The New Atheism with Ronald Aronson

Caer Hallundbaek interviews the man who coined the phrase: Ronald Aronson, Distinguished Professor of the History of Ideas at Wayne State University. Dr. Aronson has taught at Wayne State University since 1968. He earned his Ph.D. in the History of Ideas at Brandeis University. A prolific writer, his latest book is “Living Without God: New Directions for Atheists, Agnostics, Secularists, and the Undecided.” He is also the author of "Camus & Sartre: The Story of a Friendship and the Quarrel that Ended It" and is a contributor to periodicals from the Nation to the Huffington Post. In recognition of his scholarly career and political contributions to South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, in April, 2002, he was awarded the honorary degree of http://www.is.wayne.edu/raronson/Laudation/Laudation2.htm Laws by the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.

In this hour, topics include: Basic definitions of atheism, agnosticism, secularism, spiritualism, humanism; what differentiates these contemporary trends and what connects them; Aronson's book "Living Without God" and his own journey as an atheist; gratitude without the need of religiosity; Thanksgiving; how atheism has affected our culture; the nature of hope, especially as related to political commitment and world vision; college students in the 1960s and today; how technology has impacted their life; and more.