Ohferpetessake, are atheists supposed to be like JW's or something on porches spreading the "good news"??
I think most of us rejected religion because we decided to think for ourselves, and a strong corollary to that is allowing others Their space.

Agree with the comments about how New Atheism (which I believe was a largely media created term) went off track like a broken shopping cart. Its like someone tried to herd a bunch of cats without realising atheism is a cross cutting trait quite uncorrelated to many other things. I think their only exploitable common trait - skepticism - was uncorrelated to most of the additional concerns New Atheism was expected to address.

Perhaps it could have been leveraged to look at other bullshit in life like conspiracy theories. Then again I even there I think we have a substantial number of folks who may not believe in God or jump on the Jesus bandwagon and hence identify as atheists but sure as heck treat QAnonism and the like as their New Religion replacing God with Q, Trump as Jesus, and as for the holy ghost, probably the flag (Confederate or otherwise).

Eliminating them from our tent cuts down the numbers but we really just need to stay on target and focus purely on atheism pure and simple.

Yes. We could use a new Hitchens about now...

Will the new messiah be education?

You do you, I do me and let's strive to do or cause no harm.

New atheism was largely in response to the socially damaging tragedy of 9-11. We don’t need another catalyst such as that.

Atheism (as a form of identity politics) is best served by local groups doing outreach, serving as an interpersonal support network for the timid or newly out, and bringing suits when they have standing to fight encroachment of religion into the secular public sphere. And larger national organizations such as FFRF and AU help with such legal activism.

Some fifteen years ago , I moved to the Biblebelt , although religion had nothing to do with my choice to move here . Being an extreme introvert , it was hard to make new friends . but as I simply joined new groups of those who shared old interests , I was surprised to find that the new friends I was making , weren't particularly religious either , although they were careful whom they let know that . But neighbors and their beliefs are something there is no way to control . Over time the old neighbors moved away and new folks moved into those houses . And while yes , they are religious and go to church on Sundays , they really don't care that I am a non believer . There is no pressure from them about my own beliefs , and I don't pressure them about theirs .

Dawkins and Harris were individual symbols who took a lot of personal flack. Organized atheist groups can have more resilience. Uniting with an organized group fighting for a common purpose is tremendously empowering and motivating.

Individuals alone are more likely at some point to spin off in the wrong direction. A clear focus is prerequisite for an effective group. I would look to an organized group rather than individual icons for a way forward.

While not an atheist group, The Satanic Temple has done some exciting things for us by exposing some of the abuses of religious excess.

You know best what you want this new breed of atheists to do. Will you take it on?