New Atheism

Question 1

Atheism

Answer 1

Rejects a belief in any god or gods or burden of proof

Question 2

Agnosticism

Answer 2

Do not know if there is a god or gods because there is insufficient evidence to decide

Question 3

The 4 horsemen of the non-apocalypse

Answer 3

Sam Harris
Richard Dawkins
Christopher Hitchens
Daniel Dennett

Question 4

Sam Harris

Answer 4

“Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious.”

Question 5

Richard Dawkins

Answer 5

“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.”

Question 6

Christopher Hitchens

Answer 6

“Death is certain, replacing both the siren-song of Paradise and the dread of Hell.”

Question 7

Daniel Dennett

Answer 7

“There’s simply no polite way to tell people they’ve dedicated their lives to an illusion.”

Question 8

Key claims of new atheism

Answer 8

Religion can be disproved by science
Religion causes harm to individuals and society
Religion encourages violence and negative behaviour
Religious believers are not rational or intelligent

Question 9

strengths of new atheism

Answer 9

taps into a modern mood established after 9/11
claims that religious belief leads to immoral behaviour can be supported with evidence
claims that religion holds back progression can be supported

Question 10

criticisms of new atheism

Answer 10

insufficient scientific evidence to claim that scientists is the only source of knowledge
atheism has also led to moral crimes
there is no secular standard of morality
take scripture out of context and easily dismiss religious believers
encourage prejudice