In a recent appearance‚ the notorious atheist Richard Dawkins lamented the lost influence of Christianity‚ going so far as to declare himself a “cultural Christian.”While achieving a level of notoriety for his work in the field of biology‚ Dawkins became best known for his vocal opposition to religion in general and Christianity in particular. Now that public Christianity has been purged from his native Britain‚ the biologist is surprised that instead of becoming a secular utopia‚ the country has been slowly conquered by Islam. Like many atheists‚ Dawkins is discovering too late that the religious beliefs he worked so hard to destroy were‚ in fact‚ the foundation on which his civilization rested.Christianity had been successfully purged from the public square‚ but instead of being replaced with reason and rationality‚ a far more extreme denial of reality took hold.Dawkins has served as a public antagonist of Christianity since the 1980s‚ but with the publication of his book “The God Delusion” in 2006‚ the scientist became one of the most prominent figures in the burgeoning New Atheist movement. The New Atheists saw themselves as champions of enlightenment and reason who would finally purge the last vestiges of religious nonsense from the Western mind‚ delivering on the true promises of classical liberal ideology.The New Atheist movement was a mainly online affair existing on internet message boards like Reddit and video platforms like YouTube‚ though there were several conventions and other public events organized around the cause.Along with a few best-selling books‚ the highest profile draw of the New Atheists was the public debates. Often held at universities‚ these debates featured personalities from the movement who would verbally spar with apologists from different faiths‚ but Christianity was by far the most frequent target. Before Ben Shapiro became known for owning blue-haired college feminists with facts and logic‚ the New Atheists were making a spectacle out of deconstructing Christianity.The New Atheists lost as often as they won‚ but many of them mastered a snarky style of sophistry popular at the time‚ and the crowd was on their side. Sam Harris‚ Daniel Dennett‚ Christopher Hitchens‚ and Richard Dawkins were dubbed the “Four Horsemen” by their fans‚ an apocalyptic vanguard on a mission to end the dominance of ignorant religion and deliver humanity into a more advanced age. Ayaan Hirsi Ali‚ a former Somali Muslim‚ was often cited as the fifth “horsewoman” and regularly attended atheist conferences. Along the way‚ opponents warned the “Four Horsemen” that the Christianity they were gleefully dismantling was not just a collection of bronze-age myths but a critical aspect of society. Dawkins and his New Atheist brethren dismissed these warnings as the last desperate gasps of a dying superstition that was attempting to stay relevant in the face of modernity. Religion was the refuge of the weak and ignorant‚ a silly fable that backwoods rubes told their children. Nothing could stop the inevitable march of progress‚ and the New Atheists would be its intellectual champions. The first hint that all may not be well inside the brave new world the atheists had forged came with the birth of the woke revolution on college campuses.New Atheism had always been dominated by leftists who thought of themselves as pro-feminist‚ pro-LGBTQ‚ and anti-racist. But now‚ many of their allies were making some very strange claims. Feminists were pretending there were no statistical differences between men and women‚ minority activists were claiming all differences in material outcomes were due to racism‚ and LGBTQ activists were asserting that men could become women. All of this was obviously and empirically false‚ and this struck at the core of the atheist belief that religion had been the primary cause of opposition to scientific truth. Christianity had been successfully purged from the public square‚ but instead of being replaced with reason and rationality‚ it had been replaced with a far more extreme denial of reality.The second and most significant blow to the New Atheist delusion followed the migrant crisis in Europe.As millions of migrants flooded the shores of Western nations‚ it quickly became clear that the lack of cohesive religious identity made it difficult for the native populations to resist the cultural onslaught. European elites raised on a steady diet of liberal ideology could not formulate a reason to deny entry to the large influx of Islamic migrants and‚ in many cases‚ competed to see who could be more accommodating.While these immigrants were happy to soak up the financial plenty of their new host nations‚ they had no interest in assimilating to a culture that they believed to be weak and decadent. Islam had very different ideas about how to deal with Pride parades or scantily clad feminist protestors‚ and the sheer size of the migration meant that large ethnic ghettos could form to protect those beliefs from liberal reeducation. Terrorism‚ sexual assault against women‚ and no-go zones where police dared not enter became commonplace.This is the malaise that Douglas Murray managed to capture in the title of his book “The Strange Death of Europe.” Without Christianity to spiritually animate the other aspects of its cultural identity‚ Europe seemed to slowly lose the will to live‚ abandoning its fate to a new and energetic population that was fundamentally hostile to the European way of life.Dawkins focused in his British radio interview on the lost Christian symbols of his youth as Ramadan replaced Easter and abandoned cathedrals became mosques. The biologist reiterated that he was happy to hear that fewer people believe in Christianity‚ but he was sad to see the hymns‚ Christmas carols‚ and Christian churches that he associated with England give way to another culture.Dawkins is a child clutching a handful of dead flowers he cut from their roots long ago and wondering why they have wilted. Despite the repeated warnings from his Christian interlocutors‚ Dawkins assumed the traditions that formed his cultural identity were silly and unnecessary things that could be discarded without much consequence. The scientist also assumed that a respect for scientific truth was universal instead of being the very particular result of a specific culture.So now Dawkins‚ the archenemy of religion‚ has followed in the footsteps of his New Atheist colleague Ayaan Hirsi Ali in declaring himself a cultural Christian‚ but do not shed any tears on his behalf. Unlike Ali‚ who seems to be making a sincere attempt at understanding the value of faith‚ Dawkins still celebrates the demise of religion. His lament is that of an old man who is watching the culture he helped murder pass away and finding himself lonely and cold without understanding why. The time of the New Atheists has come and gone as the delusion of a rational secular utopia fades into the distance. The future will belong to the faithful‚ and the only question is which faith will guide the future of the West.

