UNSCIENTIFIC ATHEISM

IN THE mid 2000’s, a group of authors rose to prominence for their outspoken atheism and uncompromising critique of religion. The stance they championed came to be known as New Atheism. Unlike earlier forms of atheism, this movement leaned heavily on science—often more than philosophy—as its primary tool for challenging religious belief.

Although New Atheism has markedly declined in recent years, its scientific posture remains influential. A 2021 study of secular worldviews found that atheists continue to strongly endorse the view that the natural sciences and the scientific method represent the best—or only—means of making valid claims about the world and reality [1].

And yet, there were notable instances in which New Atheists failed to apply scientific principles to their own critiques of religion. Put simply, some proponents exhibited a surprisingly poor grasp of scientific methodology—an oversight that may have contributed to the movement’s eventual decline. While this observation may seem provocative, it is grounded in a careful presentation of facts, as laid out in the following articles.

These facts matter. Understanding them is crucial to preventing a resurgence of what was, in effect, a serious misappropriation of science—one that lent undue credibility to a worldview with far-reaching implications for how we live ethically and meaningfully. Perhaps such lapses were understandable among atheists without scientific training. But they were hardly pardonable for those who claimed to be men or women of science. 

[1] Schnell, T et al (2021). Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.