When atheism becomes religion

By Chris Hedges

Book Description

In this thought-provoking examination, journalist Chris Hedges challenges readers to look beyond the surface of contemporary debates between faith and skepticism. Rather than defending traditional religion, Hedges presents a startling observation: the most vocal critics of religious belief have themselves constructed a rigid belief system complete with its own dogmas and certainties.

Hedges argues that prominent figures in the atheist movement have developed what amounts to a secular fundamentalism, one that mirrors the very rigidity they claim to oppose. This new orthodoxy, he suggests, relies on an unwavering faith in human reason and moral superiority that can be just as inflexible as any religious doctrine.

The book explores how both religious and secular extremes can lead to similar patterns of thinking, where complex questions about meaning, morality, and human nature become reduced to simple formulas. Hedges invites readers to consider whether true wisdom might lie in recognizing the limitations of any absolute worldview, whether sacred or secular.

For those seeking a more nuanced understanding of belief, doubt, and the human search for truth, this work offers a unique perspective that transcends typical religion-versus-science debates. Hedges encourages readers to examine their own assumptions and consider how the quest for certainty, in any form, might actually limit our capacity for genuine spiritual and intellectual growth.