No, New Atheism is not the same as pantheism. While both New Atheism and pantheism reject traditional, personal conceptions of God (such as the anthropomorphic God of the Abrahamic religions), they are fundamentally different in their perspectives on the divine and the nature of the universe.
Key Differences Between New Atheism and Pantheism
1. Definition of God and the Divine
• Pantheism holds that God and the universe are one and the same; it views the universe itself as divine. Pantheists often regard the natural world and its laws as a manifestation of “God” or a universal consciousness, not in the sense of a personal deity but as a sacred, interconnected whole.
• New Atheism, on the other hand, generally rejects any conception of divinity or the supernatural, including the idea that the universe itself could be considered “divine” or “sacred.” New Atheists view the universe as a purely physical and scientific phenomenon, devoid of any inherent spiritual or divine essence.
2. Approach to Religion and Spirituality
• Pantheism can sometimes incorporate elements of spirituality and reverence for nature. Pantheists might find meaning, awe, and a sense of unity in nature and the cosmos, leading some to adopt spiritual practices rooted in respect for the universe as a “living” entity.
• New Atheism is largely secular and anti-religious. Leading figures in the New Atheism movement, like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett, critique religion as irrational and often harmful. They tend to avoid any form of spirituality or reverence associated with religious or mystical views, favoring a purely scientific understanding of reality.
3. Attitude Toward the Sacred or Spiritual
• Pantheists may describe nature as “sacred” or find a spiritual dimension in the interconnectedness of life, even if they don’t believe in a personal deity. They often experience awe and reverence that could be seen as spiritual, even though it’s directed toward the natural world rather than a supernatural god.
• New Atheists typically avoid describing the universe as “sacred” or “spiritual.” While they may feel awe and wonder toward the natural world, they interpret these feelings as rooted in the scientific marvel of nature rather than in anything mystical or divine. Dawkins, for example, speaks of a “poetic” appreciation for science, but he clarifies that this has nothing to do with spirituality or sanctity.
4. Ontology and Metaphysics
• Pantheism often implies a kind of monism—the idea that everything is one interconnected whole. Pantheists may interpret the universe as fundamentally unified in a way that transcends individual parts, potentially involving metaphysical or even mystical beliefs about the oneness of all existence.
• New Atheism is strictly materialistic and reductionist, holding that the universe is composed of physical entities and governed by natural laws. New Atheists typically reject metaphysical or mystical interpretations and focus on empirical science as the best way to understand reality.
5. Views on Consciousness and Meaning
• Pantheism can sometimes include beliefs that consciousness is a fundamental part of the universe or that there is an underlying purpose or meaning inherent in nature itself.
• New Atheism rejects these views, regarding consciousness as an emergent property of physical processes in the brain and considering meaning as something humans create for themselves, rather than something inherently present in the cosmos.
Where New Atheism and Pantheism Might Overlap
There is a very loose overlap in terms of finding inspiration or wonder in the natural world. Both New Atheists and pantheists may share a deep respect for science and the beauty of nature, and both might criticize organized religion’s anthropomorphic, interventionist God. However, New Atheists would interpret this wonder as a scientific appreciation, while pantheists might see it as having a spiritual or sacred quality.
Summary
In essence, New Atheism and pantheism are fundamentally different:
• New Atheism is atheistic, secular, and strongly opposed to supernaturalism or spirituality, emphasizing a scientific and materialistic view of the universe.
• Pantheism views the universe as divine or sacred, often finding a spiritual dimension in nature and an underlying unity in all existence.
While both reject traditional theism, they diverge significantly on the question of whether there is anything “divine” or “sacred” about the universe.