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Home , Christianity Unveiled, Criticism of religion, Gary Wolf (journalist), New Atheism, Sam Harris

A Research Project at the Institute for Criticism of and The "" the Scientific Study of Religion of the

Freie Universität Berlin, Germany The term "New Atheism" was introduced by The has almost always been American journalist in his article The accompanied by the – that Church of Non-Believers (Nov. 2006). He coined The scientific study of religion (German: appears in most cases as either an inter- or the term to describe the enormous success of Religionswissenschaft) is an academic discipline intra-religious criticism. Both forms of criticism then-bestsellers – The Delusion by the which – unlike – takes a neutral do not extend beyond the borders of religious British zoologist , The End of position (from outside any particular religious viewpoints, so that criticism of religion does not by , and Breaking the Spell: viewpoint) towards its subjects of research. In necessarily imply a fundamental rejection of Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel this vein, our research project shall be religion at all. Dennett – that openly criticize most forms of examining recent tendencies in atheistic religion. Since his article, the term has been criticism of religion. The atheistic criticism of religion, however, widely used both in the media coverage as well

possesses another quality. Atheism – the Ancient as in the academic and religious debate for The most prominent of the (so-called) "New Greek adjective átheos means 'godless' – is the recent tendencies of criticism of religion. In the Atheists" are Richard Dawkins, , negation of the or the . It meantime, this term is applied by others on Sam Harris, and . Basing is widely discussed in the academic world at Christopher Hitchens (: How their arguments on naturalistic and scientific which specific point in history an explicitly Religion Poisons Everything), too. All four – world views, they oppose the majority of atheistic criticism of religion arose. According to Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and Dennett – have religious beliefs and, furthermore, seek to put some, atheism is a rather late and isolated met to discuss their opposition towards religion their ideas into political practice. product of the 17th century Enlightenment; and religious faith in a film called The Four

others suggest that atheism already can be Horsemen – a title by which they refer to the We aim to take a closer look at the theoretical found in Ancient Greek . Book of Revelation to describe themselves. In and political foundations, causes, and goals of addition to their passionate public appearance, the "New Atheism" as well as at the vivid Nevertheless, there is an overall agreement that the so-called "New Atheists" have begun to reactions of its critics. This also requires an thinkers as Lamettrie, Diderot, Helvétius, and found organizations in order to make a examination of the broad media coverage of the especially Baron d’Holbach ( Unveiled, contribution to societal decision-making "New Atheism". We will compare the historical 1761; The System of Nature, 1770) backed an processes. In 2006 Dawkins launched the situations of the "New Atheism" in Germany and explicit atheistic criticism of religion. We can see Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and the using qualitative research, in a tradition of atheistic criticism of religion , followed by Sam Harris' The Reason the hope of gaining greater insights into the stretching into the present times through Project in 2008; Michael Schmidt-Salomon ist relations between what is called "the return of , , , the chairman of the German religion" and the return of the criticism of , , and Stiftung (founded in 2004). religion. These two phenomena may shed light . The term "New Atheism" does not only appear on both the aggressive stance the "New in the English-speaking world but is also used in Atheists" have taken in the public arena, as well German speaking areas. Authors such as as the heated debates on the "New Atheism". Michael Schmidt-Salomon, with his Manifest des evolutionären Humanismus (transl.: Manifesto of

Evolutionary ) and his almost banned television networks have also picked up on the atheistic children's book Wo bitte geht's zu Gott?, subject. In contrast to the atheism of the fragte das kleine Ferkel (transl.: How Do I Get to Enlightenment era – which was primarily a God?, asked the Little Piglet), and Robert Misik, discourse among intellectuals – the "New with his book Gott behüte! Warum wir die Religion Atheism" can be regarded as a media aus der Politik raushalten müssen (transl.: phenomenon with a widespread impact. Forbid! Why We Have to Keep Religion out of ), are categorized as "New Atheists" as Research Gaps well. Even though these authors are regularly Despite the popular current attention the labeled as "New Atheists", it has to be stated that subject has received in mainstream media and the the term "New Atheism" is remarkably public discourse, hardly any academic research The "Return of under-defined: The phenomenon remains fuzzy, in Religionswissenschaft has been done on the especially when it comes to the assumed "New Atheism", certainly not compared to the Religion" and the differences between an "old" or "classical" extensive examination of the Enlightenment atheism and the "New Atheism". atheism. Return of the

To fill these research gaps and to test the Media phenomenon "New Atheism" hypothesis of a dependency between the "Return Criticism of Religion The critical positions towards religion of the of religion" and the return of the criticism of "New Atheists" have received an impressive religion is the objective of the DFG-funded public attention. Their presence in the media research project of the Institute for the Scientific The "New Atheism" not only refers to their books as such but Study of Religion at the Freie Universität Berlin. includes wide news coverage of their activities in Recent German and appearances. Every significant American and German newspaper and magazine has Information & Contact and American Culture interviewed them or dedicated their ideas an Institut für Religionswissenschaft article or more. Among others this includes Ulf Plessentin, M.A. / Thomas Zenk, M.A. "God vs. Science" in Time Magazine (Nov. 13, Goßlerstr. 2 - 4 2006), "'Gott ist an allem schuld!' – Der 14195 Berlin, Germany Kreuzzug der neuen Atheisten" (transl.: "'It is all

God's Fault!' – The Crusade of the New Internet Atheists") in the German magazine Der Spiegel www.fu-berlin.de/ifr (May 26, 2007), or "Warum es keinen Gott gibt:

Die provokanten Thesen des Wissenschaftlers A Research Project at the Institute for the e-Mail und Bestsellerautors Richard Dawkins" (transl. Scientific Study of Religion of the Freie "Why There Is No God – The provocative Theses [email protected] Universität Berlin, funded by the German of Scientist and Bestseller Author Richard [email protected] Research Association (DFG) Dawkins") in Stern (Sept. 27, 2007). Major