Amarasingam, Amarnath

Amarnath Amarasingam is a Canadian sociologist and scholar of religion who has made significant contributions to understanding contemporary religious movements and atheism. His work "Religion and the New Atheism: A Critical Appraisal" (2010) stands as an important scholarly examination of the New Atheist movement, analyzing the writings and arguments of figures like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett. Amarasingam's approach combines sociological analysis with religious studies to examine how the New Atheism functions as a social movement and its impact on public discourse about religion. His scholarship provides critical perspective on the philosophical, social, and cultural dimensions of contemporary atheism, offering nuanced analysis that moves beyond polarized debates between believers and non-believers. His work contributes to understanding how modern secular movements engage with traditional religious questions and institutions.