Lara Logan is a well-known name in investigative journalism. She used to be the chief foreign affairs correspondent for CBS News‚ and she covered some of the biggest stories in the world. However‚ when Logan began honestly looking into what liberals notoriously call right-wing hysteria‚ such as COVID vaccine skepticism‚ 2020 election fraud‚ and Jan. 6 alternative narratives‚ she was essentially condemned as “a star of far-right media‚” according to the New York Times. Pat Gray‚ however‚ is a huge fan of Logan’s brutally honest work — which is what all journalism should be. “We've been following your work for a really long time and appreciate everything you do‚” he tells her. Logan’s most recent reports revolve around the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore‚ Maryland. On March 26‚ the day the bridge was struck‚ Logan took to X to expose what she says is clearly a “‘strategic attack’ on US critical infrastructure — most likely cyber.” “As soon as it came down‚ the authorities were claiming there was no evidence of any kind of wrongdoing‚” says Pat. “Yes‚ which was odd because they hadn't had time to investigate‚ so for the authorities to make a definitive statement about anything was unusual‚ especially when you look at the nature of what happened‚” says Logan. After talking to many people‚ including some who “had worked in Baltimore for 30 years‚” some who “worked in maritime attacks‚” and others who “are still on active duty in the intelligence community‚” Lara came away with a narrative about the bridge collapse that didn’t at all match the official statement given by authorities. “One person in particular knew instantly that from the very first moment that he saw that ship‚ it wasn't inside the channel‚ which is where it has to be when it's on course‚” she explains. Further‚ “Multiple intelligence professionals” told Lara that they “knew the moment they saw it” that the collision “was a technique ... because [they] carry out this technique on foreign battlefields.” “It's called 'spoofing‚'” they told her‚ and “by the time [the ship crew] is throwing off the anchor or doing whatever [they] can to try and correct [the GPS attack]‚ it's simply too late.” To learn about how “spoofing” works and the likely reasons behind this alleged orchestrated attack‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A former police officer received a slap on the wrist after pleading guilty Monday to orchestrating a straw donation scheme to help Eric Adams' (D) mayoral campaign.Dwayne Montgomery pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy‚ a class A misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail‚ according to a copy of the plea agreement obtained by Politico.As part of the deal‚ Montgomery admitted to conspiring with others to make an "illegal contribution to the Eric Adams 2021 Mayoral Campaign… which disguised the true source of the funds being contributed‚" it read. Montgomery "directed straw donors to make contributions to the Campaign‚ and the funds for the contributions were reimbursed by the Defendant and others."The former New York Police Department deputy inspector confessed to "direct[ing] and aid[ing] others to structure campaign contributions by utilizing straw donors‚ with the intention of triggering matching funds by submitting falsified campaign contribution forms to the New York City Campaign Finance Board."Montgomery used the mobile payment service Cash App to transfer "$260 to Straw Donor-6" on August 14‚ 2020. After the money was transferred‚ Montgomery instructed the straw donor to contribute $260 to Adams' campaign. In exchange for Montgomery pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy‚ Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed to recommend that he "be sentenced to a conditional discharge" that would allow him to "complete two-hundred hours of community service and pay a fine of $500" to satisfy the indictment. Montgomery will spend the 200 hours of community service as an "instructor‚ consultant‚ and hands-on participant with BKLYN Combine‚ a community-based organization that provides educational‚ leadership‚ and social support programs to teens and young adults in African-American communities throughout New York City."Montgomery has also been banned from organizing or hosting political fundraisers for one year. Adams is also a former NYPD officer whose time with the department overlapped with Montgomery's.Evan Thies‚ a 2021 Adams campaign representative‚ previously stated‚ "Montgomery was a colleague of the mayor in the police department whom he knew socially and worked on criminal justice issues with. Dozens of former police officers and criminal justice advocates hosted events for the mayor over the course of the campaign."During a Monday press conference‚ Adams reiterated that his campaign was neither involved nor aware of the straw donation plot‚ Politico reported."I think the DA clearly reported that there was nothing our campaign did that was a part of what was done wrong. I say let the DA handle the situation‚" Adams said.He noted that his campaign's vetting process included "spending thousands of dollars on a compliance attorney‚ who matched signature‚ who matched information and made sure things were done with the level of scrutiny they deserved. And we returned back tens of thousands of donations that did not follow that muster. And so the campaign did its job."Montgomery's attorney did not respond to a request for comment from Politico.Anything else?Chinese billionaire Hui Qin pleaded guilty last month to participating in a straw donation plot‚ Blaze News previously reported. According to the Department of Justice‚ he made $11‚600 in illegal donations to New York and Rhode Island political campaigns. A source familiar with the case told the New York Times that some of his donations were made to Adams' campaign.Vito Pitta‚ Adams' lawyer for his 2021 mayoral campaign‚ stated‚ "As the federal government made clear today‚ the campaign had no knowledge of a straw donor scheme — and no member of the campaign has been charged with or accused of any wrongdoing."Adams' campaign is also being investigated for allegedly receiving illegal donations from the government of Turkey‚ the Times reported. The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the homes of Adams' top fundraiser‚ Brianna Suggs‚ and the mayor's director of Asian affairs‚ Winnie Greco. