Re-enchanting... new atheism

Co-host Justin Brierley becomes the guest on this episode of Re-Enchanting. Regular co-host Belle Tindall is joined by Bishop Graham Tomlin, as they and Justin explore what happened to the new atheism movement.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A seated man talks to someone out of shot and gestures his hand out towards them. a microphone is on the table.

Listen now

Richard Dawkins and the new atheists began a popular anti-God movement in the mid 2000s. But why did the movement sputter out? And could we be seeing the start of a new conversation on God?

Re-Enchanting co-host Justin Brierley becomes the guest in this edition of the show as Belle Tindall and Graham Tomlin interview him about his new book 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why new atheism grew old and seclar thinkers are considering Christianity again.'

For the book: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surpri...

There’s more to life than the world we can see. Re-Enchanting is a podcast from Seen & Unseen recorded at Lambeth Palace Library, the home of the Centre for Cultural Witness. Justin Brierley and Belle Tindall engage faith and spirituality with leading figures in science, history, politics, art and education. Can our culture be re-enchanted by the vision of Christianity?

Watch now

Podcast

Podcasts

Re-enchanting

9 July 2025

1 min read

Re-enchanting... belief - Ross Douthat

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat joins Belle and Justin to talk about why religion is good for us

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A video title card shows a guest and the quote; 'I am not surprised byre-enchantment

Listen now

Watch this episode

About this episode

Ross Douthat is a columnist for the New York Times and the author of Believe: why everyone should be religious. He joins Belle and Justin to talk about why religion is good for us, and to give some pointers for how the average agnostic may be able to find their way to faith.

Find out more about Ross

Support Re-Enchanting

Since Spring 2023, thousands of people have enjoyed hundreds of podcast episodes and over 1,500 articles. All for free.
This is made possible through the generosity of our amazing community of supporters.

If you enjoy Re-Enchanting podcast, by Seen & Unseen, would you consider making a gift towards our work?

Do so by joining Behind The Seen. Alongside other benefits, you’ll receive an extra fortnightly email from me sharing my reading and reflections on the ideas that are shaping our times.

Graham Tomlin
Editor-in-Chief

Pledge now