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'Neuer Atheismus' THOMAS ZENK ‘Neuer Atheismus’ ‘New Atheism’ in Germany* Introduction Matthias Knutzen (born 1646 – died after 1674) was some of the characteristics and remarkable traits of the first author we know of who self-identified as an the German discourse on the ‘New Atheism’. Here atheist (Schröder 2010: 8). Before this, the term had we can distinguish between two phases. The Ger­ solely been used pejoratively to label others. While man media initially characterised ‘New Atheism’ as a Knutzen is almost completely forgotten now, authors rather peculiarly American phenomenon. However, such as Ludwig Feuerbach, Karl Marx, Friedrich it soon came to be understood to be a part of German Nietzsche , or Sigmund Freud are better remembered culture as well. and might even be considered classic writers in the history of the atheist criticism of religion. Whatever may be said about the influence of any one of these The making of a German ‘New Atheism’ authors, there is no doubt that Germany looks back The terms ‘New Atheism’ and ‘New Atheist’ were on a notable history in this field. About a decade ago, originally coined in November 2006 by Gary Wolf, Germany’s capital Berlin was even dubbed ‘the world an American journalist and contributing editor at the capital of atheism’ by the American sociologist Peter lifestyle and technology magazine Wired, in the art­ L. Berger (2001: 195).1 icle ‘The Church of the Non­Believers’ (Wolf 2006a).3 Given this situation, I am bewildered by the ex­ Interestingly, only two weeks later, the term ‘New pression ‘New Atheism’.2 Yet, undoubtedly, the term Atheist’ appeared in the German media for the first has become a catchphrase that is commonly used in time.4 In a newspaper article in Die Tageszeitung dat­ the public discourse of several countries. The most ing from 7 November 2006, Robert Misik wrote: ‘The prominent authors to be labelled ‘New Atheists’ are New Atheists are fighting against God and funda­ Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion, 2006), Daniel mentalism. … In the US, a movement is attracting Dennett (Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural attention for wanting to put a stop to God’s game – Phenomenon, 2006), Sam Harris (The End of Faith: the New Atheist movement’5 (Misik 2006). It seems Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, 2004, noteworthy that Misik still used the English expres­ and Letter to a Christian Nation, 2006), and Chris­ sion ‘New Atheist’. topher Hitchens (God Is Not Great: How Religion Several weeks later, the German translation ‘neuer Poisons Every thing, 2007). These authors and their Atheismus’ as an alternative to the English term was books – all of them international bestsellers – have put forward for the first time. In the Frankfurter Allge- been intensely discussed around the world, includ­ meine Zeitung edition of 22 December 2006, Chris­ ing in Germany. In this paper, I intend to illuminate tian Geyer (2006) wrote: ‘Is there any resource today which is more dangerous than religion? … It is no surprise then that “der neue Atheismus”, or the “new * This article is a revised version of a paper given on 19 Atheism”, is booming in America.’6 While the Ger­ January 2012, at the conference ‘The new visibility of man and the English terms stand side by side here, atheism in Europe’ at the Donner Institute in Turku, the German translation ‘neuer Atheismus’ eventually Finland. All translations from the German are my replaced the English term completely. Furthermore, own, unless otherwise indicated. Geyer wrote of the possibility of a German adaptation 36 Approaching Religion • Vol. 2, No. 1 • June 2012 of the American ‘New Atheism’ – a manism’ as opposed to the biblical prediction that was to come true Ten Commandments (Schmidt­ within only half a year. The tem­ Salomon 2006: 156–9).10 poral dimension is a remarkable While the Manifest garnered aspect of the German reception in­ plenty of attention within atheist/ deed: ‘New Atheism’ was a topic in secular/humanist circles, Schmidt­ the media long before the first ‘neo­ Salomon’s atheist children’s book atheist’ book was translated for the Wo bitte geht’s zu Gott? fragte das German public. kleine Ferkel. Ein Buch für alle, I shall now attempt to recon­ die sich nichts vormachen lassen struct the events that led to the (‘Which is the Way to God, Please?’ German variant of ‘New Atheism’.7 Little Piglet Asked: A Book for All My main case study is Michael Those Who Won’t Let Themselves Schmidt­Salomon, who was the be Fooled, 2007) has also stirred de­ first German author to be labelled bate at a national and transnational ‘New Atheist’. Other social actors level (Aderet 2008, Axelrod 2008, to be considered are Philipp Möller Quetteville 2008). The story of the and Andreas Müller. book, which has occasionally been described as ‘The God Delusionfor children’ (Quette­ Against religion – with a piglet and a hedgehog: ville 2008), is summarised as follows. One day, the Michael Schmidt-Salomon little piglet and his best friend, a hedgehog, step out Michael Schmidt­Salomon (born 1967) is a freelance of their house and notice a billboard saying: ‘He who writer and German philosopher.8 Like Dawkins and knows not God, is missing something!’ This marks Dennett, he is a member of Paul Geisert and Mynga the beginning of the two friends’ quest for God, Furtrell’s Brights movement (Kast 2007). He is the which leads them into a synagogue, a church, and a executive spokesman of the Giordano­Bruno­Stif­ mosque where they talk to a Jewish rabbi, a Catho­ tung (GBS, Giordano Bruno Foundation), a non­ lic bishop, and a Muslim mufti respectively. Each profit organisation that describes itself as a ‘think time they are repelled by the religious doctrines that tank for humanism and enlightenment’ (‘Denkfabrik they are taught. Upon their return home, they again für Humanismus und Aufklärung’).9 Other charac­ look at the billboard and cross out the ‘not’: ‘He who teristic mottos of the GBS are: ‘Enlightenment in the knows God, is missing something!’ Finally, the moral 21st century’ (‘Aufklärung im 21. Jahrhundert’) or of the fable is told (Schmidt­Salomon 2007: 32–4): ‘Knowledge instead of faith’ (‘Wissen statt Glauben’). The GBS was founded in April 2004 by Schmidt­ And the moral of the fable is: Salomon­­ and Herbert Steffen, a German business­ If you don’t know God, be glad about this… man who still holds the position of the foundation’s They couldn’t fool our Piglet, when: chair. A number of public figures from areas as di­ It laughed and laughed at all of them…11 verse as philosophy, psychology, sociology, political sciences, biology, physics, and art make up the foun­ The aftermath of the book has been notable.12 It was dation’s advisory board. As of January 2012, the GBS accused of containing anti­Semitic tendencies. In has 22 local branches in nearly all the major German December 2007, the German Bundesministerium cities or regions; foreign branches in Austria and für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (Federal Switzerland have also been established. Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women Schmidt­Salomon authored the Manifest des evo- and Youth) submitted it to the Bundesprüfstelle für lutionären Humanismus. Plädoyer für eine zeitgemäße jugendgefährdende Medien (BPjM, Federal De­ Leitkultur (Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism: partment for Media Harmful to Young Persons) for A Plea for a Contemporary Culture, 1st ed. 2005, 2nd further examination, which could have led to a ban exp. ed. 2006). The book was commissioned by the on the sale or distribution of the book to minors in GBS. It is critical of religion and, at the same time, Germany (‘indexing’). The reactions on the part of proposes an alternative: the concept of an ‘evolution­ Jewish social actors varied. While Stephan J. Kramer, ary humanism’ (Huxley 1961, 1992). Concretely, the the Secretary General of the Zentralrat der Juden in book introduces ‘Ten Proposals of Evolutionary Hu­ Deutschland (Central Council of Jews in Ger many), Approaching Religion • Vol. 2, No. 1 • June 2012 37 did not regard the book as anti­Semitic, he consid­ This is an important signal for the ‘Rechtsstaat’ ered it dangerous nevertheless and thus pleaded for [State of Law]: Finally it has been judicially its ‘indexing’. The prominent Jewish journalist and resolved that the church is not an area exempt author Henryk M. Broder, on the other hand, per­ from the law. Mr Müller and his colleagues are ceived the attempt to ban the book as ridiculous. The now, just like everyone else, obliged to quote GBS, which had sponsored the book, initiated the truthfully.13 website www.ferkelbuch.de, dedicated to ‘saving the little piglet’ and to providing information about the The controversy about the Little Piglet, particularly ‘attack on freedom of opinion’. In March 2008, the ac­ the petition to ‘index’ the book, has had an enormous cusation was dismissed by the BPjM on the premise impact on its sales figures. In December 2007, merely that the book is not anti­Sem itic because it attacks all two months after its publication, it ranked number religions equally. one on the Amazon.de bestseller list in the category The ruling of the BPjM did not mean the end of ‘children’s religion’ (Schmidt­Salomon et al. 2008: of the controversy. The Catholic Bishop of Regens­ 50, 60). By March 2008, more than 12,000 copies had burg, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, addressed Schmidt­ been sold (Bauer 2008). In June 2008, it ranked num­ Salomon and the Little Piglet during a sermon in May ber ten on the Buchreport.de bestseller list for picture 2008.
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