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A group of looters did not take the day off Easter Sunday and were caught on video taking whatever they pleased from a Walgreens store in San Francisco. As usual‚ no resistance was offered. Image source: YouTube screenshotAdding a little twist to what's become a commonplace crime in the city is that a producer from local TV news station KPIX recorded the mass shoplifting on his cellphone while he was out with his girlfriend‚ KPIX-TV reported."It was just like an ambush‚ basically‚" the producer‚ who didn't want to be named‚ told the station in regard to the afternoon ransacking inside the store on 9th and Market Streets. "It took me about three seconds to pull my phone out‚ ... and they just had no care at all."Video caught at least seven individuals wearing hoodies and masks grabbing items off shelves and carrying away bags of merchandise‚ KPIX said.The producer added to the station that the looters were "taking what they pleased with no regard for the law or those around them — [a] real-life smash and grab." Image source: YouTube screenshotHe signaled how such crimes are no longer a surprise‚ saying in a kind of shoulder-shrugging tone that "it's San Francisco" before adding to KPIX that he's "kind of immune to it at this point."The producer also told the station that store employees "did nothing" in the face of the looting — but that they're likely trained to exercise that response: "They're also probably immune to it. They're used to smash-and-grabs."Oh‚ and while the crime happened around 4:30 p.m.‚ KPIX said police didn't arrive until after 8:30 p.m. Police said the store was closed when they got there‚ and no one was present to report the incident‚ the station added.KPIX said it wasn't clear why police responded some four hours later‚ and the station said it requested clarification from police and Walgreens about the response to the incident.'You can grab and go as you please' Sal‚ a vendor who regularly delivers to the Walgreens and other places‚ told KPIX he sees looting like this all the time: "They think it's a free-[for]-all. You can grab and go as you please."Dina Miller has been living in the neighborhood for over a decade and shops at the Walgreens location almost daily on her way home‚ the station said — and she's just sad: "We don't really have any places to go shop anymore. Everything is closing down. … Walgreens are closing down all over the place‚ too." Local security guard Eric Beverly who works nearby acknowledged to KPIX that rampant theft in the area had led to store closures: "It is a very difficult situation. A lot of bankruptcies‚ a lot of stores are foreclosing and taking precautions as far as marketing because of the theft here. It's very serious."Matt Dorsey‚ a city supervisor‚ lives a few blocks from the Walgreens and shops there‚ the station said. After viewing cellphone video of the looting‚ he told KPIX police shortages are part of the problem‚ too. "If we had a fully staffed police department‚ we could have a robbery unit that was doing more enforcement around places where retail theft plays out‚ holding more people accountable‚ and doing more to go after the fencing operations ... that make this lucrative‚" Dorsey noted to the station. Image source: YouTube screenshotMore from KPIX:Walgreens has closed at least 17 stores in San Francisco since 2019 and is among other large retailers to have closed up stores in the city or announced plans to close since the start of the pandemic. The last one to close was in February 2023 in the city's Financial District. Walgreens said the closure was "due to a significant decrease in foot traffic in the Financial District since the onset of the pandemic." In April 2023‚ a person shoplifting from a Walgreens on Market and 4th Streets in San Francisco was confronted by an armed security guard and shot dead triggering weeks of protests. In July 2023‚ a Walgreens store in the city's Richmond District began padlocking its freezer section to thwart shoplifters. Brazen shoplifters ransack San Francisco Walgreens store youtu.be Anything else?San Francisco indeed has seen an increase in crime for a number of years — and it just seems to get more and more brazen.Even the city's far-left mayor‚ London Breed — who jumped on the "defund the police" bandwagon in 2020 after the death of George Floyd — made headlines for a speech she gave a year later in which she called out "bulls**t" crime "that has destroyed our city."In February‚ outspoken NBA legend Charles Barkley shined a spotlight on San Francisco's "homeless crooks" during a live broadcast of the league's All-Star Game. As you might guess‚ his woke co-hosts pushed back with a vengeance.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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