Recent Times
In the early 21st century the New Atheists, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, were prominent as critics of religion.
In the opinion of Austin Cline, criticism of religion from atheists is very unwelcome while comparable defense of religion by others is more tolerated. Cline believes this defensiveness happens because wider awareness of criticisms might cause a greater decrease in religious beliefs than has already occurred.
Read more about this topic: Criticism Of Religion
Famous quotes containing the word times:
“Fear prophets ... and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them, often before them, at times instead of them.”
—Umberto Eco (b. 1932)
“I ... toyed with the idea of going to find another war where I could at least feel alive. I was so numb that it took terror to make me feel anything.”
—Bess Jones, U.S. nurse. As quoted in the New York Times Magazine, p. 72 (November 7, 1993)