Challenging the New Atheism: Pragmatic Confrontations in the Philosophy of Religion

This book responds to the New Atheism movement by proposing a pragmatic approach to the God Debate. It argues that analytic and empirical philosophies of religion are insufficient to address the Threefold Challenge posed by popular New Atheist thinkers. The book offers a philosophical interpretation of the New Atheist movement, assesses their claims, and proposes four contemporary philosophical perspectives (analytic, empirical, continental, and pragmatism) to address these claims. It also provides a metaphilosophical critique of method and concludes that a modified version of pragmatism is best suited for articulating the terms and stakes of the God Debate.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book presents a comprehensive and pragmatic response to the arguments raised by the New Atheism movement. The author argues that the traditional analytic and empirical approaches to the philosophy of religion, which dominate contemporary scholarship, are insufficiently equipped to address the "Threefold Challenge" posed by prominent New Atheist thinkers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett.

The book has three primary objectives. Firstly, it offers a nuanced interpretation of the New Atheism movement, treating their claims as philosophical arguments rather than mere rhetorical exercises or demagoguery. Secondly, it assesses and responds to these claims by exploring four distinct contemporary philosophical perspectives: analytic philosophy, empirical philosophy, continental philosophy, and pragmatism. These perspectives are contextualized within the history of the philosophy of religion, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the debate.

Finally, the book engages in a metaphilosophical critique, repeatedly returning to the question of method. Through this exploration, the author arrives at a modified version of pragmatism that he believes is best suited for articulating the terms and stakes of the God Debate.

Challenging the New Atheism will appeal to scholars and students of American philosophy and philosophy of religion, offering a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the complex issues at the heart of the debate.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367545581