Contemporary Atheism as hyper-real irreligion : the enchantment of science and Atheism in this cosmos

Beginning in 2004 a spate of books appeared containing polemical discussion of the pathological acts of 'Religion' and an admiration for an Atheistic/scientific worldview. These books achieved large sales and indicate a receptive public concerned about the perceived public resurgence of religion and the erosion of scientific authority. In this chapter Possamai's (2007) hyper-real religions concept will be employed to gain an understanding of contemporary Atheism and its emergence in late modernity. Viewed through the lens of hyper-reality, Atheist materials and culture will be argued to support the individual ontological security of contemporary Atheists via an enchanted public image of scientific understanding and progress. These enchanted versions of science will be viewed as hyper-real in nature and as providing inspiration for the creation of meanings and identity, supported by a naturalistic scientific cosmology.