At the world's largest cultural arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, Christopher Hitchens and John Lennox debate whether or not the New Europe should jettison its religious past and welcome the "New Atheism." This debate was moderated by BBC's James Naughtie, and atheist ringleader Richard Dawkins was one of over 1,400 people in the audience.

A New Europe is emerging from the old order and with it, a modern version of an old philosophy.  Dubbed the “New Atheism” advocates are calling for the abandonment of Europe’s religious heritage and the adoption of an aggressive secularism.  Religion is detrimental to society, they argue.  Indeed, in the words of Christopher Hitchens, it “poisons everything.”  

Some, such as Professor John Lennox, strongly disagree.  They maintain that, far from undermining society, the preservation of religious thought, and Christianity in particular, is vital to the survival of Western civilization.

All this leads to the inevitable questions:  Should atheism replace Christianity in Europe?  Does atheism have a better record than Christianity?  And finally: Where would the New Atheism lead the New Europe?

Christopher Hitchens is a political observer, journalist, and literary critic. Educated at Oxford and Cambridge, Mr. Hitchens is a naturalized American citizen and a self-proclaimed “anti-theist.”  He is also a regular columnist for Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, and The Nation, among others.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Mr. Hitchens has written extensively against religion because he deems it dangerous.  He is the author of the New-York Times Bestseller, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.  He also served as editor for The Portable Atheist, a collection of essays spanning the period from the Enlightenment to the present.

John Lennox is Professor in Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford.  He holds doctorates from Oxford (D.Phil.), Cambridge (Ph.D.), and the University of Wales (D.Sc.) and an MA in Bioethics from the University of Surrey.

A prominent voice in the science vs. religion controversy, Prof. Lennox has debated atheists ranging from Victor Stenger to Richard Dawkins.  Professor Lennox was also featured in the Fixed Point Foundation film “Science and the God Question” and is the author of God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?