Emerging religious and spiritual movements built upon the tenets of New Atheism and contemporary neo-paganism seek to eliminate God from the realm of absolute sovereignty and ontological efficacy in the cosmos, thereby displacing the Abrahamic religions from the landscape of modern human existence. To advance their objectives, these movements selectively appropriate ancient religious traditions, philosophical and mystical schools, and scientific developments, employing both soft (ideological) and hard (institutional/technological) mechanisms. They are characterized by a range of distinctive features, including distorted syncretism, secular spirituality, millenarianism, personality-centered leadership, radical individualism, superstition, reincarnationism, and the instrumentalization of women and youth.
Western scholars of religion and spirituality generally characterize the modus operandi of these movements as utilitarian, manipulative, and hedonistic. They contend that these currents exploit the modern vacuum of authentic faith and spirituality—a void that has plunged many individuals into existential bewilderment and a pervasive loss of meaning—in pursuit of their self-serving agendas.
In response, a contingent of Islamic scholars, drawing upon Islamic philosophical and theological (Kalām) foundations as well as Qur'anic teachings regarding the impossibility of thwarting the Divine Will (ʿadam taʿjīz), has critically evaluated these claims and formulated both constructive (proactive) and preventative (defensive) strategies to counter them. Utilizing a documentary analysis methodology, this fundamental study examines the principal components of these emerging movements across both contemporary and prospective future horizons.
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karimi, A. (2026). Examining the Components of New Atheism in Emerging Religious and Spiritual Movements. New Theological Teachings, 5(2), 137-162. doi: 10.22034/ntt.2026.845
MLA
karimi, A. . "Examining the Components of New Atheism in Emerging Religious and Spiritual Movements", New Theological Teachings, 5, 2, 2026, 137-162. doi: 10.22034/ntt.2026.845
HARVARD
karimi, A. (2026). 'Examining the Components of New Atheism in Emerging Religious and Spiritual Movements', New Theological Teachings, 5(2), pp. 137-162. doi: 10.22034/ntt.2026.845
CHICAGO
A. karimi, "Examining the Components of New Atheism in Emerging Religious and Spiritual Movements," New Theological Teachings, 5 2 (2026): 137-162, doi: 10.22034/ntt.2026.845
VANCOUVER
karimi, A. Examining the Components of New Atheism in Emerging Religious and Spiritual Movements. New Theological Teachings, 2026; 5(2): 137-162. doi: 10.22034/ntt.2026.845
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