What atheism got wrong | Alex O'Connor and Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton and Alex O'Connor discuss new atheism, the value of art, and how religion made us human. Does religion still have a place in the modern, Western world? With a free trial, you can watch Alex's solo talk on veganism NOW at https://iai.tv/video/food-morality-an... What if belief isn’t the only path to the sacred? In this deeply reflective IAI Studio at HowTheLightGetsIn London 2025, Alain de Botton joins Alex O’Connor (Cosmic Skeptic) to ask how we can rediscover meaning, ritual, and reverence in a secular age. Can philosophy replace what religion once offered, a sense of awe, community, and moral grounding? Or have we lost something essential in our rush to abandon faith? Drawing on his bestselling book Religion for Atheists, de Botton explores how ancient spiritual traditions still shape our emotions, relationships, and search for transcendence, even when we think we’ve moved beyond belief. From art galleries that echo the grandeur of cathedrals, to the philosophy classroom’s forgotten roots in questions of life and death, this conversation uncovers the religious impulses that continue to pulse beneath modern secular life. De Botton argues that we still crave the structures, rituals, and shared meaning that religion once provided, we just call them by new names. #philosophy #religion #god #art #spirituality Alain de Botton is a philosopher, author, and founder of The School of Life. Known for works such as The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists, and The Course of Love, his writing explores how ancient wisdom can guide us through the complexities of modern existence. Alex O’Connor, known online as The Cosmic Skeptic, is a philosopher, podcaster, and broadcaster whose work investigates the boundaries between reason, faith, and moral life. The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today! https://iai.tv/subscribe?utm_source=Y... 00:00 Vincent van Gogh and the loss of meaning 00:41 Is religion primarily a philosophical enterprise? 03:23 If not the existence of God, what should people be focusing on? 03:47 What are the universal factors that drive people to religion? 05:12 Why did philosophy become obsessed with truth claims? 06:54 Has atheism failed to deliver? 08:43 Is religiosity a unified concept? 09:55 What distinguishes the religious from the secular? 11:37 Is accessibility to religious artefacts inappropriate? 15:40 Is philosophy too shallow? 17:36 What is the point of philosophy? 18:33 What areas of philosophy are being neglected? 19:48 Assessing the influence of Christianity 21:22 Can the modern crisis in meaning be blamed on a lack of religion? For debates and talks: https://iai.tv For articles: https://iai.tv/articles For courses: https://iai.tv/iai-academy/courses