Why Atheists Keep Finding God (in Everything) - Alex O’Connor (Video)

In this 12 November 2026 published Modern Wisdom video, host Chris Williamson talks with Alex O’Connor, a YouTuber, writer and a podcaster. He is best known for his accessible videos, debates, and long-form interviews exploring philosophy, religion, ethics, and atheism.

Expect to learn what shifts happened in Alex’s thinking these past few years, why you actually would ever want to time travel, why so many people are moving away from atheism, why consciousness is the biggest hole in the atheist argument, what meditation really does to your conscious mind, if there is a practical point to prayer, if watching porn is considered cheating, and more.

O’Connor explores why some skeptics are softening toward religion, the limits of strict materialism, and how consciousness remains a major challenge to standard atheist arguments. 

O’Connor argues that subjective conscious experience is the biggest unexplained gap in standard atheist and materialist worldviews. He explains that while science excels at describing how physical things behave, it cannot fully explain the underlying “isness” or fundamental nature of reality.  O’Connor reflects on moving away from the combative tone of early “New Atheism” toward a more charitable, philosophical, and experiential understanding of religious traditions. The conversation examines what happens in the mind during meditation, whether there is practical value in prayer, and how human senses construct our perception of reality. Later in the video, Williamson and O’Connor pivot to moral philosophy, covering topics like genetic engineering, embryo selection, and the ethical boundaries of fantasizing and infidelity. 

The conversation spans key topics including compassionate debate, the origins of religious thought, the hard problem of consciousness, meditation practices, the nature of reality, and modern ethical dilemmas.

https://youtu.be/OLwQ5A3sRyI

0:00 Should We Debate With Compassion?
3:00 Is Philosophy Bringing People Back to Religion?
13:05 Are We Becoming Kinder in Our Criticisms?
19:34 Did Religion Exist 150,000 Years Ago?
27:54 Is Consciousness Impossible to Define?
42:24 Will Science Ever Answer These Questions?
50:12 Is Consciousness Evidence of God?
53:52 What Really Happens When You Meditate?
01:00:17 How Our Senses Construct Reality
01:13:47 What Lies at the Foundation of Reality?
01:22:05 How Are Consciousness and Religion Connected?
01:26:42 What Is Prayer Actually For?
01:31:36 Is Genetically Engineering Traits Unethical?
01:42:37 Does Fantasising About Someone Else Count as Cheating?
01:54:08 Where to Find Alex