Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"

The paper is devoted to a critical analysis of one of the newest trends of modern Anglo-American freethinking. It is called “new atheism”. The most known spokesmen of this trend are R. Dawkins, D. Dennett, S. Harris and Ch. Hitchens. Theology and Christian philosophy place high emphasis on the criti...

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Main Author: Sleptsova Valeriia
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: St. Tikhon's Orthodox University 2016-06-01
Series:Вестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского гуманитарного университета: Серия I. Богословие, философия
Subjects:
Online Access:http://periodical.pstgu.ru/en/pdf/article/3275
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author Sleptsova Valeriia
author_facet Sleptsova Valeriia
author_sort Sleptsova Valeriia
collection DOAJ
description The paper is devoted to a critical analysis of one of the newest trends of modern Anglo-American freethinking. It is called “new atheism”. The most known spokesmen of this trend are R. Dawkins, D. Dennett, S. Harris and Ch. Hitchens. Theology and Christian philosophy place high emphasis on the critique of the “new atheism”. One of the most talked-about critics of this trend is A. McGrath. The author of the paper notes that some of specific theological criticisms are just. Among them are the critique of the meme-theory and the lack of reflection of the “new atheism” on itself. At the same time the author of the paper demonstrates that some theses of the theological critics are insufficiently grounded. For example, theological critics are rather premature in their conclusions about bringing the “new atheism” into line with L. Feuerbach and K. Marx. The author believes that the ideas of the “new atheism”, as well as the method and the style of expression of its viewpoints are much more successfully integrated in one line with the ideas of such atheists as Bertrand Russell, than a number of the creators of really new ideas of freethinking. In addition, the “new atheism” is also close to the radical wing of the US freethinking of the early 20th century graphically represented by the ideas of R.G. Ingersoll. The author points to the desire of the “new atheists” as well as their critics to simplify the views held by the opposite side. This desire often leads to misinterpretation of the logic of thoughtin both the “new atheists” and their opponents.
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spelling doaj.art-90725e40efca4b518b271af5a4cd9b2e2022-12-21T23:34:42ZrusSt. Tikhon's Orthodox UniversityВестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского гуманитарного университета: Серия I. Богословие, философия1991-640X1991-640X2016-06-0136511212510.15382/sturI201665.112-125 Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"Sleptsova ValeriiaThe paper is devoted to a critical analysis of one of the newest trends of modern Anglo-American freethinking. It is called “new atheism”. The most known spokesmen of this trend are R. Dawkins, D. Dennett, S. Harris and Ch. Hitchens. Theology and Christian philosophy place high emphasis on the critique of the “new atheism”. One of the most talked-about critics of this trend is A. McGrath. The author of the paper notes that some of specific theological criticisms are just. Among them are the critique of the meme-theory and the lack of reflection of the “new atheism” on itself. At the same time the author of the paper demonstrates that some theses of the theological critics are insufficiently grounded. For example, theological critics are rather premature in their conclusions about bringing the “new atheism” into line with L. Feuerbach and K. Marx. The author believes that the ideas of the “new atheism”, as well as the method and the style of expression of its viewpoints are much more successfully integrated in one line with the ideas of such atheists as Bertrand Russell, than a number of the creators of really new ideas of freethinking. In addition, the “new atheism” is also close to the radical wing of the US freethinking of the early 20th century graphically represented by the ideas of R.G. Ingersoll. The author points to the desire of the “new atheists” as well as their critics to simplify the views held by the opposite side. This desire often leads to misinterpretation of the logic of thoughtin both the “new atheists” and their opponents.http://periodical.pstgu.ru/en/pdf/article/3275Christian apologeticscritique of the «new atheism»meme theoryscience and religiontheism and atheismR. DawkinsD. DennettS. HarrisCh. HitchensA. McGrathJ. F. Haught
spellingShingle Sleptsova Valeriia
Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
Вестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского гуманитарного университета: Серия I. Богословие, философия
Christian apologetics
critique of the «new atheism»
meme theory
science and religion
theism and atheism
R. Dawkins
D. Dennett
S. Harris
Ch. Hitchens
A. McGrath
J. F. Haught
title Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
title_full Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
title_fullStr Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
title_full_unstemmed Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
title_short Theological Critique of the "New Atheism"
title_sort theological critique of the new atheism
topic Christian apologetics
critique of the «new atheism»
meme theory
science and religion
theism and atheism
R. Dawkins
D. Dennett
S. Harris
Ch. Hitchens
A. McGrath
J. F. Haught
url http://periodical.pstgu.ru/en/pdf/article/3275
work_keys_str_mv AT sleptsovavaleriia theologicalcritiqueofthenewatheism