The New Atheist Threat: The Dangerous Rise of Secular Extremists

I am afraid I, too, must join the ranks of those who gave this one star. Having read Dawkins', Hitchens', Harris', and Dennett's criticisms of religion, I could only wish that Werleman had been as objective as they. Unfortunately, the book is so chock full of serial fallacies and shoddy logic that it is actually a painful chore to slog through it. Should you accept the task, you are likely to wish you had found some other pursuit with which to while away the hours-- flossing the cat, for instance, or maybe a root canal.Werleman, an admitted ex-"New Atheist" engages in arguments which are by turns juvenile, histrionic, and pretzel-like. He seems happiest when recounting all the luminaries who agree with his position, and with the zeal of a reformed ex-smoker warns of all the dangers of New Atheism, such as that it will lead to a new Holocaust. If they ever gain supreme power. In some indefinable future. That's somewhat like the hoary joke that if we had some ham, we could make a ham sandwich, if we had some bread. More than half the book is devoted to this sort of ad hominem polemic.Unfortunately, Werleman never actually makes a convincing case for the so-called "Danger" represented by New Atheism. Instead, you're invited to float down the river of ignorance on his raft of rhetorical fallacies, which seem engaged primarily in order to outrage and motivate the religious right who already need neither outrage nor motivation. As a formula for income, however, his strategy seems primed to sell a lot of books to a certain audience.If one could boil down the central arguments of this book, they would be that New Atheism is dangerous because it is comprised of people, and some people are intolerant; and New Atheism is dangerous because a lot of its critics find its public figures to be lacking in religious credentials from which to lob valid criticisms.Virtually nothing within the published works of any of the so-called Four Horsemen is critically investigated, examined, or broken down for the purpose of getting to the flaws of the positions, if such exist, which we're assured at length is the case.If you're looking for a well-reasoned critique of New Atheism, save your $17 and skip this book. It will be time and money well-saved.

I rarely write reviews as I'm far too apathetic to feel the need. However, seeing how CJ Werleman pretty much predicted that the New Atheists Cult Club would abuse the review system of purchasing sites as they did to previous authors who dared criticize their messiahs - er leaders, I've been pushed from my lovely seat of Apathy. So, if you're reading these reviews it should be important to 1) See the frequency of 1-star reviews by individuals without the Verified Purchase and 2) See extremely vague criticisms and ask, "Why vague when you read the book?" or 3) "Why address something that's been addressed in the book as if it wasn't?" HINT: Because they didn't read it. But in their defense, why read something when you're know you're right? Not a very intellectually honest standpoint and seems to be a very Fundamentalist one instead. Oh! An argument CJ brought up (in not so few of words) in this very book! Which they would of understood if they attempted to read this book, which is why they (like the religious Fundamentalist they hate) are not really for education and dissent. But YOU! Yes, you, reading these reviews, are for a conversation and a better understanding of foreign policy. And as an ex-New Atheist myself (though before reading this book myself) this book is entertaining and very informative.

Unlike others who didn't purchase or read the book (but reviewed it anyway), I purchased, read AND thoroughly enjoyed CJ's book. He addresses a wide range of issues and arguments and honestly confronts his own biases and errors made during his journey from anti-theist to an atheism that rejects racism, and Islamophobia. It's refreshing to read someone who acknowledges where he was wrong on an issue and charts how he adjusted his thinking to new evidence. If only a few of the New Atheist leaders and their followers were as vigorous in their approach to religion. CJ argues persuasively that atheists must reject the easy answers that New Atheists seek to give to complex problems. His book is also very funny in places, and his wit livens up an often unfunny topic. This book is a welcome attempt to hash out serious disagreements among atheists. Let's hope some people can recognize the value of honest debate. They should start here with this book and reject the phony atheism of Harris and Dawkins.

