Dawkins’s Last Tour: The Final Act for New Atheism?

For a generation, Richard Dawkins was atheism’s most famous—and controversial—spokesman. His “God Delusion” became a secular touchstone, his public debates must-see events. Now, as he concludes what he says will be his final major speaking tour, pundits ask: is this the last act of New Atheism?

Once synonymous with aggressive rationalism and a biting critique of religion, New Atheism’s prospects have dimmed. Its cultural moment—shaped by the aftermath of 9/11 and the internet’s wild west—has been supplanted by more nuanced, intersectional, and at times spiritual-seeker movements.

Dawkins’s tour has, ironically, drawn some of the movement’s sharpest critics—atheists accusing him of rigidity, insensitivity, or failing to adapt. Yet, no one denies his legacy: a world where doubters speak up, science is championed, and questions about faith are part of the mainstream.

If this is a swansong, it’s also a reminder of atheism’s capacity to evolve.