The debate between what are called the New Atheists and the Christian Right has been raging for several years. It has been acrimonius, obstreperous and self-serving on both sides and has only served to divide. Phil Ryan, who teaches at Carleton University in Canada, attempts, in his book After the New Atheist Debate, to find common ground between atheists and the religious community. He is clearly aiming his arguments at those on both sides who may not agree with the take-no-prisoners quality that the debate has taken in the media. It is his belief that the vast majority of religious and atheists, although as committed to their position as those who claim to represent them, do not share the same sense that the two sides can’t co-exist in harmony.

Although Ryan speaks as a moderate Christian, he avoids the question of God’s existence and rather tries to outline and answer some of the arguments and counter-arguments put forth. Although he examines the rancour that has arisen on both sides, he is careful not to repeat it in his own arguments. He points out that those who have been the most vocal and vehement about their right to speak for all on their side do not represent all religious or all atheists and he is clearly trying to reach those left out of the debate. He examines the unfair stereotypes that each side presents about the other eg Christians are deluded or conversely atheists are immoral. He provides an historical look at whether a literal interpretation of the Bible has always been the norm as well as the fact that atheism as a simple lack of belief in deities of any sort is not new, that it has coexisted beside religion throughout history. He contends that the New Atheists, in fact, are not atheists but anti-theists.

This book will clearly not appeal to those on either side who have been most involved in this debate lately. However, as Ryan points out, it is a debate that must take place because the questions especially about ethics will have real consequences for everyone. Ryan provides clear, cogent, and best of all polite and well-reasoned arguments and solutions to how we can move forward to meet future challenges and gives a voice to those on either side of the argument who may feel that, in all this bickering, their voices are not being heard. ( )