Wednesday, April 15, 2026

My question to GOOGLE AI : " What do prominent Catholic Church scholars think about the New Atheism tribe ? "

What do prominent Catholic Scholars think about the " New Atheism " tribe ?[Prominent Catholic scholars generally view the "New Atheism" movement—led by figures like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens—as philosophically shallow and characterized more by aggressive rhetoric than new intellectual substance.] While they acknowledge its cultural impact, Catholic intellectuals often argue that New Atheists attack a "straw man" version of God that the Church itself does not recognize.Core Criticisms from Catholic ScholarsPhilosophical Superficiality: Scholars like Bishop Robert Barron and Edward Feser argue that New Atheists lack training in classical metaphysics. They contend that Dawkins and others treat God as a "being among beings"—a scientific hypothesis to be tested—rather than the non-contingent "ground of being" (ipsum esse subsistens) described by Thomas Aquinas.The "Straw Man" Fallacy: A frequent critique is that New Atheists group all religions together, attacking extremist or fundamentalist views as if they represented the entire Catholic intellectual tradition. Catholic scholars argue that critiques of "religion" often fail to address specific Catholic doctrines or the historical relationship between faith and reason.[Aggressive Tone and Vitriol: Unlike "old" atheists (like Sartre or Camus), who often took religion seriously, New Atheists are seen as uniquely vitriolic and condescending. ] Their approach is described by some as "rhetorical grenades" intended to make believers look like "intellectual lightweights" rather than engaging in honest debate.Scientism: Critics point out that New Atheism relies on "scientism"—the belief that the empirical sciences are the only valid source of knowledge. Catholic thinkers argue this is a self-defeating philosophical position that cannot be proven by science itself.Differing Perspectives and "Backhanded" PraisesA "Godsend" for Apologetics: [Interestingly, Edward Feser has called New Atheists a "Godsend" because their "lame arguments" forced Catholics to rediscover and sharpen their own intellectual traditions.] Common Ground: Some scholars, such as Mike Sullivan, suggest that Catholics and New Atheists can be "natural allies" on specific issues, such as opposing religious fundamentalism and violence.Intellectual Honesty: Some clergymen, like Rev. Mr. Dylan Schrader, commend the movement's commitment to scientific principles but challenge them to apply that same rigor to the field of metaphysics.Notable Scholar ResponsesBishop Robert Barron: Frequently critiques the movement for its "scientism" and has produced extensive content on Word on Fire to answer their claims.Edward Feser: His book The Last Superstition is a direct, robust philosophical takedown of New Atheist arguments from a Thomistic perspective.Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker: Their book Answering the New Atheism specifically targets the scientific and historical claims made by Richard Dawkins.Would you like to explore a specific Catholic

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