens have reached a great many people, so much so that each of their books have landed high on the New York Times bestseller list.

On one hand, this is encouraging; I believe that eight years under the regime of a simple-minded president who forced his personal mythology/religious agenda on the nation caused a significant backlash among the free-thinkers and questioners of our country. The popularity of books regarding free thought and outright atheism indicate that there are a growing number of people who are fed up with religious superstition being forced down their throats by their government at nearly every turn. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that the book-buying public doesn’t really represent a great many people. Let’s face it, these books ain’t being read in in the backward backwaters of, say, Wasilla, Alaska.

In the face of the religious oppression and intolerance that is gripping America and its policies in the foreign arena, many people are realizing that religion is a strange and terrible beast, and in the midst of the madness, there is an alternative: to not believe at all. Despite the backward mindset of our former Pretender-In-Chief, despite all the post-9/11, jingoistic, flag-waving nonsense, more and more people are reaching a point of frustration and outright anger over the fact that our nation, which was founded as much on the freedom from religion as much as the freedom of religion, has become a haven for fanatics and zealots whose apparent purpose in life is to force us all to believe as they do.

Thankfully, the technological age has allowed us to connect with others who are tired of rampant religiosity so that even if a person lives in a small, religious community, they don’t have to feel that they’re the only non-believer, although of course we’re all considered pariahs and infidels.

But, is what’s being called “The New Atheism” actually new? As long as there has been religion, there have been those who couldn’t or wouldn’t believe what the weak-minded majority are willing to blindly follow without question. I don’t believe that there is anything new to what is being called the atheist movement...I just believe that we are fortunate enough to be living in an age where people can make a choice against deism and superstition and not be burned at the stake or stoned to death for their choice. We still have a long way to go; rather, it seems that the battle may just be getting underway.