The paper presents the sources and the basic features of the new atheism, at the background of claims and methodology of older atheism, scientific concepts in the fields of biology, psychology and physics, by which it is inspired at the forum of culture. It is argued that the power of new atheism is based on the empirical sciences from which directly - without employment of the humanities and religious studies, theology and philosophy - draws metaphysical, philosophical and axiological conclusions. So it becomes part of the movement called by John Brockmann a third culture. New atheism takes different forms at the same time, in addition to the perspectives of its foremost representatives – sarcastically called “the four horsemen of the Apocalypse”: Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, Sam Harris and Chrstopher Hitchens, it includes works of philosophers, academics, and even journalists or idols of pop culture. In this way, it becomes an important element of the mental and spiritual life.
Keywords:
new atheism, third culture, Richard Dawkins, critics of religion, metaphysics, Christian theology
polish
English