How to Be an Atheist: Why Many Skeptics Aren't Skeptical Enough

Summary

Atheists talk a lot about the importance of skepticism. But the truth is, they're not nearly skeptical enough.

While atheists champion the importance of a critical stance toward religion, they often fail to take that same stance toward their own beliefs. This double standard results in grandiose claims about the certainty of their unbelief―which is logically inconsistent at best and intellectually dishonest at worst. Turning atheists’ skepticism around on their own naturalist worldview, philosopher Mitch Stokes critically examines two things that such skeptics hold dear―science and morality―and reveals deep inconsistencies among their most cherished beliefs, inconsistencies that threaten to undo atheism itself.