As a 3rd generation African American Muslim, now irreligious, who has traveled, and studied Arabic and Islam throughout the Islamic world, most notably in Syria... The heart of the self proclaimed caliphate of ISIL, I found this book extremely well put together. We as Americans have great difficultly understanding the complexities of societies within our borders, let alone outside of them. We like to believe ourselves as entirely exceptional in our approach to humankind's complexities, which is very true as it relates to the many technological and scientific advances we have forwarded, BUT we, just like the rest of our human ancestors have not developed the evolutionary ability to rationally take on our emotion of fear. We choose to believe what groupthink seems plausible no matter how illogical and besides the facts it may be.Mr. Werleman not only takes on the fears and smears of atheist fundamentalist head on, but that of every subscriber to any fundamentalist ideology. That's what I enjoyed most about the book. Very well rounded assessment of the facts. If you're afraid of having your emotional being challenged because you have dedicated your life to fundamentalism then this book is not for you. You would be better off finding a supernatural fairytale to console your fragile self into. 5 stars. Enjoy!

I might have just given this book just four stars, but I haven't seen much else out there that provides a comprehensive look at the rise of a movement centered around promoting atheism.The movement seems to have coalesced around a notion first put forward by Sam Harris in End of Faith: a ranking system of the dangers of major religions; with Islam as number one threat, Christianity coming in second etc.. The focus on Islam by Harris and later New Atheist writers, no doubt has brought rewards from special interests promoting aggressive policies in the Middle East. This may be an incentive for trying to fashion liberalism as supporting increased spending on military,surveillance and making excuses for Israeli aggression.As New Atheism seems like it may be displacing the churches as the promoter and defender of western values,it may be worthwhile thinking about where this movement will be in the future.I would have liked to see some analysis of the faith system that secular humanism is inserting to replace religious faith in an afterlife: faith that humans are inventive and innovative enough to lead the way to a better and brighter future,because this faith in salvation through technology may be just as dangerous and misguided as faith in the Rapture or salvation from above.

It was a good book.I disagree with some of the language he uses. The first chapter would put alot of people leaning toward anti-theism off a bit.But afterward, CJ talks about why he was an anti-theist, how he admired Sam Harris the best and Richard Dawkins, and then ended up realizing how wrong they were.But he writes a strong case about how Anti-Theism in particular IS a positive statement, that is it being built up like a political ideology, with figures in the movement being venerated almost like priests, where people spring to the defense of any critique of these main figures as if someone insulted Christ or Mohammed.He writes the case of how intellectually dishonest many become in quoting history and theology, often revisionism being done.Most importantly, he writes about how New Atheism is more and more becoming another mouth piece for the political establishment and it's goals, particularly regarding state violence and colonialism.

As a Muslim woman, I really don’t want another group of fanatics speaking on my behalf about anything. In my experience, I’ve watched New Atheists hijack our voices with disingenuous howls of indignation that leave out complex cultural, historical, and socio-political realities about regions of the world they have little to no basic information. After news of a violent tragedy or civilian suffering they exploit an opportunity to justify their own militancy with a level of glee I can only describe as pathalogical. Similarly, so do the Taliban.The greater threat to civil liberties and human rights is when these same people start advocating for oppressive policies and Western imperialism.CJ’s book is a comprehensive look into the dangers that arise when an ideology becomes militant. I respect him as an atheist writer who provides relevant insight to better understand New Atheism. I highly recommend his writings on the subject.

I used to buy into the New Atheist cult (and it is a cult, make no mistake) until a careful examination of its tenets and arguments revealed an ugly, bigoted, sexist, racist, anti-intellectual undercurrent.I'm an atheist, and always will be, but we sometimes forget that we're NOT immune to the same dangerous fundamentalism. New Atheism is atheism's ISIS, atheism's Westboro Baptist, hijacked by those who have forgotten introspection and self-criticism.Make no mistake: the plethora of one star reviews here on Amazon contain no substance but that which this book condemns, the echo chamber musings of an entitled group of people who have forgotten that religion is not inherently evil and atheism is not inherently good.

Excellent read loved every part of it I highly recommend this book read it now . Well done to the author