New Atheism: is really “new”? Analysis of the arguments and challenges for contemporary theology

Abstract

The article intents a “mapping” of New Atheism and presents its main arguments. The result is a characterization of two major trends of new atheism (scientific and continental), and their relation to religion, which is characterized by naturalistic approach. New atheism largely examines the arguments against religion (treating it as immoral, a source of violence and as the effects of biological conditions). The systematic development of the new atheism also mixed the “old” and “new” means in fact a return to the traditional arguments antitheistic, but presented in a new perspective. The second part of the article includes indication of the possible topics of dialogue with the new atheism and the challenges that will be opened for contemporary theology: care of God’s image among believer, visibility of religion in society, broad vision of rationality and the attractiveness of the Christian narrative.