Atheism Remix

This monograph presents a conservative evangelical response to the emergence of the "New Atheism" movement, analyzing the writings and cultural impact of authors such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett. Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, examines what he perceives as a qualitatively different form of atheism that arose in the early 21st century, characterized by its militant tone, evangelical fervor, and explicit goal of eliminating religious belief from public discourse.

The work traces the intellectual genealogy of contemporary atheism, situating the New Atheists within a broader historical trajectory while arguing that their approach represents a decisive break from earlier forms of unbelief. Mohler contends that unlike previous generations of atheists who often maintained respect for religion's cultural contributions, the New Atheists demonstrate unprecedented hostility toward faith, particularly Christianity, viewing it as not merely false but actively harmful to human flourishing. He analyzes their central arguments against theism, including appeals to scientific naturalism, the problem of evil, and claims about religion's role in violence and oppression.

Mohler's critique focuses on what he identifies as philosophical weaknesses in New Atheist arguments, particularly their reliance on scientism, their failure to account for objective morality without transcendent grounding, and their selective reading of history regarding religion's cultural contributions. He argues that the movement's confidence in reason alone proves self-refuting, as their worldview cannot adequately explain human consciousness, moral intuitions, or the emergence of rationality itself from purely material processes.

The monograph serves both as an apologetic resource for Christians confronting aggressive secularism and as a cultural analysis of shifting attitudes toward religion in Western society. Mohler interprets the New Atheism's popularity as symptomatic of broader secularization trends while maintaining that its arguments ultimately fail to dislodge theistic belief. He advocates for robust Christian intellectual engagement with these challenges, arguing that the church must articulate sophisticated responses that address both the philosophical arguments and cultural anxieties driving contemporary atheism. The work concludes by asserting that the New Atheist challenge, while formidable in its cultural influence, paradoxically demonstrates the persistent relevance of the God question in supposedly secular societies.