My mate Jack Lim informs me that Alister McGrath is publishing a series of posts on the New Atheism on the ABC website – one every two weeks. Here is a quote from the first in the series:

If the “New Atheism” wanted to get a debate under way, it certainly succeeded. Suddenly, everyone wanted to talk about God. In Britain, the influential Economist magazine, which had been “so confident of the Almighty’s demise that we published His obituary in our millennium issue,” rather inconveniently found itself obliged to issue a correction in 2007.

Religion was so obviously back in public life and public debate. Two journalists from this same Economist went on to publish a bestseller in 2009. Its title? God Is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World.

I and many others have welcomed this debate. The New Atheism has raised questions of fundamental importance – such as the rationality of faith, the relation of religion and science, the possible links between faith and violence, and the place of religion in western society. They’ve begun a fascinating conversation. And it’s a conversation that still has a long way to go.

Full article, Thank God for the New Atheism by Alister McGrath ABC Religion and Ethics | 31 Jan 2011  Also, Christians answering atheists.