'Atheism Is Going Out Of Fashion!' Finding Meaning In The Secular Age LIVE Dissident Dialogues 2024

Freddie Sayers sits down with philosophical YouTuber Alex O'Connor and philosopher and cognitive scientist John Vervaeke.

Where can meaning be found in the secular age? What did we lose when we lost religion? Where can meaning be found today?

Join these three leading thinkers on one of the most important questions of our time.

Panel moderated by Freddie Sayers, executive editor of Unherd.

Filmed live at the Duggal Greenhouse, NYC, on May 3rd, 2024.

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[OperationBlueprint]

It doesn’t matter if atheism is fashionable. It matters what is true.

[joshl]

The intro music to this is unhinged. I was expecting one of them to produce a machete.

[leon]

I didn't become an atheist in order to be fashionable.

[giuoco]

Yes atheism is going out of fashion. It’s not a trend anymore. It’s just baseline. So it’s not edgy or cool to be an atheist anymore, it’s just normal. As an atheist that lived through the “edgy” era - I’d call this an absolute win.

[macgp]

I'm an atheist, or agnostic atheist to be more precise. I was raised Catholic but by age 18 decided I didn't believe any of the supernatural claims. I'm now 66 years old and have had zero difficulty finding "meaning" in my life. I have a wonderful wife, two magnificent children and three adorable grandchildren. I had a great 37 year career as a high school teacher and maintain close friendships with many colleagues even after I retired. I have hobbies that I enjoy regularly. The fact that I don't believe in an afterlife doesn't diminish the meaning of this life. It seems many people disagree, thinking that if there is no sequel then this movie is just nothing. Therefore they're not only willing, but eager, to profess belief in dogmas so absurd it boggles the mind.

[kyaxar]

I am an atheist from Islamic country I am 46 old and I am an atheist not because it is/was fashionable, because religion is noncense.

[johnfleming]

Believing that the wizards and witches of Hogwarts are real and can ultimately rescue humanity and the planet through magic has real world consequences

[peteraguilar]

As an Atheist, I cannot stress enough just how much I do not care whether or not Atheism is "Fashionable". What I care about is that I want to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible.

[danielcarroll]

O'Connor is a GOAT and owned the stage and conversation so easily.

[michaelnewsham]

Once again:"Atheism going out of fashion"
British national census -
2001: Christian 68% No religion 15%
2021: Christian 46% No religion 37%
(Projected) 2031: Christian 33% No religion 51%
And for the Canadian guest-
Canada national census
2001: Christian 75% No religion 16%
2021: Christian 53.3% No religion 34.6%

[kravitzn]

Religiosity and religious attendance is at an all time low, and religious ideologues are in straight up denial claiming that atheism and irreligiosity are "going out of fashion". Methinks the theists doth project too much

[desmondirwin]

Atheisism going out of fashion?? I didn't realise it was a fashion

[Simrealism]

If you're an atheist for a good reason, you're impervious to fashion.

[ben]

Atheism, tells us what not to believe, but doesnt tell us what we should believe. That is probably why it makes some people feel empty and unfulfilled.

[No_OneV]

I can relate a lot to Alex. He's tackling the issue itself, without any apologetics.

[RLBays]

When I don't go to church, I go trail running, I watch premier league football, I read, I play with my dogs, etc.

[DisaffectedNigerian]

Atheism might be going out of fashion in the West. But it is definitely needed in Africa. At the very least, the role of religion in Africa needs to be interrogated.

[wellsvalleypresbyterian]

This was a good conversation, but I really dislike the staging music, which was tension inducing and not reflective of the respectful conversation that followed.

[SpaceCattttt]

Atheism isn't to blame for the lack of meaning in society. Social media is.

[FoursWithin]

So deep thinkng, skepticism, and a drive for intellectual honesty has gone out of fashion.