Changes

The [[2018 Global Atheist Convention that was cancelled]] was billed as the third Global Atheist Convention and its theme was "Reason to Hope".<ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref><ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref> It was sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia.<ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref>  

The [[2018 Global Atheist Convention that was cancelled]] was billed as the third Global Atheist Convention and its theme was "Reason to Hope".<ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref><ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref> It was sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia.<ref>[http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=29552 AFA Media Releases & Announcements]</ref>  

Robert Martin from Melbourne’s City Bible Forum indicated about the cancellation of the 2018 Global Atheist Convention: "This is a massive blow to the Atheist Foundation as an organisation and to [[Atheist movement|organised atheism]] in Australia. Where to next? What do they stand for?”<ref>[https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/global-atheist-convention-cancelled-due-to-lack-of-interest/ Global Atheist Convention cancelled due to lack of interest], ''Eternity News''</ref>  According to Martin, fragmentation within today's atheist movement in Australia is a key reason that the convention may have been difficult to sell (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).<ref>[https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/global-atheist-convention-cancelled-due-to-lack-of-interest/ Global Atheist Convention cancelled due to lack of interest], ''Eternity News''</ref>

Robert Martin from Melbourne's City Bible Forum indicated about the cancellation of the 2018 Global Atheist Convention: "This is a massive blow to the Atheist Foundation as an organisation and to [[Atheist movement|organised atheism]] in Australia. Where to next? What do they stand for?”<ref>[https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/global-atheist-convention-cancelled-due-to-lack-of-interest/ Global Atheist Convention cancelled due to lack of interest], ''Eternity News''</ref>  According to Martin, fragmentation within today's atheist movement in Australia is a key reason that the convention may have been difficult to sell (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).<ref>[https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/global-atheist-convention-cancelled-due-to-lack-of-interest/ Global Atheist Convention cancelled due to lack of interest], ''Eternity News''</ref>

A very sizable portion of the [[alt-right]] movement is made up of atheists. agnostics, and the non-religious (See: [[Atheism and the alt-right]]).  The alt-right is influencing Australia politics.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2017/mar/02/how-alt-right-ideology-leaked-into-mainstream-australian-politics-behind-the-lines-podcast How 'alt-right' ideology leaked into mainstream Australian politics – Behind the Lines podcast], ''The Guardian'', 2017</ref> The growth of the [[right-wing]]/alt-right atheism is creating divisions/infighting among atheists in the [[Western World]] due to political polarization (see: [[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]] and [[Atheist factions]]).

A very sizable portion of the [[alt-right]] movement is made up of atheists. agnostics, and the non-religious (See: [[Atheism and the alt-right]]).  The alt-right is influencing Australia politics.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2017/mar/02/how-alt-right-ideology-leaked-into-mainstream-australian-politics-behind-the-lines-podcast How 'alt-right' ideology leaked into mainstream Australian politics – Behind the Lines podcast], ''The Guardian'', 2017</ref> The growth of the [[right-wing]]/alt-right atheism is creating divisions/infighting among atheists in the [[Western World]] due to political polarization (see: [[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]] and [[Atheist factions]]).

''See also:'' [[Desecularization]] and [[Acceleration of 21st century desecularization]] and [[Postsecularism]]

''See also:'' [[Desecularization]] and [[Acceleration of 21st century desecularization]] and [[Postsecularism]]

Jens Köhrsen), a professor for religion and economics at the Centre for Religion, Economy and Politics (ZRWP)<ref>[https://religionswissenschaft.unibas.ch/de/personen/jens-koehrsen/ Prof. Dr. Jens Köhrsen], University website faculty page</ref>, wrote:  

Jens Köhrsen, a professor for religion and economics at the Centre for Religion, Economy and Politics (ZRWP)<ref>[https://religionswissenschaft.unibas.ch/de/personen/jens-koehrsen/ Prof. Dr. Jens Köhrsen], University website faculty page</ref>, wrote:  

{{Cquote|[ [[Jürgen Habermas]] ] ...argues that a new age, the age of [[Postsecularism|post-secularity]], has begun. Previously vastly secularized societies, like the highly developed countries of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, would experience a new awareness of religion and attribute a new public role to religion. From now on, religion would constitute a relevant dialogue partner in the public debates of these societies (Habermas, 2008). Moreover, Habermas presents a normative argument about public religion: he recommends that post-secular societies should facilitate religious contributions to the public sphere. Religious reasoning could contribute to public debates about the ethical values of contemporaneous and future societies. Habermas believes that modern societies might find some answers to the moral questions of our time by listening to religion in public debates (Habermas, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008). A similar position to that of Habermas is proposed by Leclerc (2001) and French sociologist Willaime (2004a, 2004b, 2005[1995]: 76-78, 2008). Willaime observes that even the highly secularized public and political sphere of France is exhibiting a new, more open attitude towards religion. The hypersecularity of France would stimulate a restructuration process of religion. According to Willaime, religion can form an important resource for public debates and be engaged in the identity construction process of individuals and collectives.<ref>[https://edoc.unibas.ch/50856/3/20170119190142_5880ff06238b8.pdf How religious is the public sphere? – A critical stance on the debate about public religion and post-secularity], Draft Version, Jens Koehrsen (Köhrsen). Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Germany. École des hautes études en sciences socials, France. Published in: Acta Sociologica 55 (3), S. 273-288.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|[ [[Jürgen Habermas]] ] ...argues that a new age, the age of [[Postsecularism|post-secularity]], has begun. Previously vastly secularized societies, like the highly developed countries of Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, would experience a new awareness of religion and attribute a new public role to religion. From now on, religion would constitute a relevant dialogue partner in the public debates of these societies (Habermas, 2008). Moreover, Habermas presents a normative argument about public religion: he recommends that post-secular societies should facilitate religious contributions to the public sphere. Religious reasoning could contribute to public debates about the ethical values of contemporaneous and future societies. Habermas believes that modern societies might find some answers to the moral questions of our time by listening to religion in public debates (Habermas, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008). A similar position to that of Habermas is proposed by Leclerc (2001) and French sociologist Willaime (2004a, 2004b, 2005[1995]: 76-78, 2008). Willaime observes that even the highly secularized public and political sphere of France is exhibiting a new, more open attitude towards religion. The hypersecularity of France would stimulate a restructuration process of religion. According to Willaime, religion can form an important resource for public debates and be engaged in the identity construction process of individuals and collectives.<ref>[https://edoc.unibas.ch/50856/3/20170119190142_5880ff06238b8.pdf How religious is the public sphere? – A critical stance on the debate about public religion and post-secularity], Draft Version, Jens Koehrsen (Köhrsen). Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Germany. École des hautes études en sciences socials, France. Published in: Acta Sociologica 55 (3), S. 273-288.</ref>}}