In recent years, several bestselling books have pushed the standard for direct public criticism of religious faith. Their authors (Sam Harris [1], Richard Dawkins [2], and Christopher Hitchens [3]) have earned higher visibility for openly atheistic views, as well as provoked sharp reactions, sometimes from surprising sources. Sven Sinclair will discuss the main ideas espoused by those "New Atheists" and their place in the context of the current American public sphere.

Sven Sinclair is a NoVES member and an economist.