In just under one hundred pages Alister McGrath introduces the reader to the four key writers of the New Atheist movement: Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens before exploring the nature of New Atheism and its primary arguments against religious faith. McGrath describes the nature of the New Atheist movement through an exploration of its online community and forums. To a reader who does not frequent these websites McGrath’s description of New Atheism’s under girding philosophy is rather shocking as he illuminates an organisation defined not only by its unbelief in God but also by its zealous persecution of those who have a religious faith. However, McGrath notes this hostility tends to be focused towards religious faith from an Abrahamic tradition, Judaism, Christianity and Islam rather than the mystical eastern religions. In the final part of Why God won’t go away McGrath explores three common themes in atheism: The relationship between religion and violence, the rationality of religious belief and the way science critiques religion. Here he gives a short précis of the New Atheist arguments and counters them with short but pithy responses. Interestingly, in his response to these three common critiques of religious faith McGrath often uses illustrations from non-religious sources and commentators. In a book as short as this it is impossible to explore, or respond fully to, the challenge New Atheism poses to contemporary religion. However, in Why God won’t go away McGrath offers a pithy and thoroughly engaging introduction suitable for the popular reader as much as the academic.

In just under one hundred pages Alister McGrath introduces the reader to the four key writers of the New Atheist movement: Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens before exploring the nature of New Atheism and its primary arguments against religious faith. McGrath describes the nature of the New Atheist movement through an exploration of its online community and forums. To a reader who does not frequent these websites McGrath’s description of New Atheism’s under girding philosophy is rather shocking as he illuminates an organisation defined not only by its unbelief in God but also by its zealous persecution of those who have a religious faith. However, McGrath notes this hostility tends to be focused towards religious faith from an Abrahamic tradition, Judaism, Christianity and Islam rather than the mystical eastern religions. In the final part of Why God won’t go away McGrath explores three common themes in atheism: The relationship between religion and violence, the rationality of religious belief and the way science critiques religion. Here he gives a short précis of the New Atheist arguments and counters them with short but pithy responses. Interestingly, in his response to these three common critiques of religious faith McGrath often uses illustrations from non-religious sources and commentators. In a book as short as this it is impossible to explore, or respond fully to, the challenge New Atheism poses to contemporary religion. However, in Why God won’t go away McGrath offers a pithy and thoroughly engaging introduction suitable for the popular reader as much as the academic.

In just under one hundred pages Alister McGrath introduces the reader to the four key writers of the New Atheist movement: Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens before exploring the nature of New Atheism and its primary arguments against religious faith. McGrath describes the nature of the New Atheist movement through an exploration of its online community and forums. To a reader who does not frequent these websites McGrath’s description of New Atheism’s under girding philosophy is rather shocking as he illuminates an organisation defined not only by its unbelief in God but also by its zealous persecution of those who have a religious faith. However, McGrath notes this hostility tends to be focused towards religious faith from an Abrahamic tradition, Judaism, Christianity and Islam rather than the mystical eastern religions. In the final part of Why God won’t go away McGrath explores three common themes in atheism: The relationship between religion and violence, the rationality of religious belief and the way science critiques religion. Here he gives a short précis of the New Atheist arguments and counters them with short but pithy responses. Interestingly, in his response to these three common critiques of religious faith McGrath often uses illustrations from non-religious sources and commentators. In a book as short as this it is impossible to explore, or respond fully to, the challenge New Atheism poses to contemporary religion. However, in Why God won’t go away McGrath offers a pithy and thoroughly engaging introduction suitable for the popular reader as much as the academic.