Are the 'New Atheists' actually just as militant as the religions they condemn?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The New Atheists, led by the 'Four Horsemen,' rose to fame by branding religion as the primary source of global violence. Yet, critics argue these thinkers often champion aggressive foreign policies and colonial-style interventions, suggesting that their secular worldview may be just as prone to dogmatic conflict as the faith they reject.

The 'New Atheism' movement emerged in the early 21st century, centered on high-profile figures like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens. While they frame their stance as a rational, science-based rejection of superstition, the label itself was popularized by journalist Gary Wolf in 2006 to characterize these writers as unusually combative. Critics suggest the term was a political tool designed to delegitimize their arguments by framing them as intolerant and philosophically unoriginal, though the authors themselves often view their work as a continuation of long-standing secular traditions.

A core tenet of the movement is the belief that religion is inherently pathological and dangerous. Following the 9/11 attacks, figures like Harris and Dawkins argued that religion is the root cause of global divisiveness and violence. However, research indicates that these thinkers often interpret geopolitics through an atheistic lens that justifies Western military intervention. By framing the West as locked in an existential struggle against religious cultures—particularly Islam—they have supported policies that critics describe as strikingly similar to the 'white man's burden,' including the potential use of preemptive nuclear strikes against populations they deem irrational.

The movement's success was fueled by the rise of the internet and a media-savvy approach, allowing these authors to cultivate global followings through bestselling books and public debates. Despite their claims of moral superiority, studies suggest that New Atheists are often as willing to align with violent state policies as the religious extremists they oppose. This paradox highlights a tension within the movement: while they advocate for a world free from religious dogma, their own political prescriptions often mirror the very tribalism and intolerance they claim to despise.

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