Alister McGrath is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London and a prolific author. His three most recent books for SPCK are Mere Theology (April 2010), Heresy (Nov 2009), and Christianity's Dangerous Idea (2007).

The recent rise of the New Atheism has aroused great general interest, thrown up questions of fundamental importance, and started a fascinating conversation. Why God Won't Go Away invites us to join in. The volume opens with a survey of the main ideas of the New Atheism, as expressed in the works of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. We then examine the core views of the movement closely, making due reference to its 'virtual community' of websites and blogs. Subjects explored include: whether religion is delusional and evil, the belief that human beings are fundamentally good, whether we should have faith only in what can be proved through reason and science, the idea that the best hope for humanity is a 'New Enlightenment' The result is a lively and highly thought-provoking volume that poses a number of interesting questions. Why is religion experiencing a resurgence in the twenty-first century, when we are meant to have grown out of such a primitive fixation? Has the New Atheism's fascination with rationality led to a fatal underestimation of the longing of the human heart to adore? And if, as Christopher Hitchens writes in exasperation, religion is 'ineradicable', doesn't this tiresome fact suggest that dismissing belief in God as irrational and unscientific might just be a waste of time?

Alister McGrath

Cover

Authors information

Dedication

Title page

Imprint

Table of Content

Introduction

Part 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Part 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Part 3

Chapter 6

Chapter 7 Notes

The Good Book Stall

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.

Why God Won’t Go Away

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&#146;s description of New Atheism&#146;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&#146;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&#146;t go away McGrath offers a pithy and thoroughly engaging introduction suitable for the popular reader as much as the academic.

Why God Won&#146;t Go Away

Why God Won't Go Away

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