What defines the New Atheism movement?

Definition and Key Figures

New Atheism refers to a contemporary movement that promotes a more vocal and confrontational approach to denying God’s existence. This movement gained particular momentum through figures sometimes described as the “Four Horsemen”—Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, the late Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett—though other voices contribute to its influence. New Atheists often describe religion, and particularly the Christian faith, as not only false but harmful to society.

Unlike more classical forms of atheism, New Atheism actively engages in public discourse, writing best-selling books, producing documentaries, leveraging social media platforms, and participating in debates to popularize the view that atheism is the most rational position. They argue that science has rendered faith in God unnecessary, seeking to diminish the credibility of Scripture, miracles, and the supernatural.

Historical vs. Contemporary Atheism

Older forms of atheism sometimes emphasized a quiet skepticism, where faith questions remained primarily in academic or philosophical realms. New Atheism emerged in the early 21st century, adopting a more activist stance. It endeavors to rally supporters to actively challenge religious worldviews, often highlighting topics such as the problem of evil, perceived conflicts between science and faith, and social issues connected to religious communities.

This shift from classical to modern atheism reflects a cultural push toward open confrontation of religious beliefs and a desire to remove them from the political and public square. Over time, proponents of New Atheism have attempted to position their views as the inevitable conclusion of scientific progress, holding that belief in God has been rendered obsolete.

Core Beliefs of New Atheism

1. Science as the Sole Arbiter of Truth: New Atheists uphold that the scientific method is the chief, if not the only, valid means of discovering truth. If something cannot be empirically tested, they tend to discount its value.

2. Rejection of Metaphysics and Miracles: Events portrayed in Scripture—such as creation by divine fiat, the resurrection of Christ, and miraculous healing—are dismissed as myths or delusions that lack scientific plausibility.

3. Empirical Critique of Religion: New Atheists hold that faith-based claims are inherently untestable and thus unreliable. They often cite examples from biology or cosmology that they interpret as negating the need for a divine Creator, ignoring or downplaying scientific and philosophical arguments for design.

4. Moral Critique of Religion: They argue that religion, especially Christianity, has historically contributed to social ills, sometimes invoking past conflicts or the behavior of certain religious institutions.

Philosophical Underpinnings

Central to New Atheism is philosophical materialism, the assumption that only material substances and processes exist. By excluding the possibility of the supernatural, they view references to a personal Creator as relics of ancient mythologies.

This contrasts with the philosophical tradition that supports the existence of non-material realities, such as the soul, universal morals, and objective truth. New Atheists generally hold to a naturalistic understanding of human consciousness and morality, arguing that these may be explained by evolutionary processes and social constructs alone.

Common Arguments and Christian Responses

1. The “Religion Is Harmful” Argument

• New Atheist Position: Religion—or biblical faith—fosters intolerance and violence.

• Christian Perspective: Pointing to biblical and historical evidence, many Christian theologians show that violence among professing believers is usually a distortion of Scripture, not a consistent application (cf. James 4:1–2). Further, hospitals, schools, and humanitarian efforts started by Christ-followers contradict this broad dismissal.

2. Science vs. Faith

• New Atheist Position: Scientific discoveries supposedly make belief in God or miracles irrelevant.

• Christian Perspective: Many scientists throughout history—Blaise Pascal, Sir Isaac Newton, and others—were believers who saw their work as unveiling divine design. Archaeological discoveries and textual studies (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls) consistently affirm the historical reliability of Scripture. Christians maintain that faith and science address different yet complementary domains of truth (cf. Romans 1:20).

3. Miracles and the Supernatural

• New Atheist Position: Miracles are impossible because they violate the laws of nature.

• Christian Perspective: Believers argue that the laws of nature describe usual occurrences but cannot exclude the Creator’s power to intervene (cf. Luke 1:37). Historical and contemporary evidenced reports of healing and transformation (including medically documented cases where no natural explanation suffices) challenge strict materialist assumptions.

4. Moral Foundations

• New Atheist Position: Humans can develop moral values based on evolution or social needs without referencing God.

• Christian Perspective: Believers note that universal moral truths and human dignity require an objective source—namely the Creator. As Scripture says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt; their actions are vile” (Psalm 14:1). This passage reflects the belief that rejecting God leads to moral inconsistency, exposing a vacuum in grounding absolute moral standards.

Behavioral and Sociological Observations

New Atheism employs a tone of urgency, seeking immediate social and cultural reform to remove the perceived obstacles that religious institutions present. Sociologically, this fosters confrontation, creating debates in academic, political, and even family settings. Their reliance on ridicule, satire, and strong rhetoric shapes a vocal and confident public stance, sometimes underestimating the complexity of faith experiences and the centuries-long tradition of scientific, philosophical, and historical scholarship that undergirds Christianity.

Response in Light of Scripture

From a biblical standpoint, believers are encouraged to answer objections with gentleness and respect (cf. 1 Peter 3:15). Scripture frequently addresses doubt and skepticism, providing a framework to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Still, Scripture affirms God’s creative power, Christ’s resurrection, and the work of the Holy Spirit, all of which New Atheists explicitly deny.

Even so, because God reveals Himself through general revelation (nature and conscience, cf. Romans 1:19–20) and special revelation (Scripture, cf. 2 Timothy 3:16), believers maintain confidence that no amount of scientific progress or philosophical argument can negate the truths God has made known.

Archaeological and Manuscript Evidence

Although New Atheists are skeptical of Scripture’s historicity, an array of archaeological findings—such as the Tel Dan Stele referencing the “House of David,” or discoveries supportive of specific biblical chronicles—demonstrates that the biblical narratives’ cultural and historical details align with genuine events and locations. The availability of thousands of New Testament manuscripts—far more than for most ancient texts—further confirms the remarkable textual integrity of Scripture.

Such evidence undermines the claim that the Bible is a product of myth and exaggeration. It instead supports the notion that Scripture is both historically and textually reliable.

Conclusion

New Atheism promotes a worldview that seeks to remove God from the conversation and portrays faith as an outdated structure hostile to science, progress, and morality. By contrast, Christian thought has consistently responded with historical evidence, philosophical reasoning, scientific exploration, and personal testimony, continuing to affirm that true wisdom and moral grounding ultimately rest in the Creator (cf. Proverbs 9:10).

The New Atheism movement, therefore, is defined by its proactive atheism, its insistence on naturalistic explanations, and its combative approach to religious faith. Yet Scripture and the wide body of evidence that supports it remain standing, calling believers to engage both intellectually and compassionately while highlighting the coherence, reliability, and transformative power of God’s revealed Word.