Thursday, January 3, 2013

"Four Horsemen" of New Atheism

The name "Four Horsemen" refers to Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris and was first used during a 2007 debate in which they discussed their criticisms of religion and advocated critical thinking. (http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/12/richard-dawkins-issue-hitchens)
So, the name "four horsemen" is the name that they invented for themselves. They took it from the Bible, Revelation 6:1-8 (NIV):

1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Well, the fourth horseman is clearly called Death. Others are not named. However, the second one is quite clearly identified with the war, and the third one is identified with famine. There are different interpretations of the first horseman. Some interpretors consider him to be Antichrist, some think that he is Christ. However, in the text of the Bible itself, he is identified with the conquest.

So, the four horsemen are Conquest, War, Famine, and Death. I do not know how many people would like to call themselves one of these things, but Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens did so.

In 2008, four prominent atheist authors got together to discuss religion and their positions. The DVD was entitled "The Four Horsemen" (in reference to the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse") and ever since they have been referred to by this title. They are:
  • Richard Dawkins - as Death
  • Christopher Hitchens - as Famine
  • Sam Harris - as Pestilence
  • Daniel Dennett - as War
(http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/New_Atheism#.22The_Four_Horsemen.22)
Actually, they did not read the Bible carefully because there is no Pestilence among the four horsemen of the book of Revelation. However, it is still very remarkable how they call themselves:

  • Richard Dawkins calls himself Death.
  • Christopher Hitchens called himself Famine.
  • Sam Harris calls himself Pestilence.
  • Daniel Dennett calls himself War.
Very nice people, aren't they?

1 comment:

  1. Not suprised that they would pick such a title.

    Many (all?) are very pro-war and pro-vioence, as long as it's against religious people.

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