The Trouble with Atheism is an hour-long documentary about atheism presented by Rod Liddle. It aired on Channel 4 in December 2006. The documentary focuses on criticism of atheism and science because of their perceived similarities to religion, as well as arrogance and intolerance. The show includes interviews with some prominent scholars, including atheists Richard Dawkins and Peter Atkins, and Anglican priest John Polkinghorn. It also includes an interview with Alan Johnson, president of Atheists of America.
Riedel begins the documentary by outlining criticisms of religion in general, particularly anti-religious arguments based on the spread of religious violence. He argues that it is not religion that is causing this violence, but a “very stupid human desire for certainty and legitimacy,” and that atheism is becoming as dogmatic as religion.
In support of his argument, Riedel cites numerous examples of atheist behavior and speech that he considers to be in direct parallel to religious attitudes. He described Atkins and Dawkins as “fundamentalist atheists” and “missionaries”.
In response to atheists calling for science as a superior method of understanding the world to religion, Liddell argues that science itself is related to religion: “The problem for atheists is that science may not be as far removed from religion as you can imagine”.
He described Fermilab, the US Department of Energy’s national laboratory specializing in particle physics, as a “temple of science” and Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species” as a “holy book” for atheists.
