---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The rational scientists—and “new…"
description: "\"“The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the “sensitive, caring” postmodern Pluralists are loopy and “woo-woo,” and that the traditional rel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg"
---

#  The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the…

![“The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the “sensitive, caring” postmodern Pluralists are loopy and “woo-woo,” and that the traditional religious fundamentalists are archaic, childish, and dangerous. The postmodern Pluralists think that both the Rational scientists and the traditional…” quote by Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg)

> ““The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the “sensitive, caring” postmodern Pluralists are loopy and “woo-woo,” and that the traditional religious fundamentalists are archaic, childish, and dangerous. The postmodern Pluralists think that both the Rational scientists and the traditional fundamentalists are caught up in “socially constructed” modes of knowing, which are culturally relative and have no more binding power than poetry or fashion styles; this “knowledge” gives the Pluralist an enormous sense of superiority (although in their worldview, nothing is supposed to be superior). And the traditional fundamentalists think that both the modern Rational scientists and the postmodern Pluralists are all unbelieving heathens, bound for an everlasting hell, so who cares what they think anyway?””

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Different groups claim superiority based on their epistemic frameworks, yet each sees the other as flawed, revealing the relativism and conflict in modern discourse.

**In simple terms:** Groups argue their worldview is best, dismissing others.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and bridge epistemic differences.

Themes

epistemology relativism conflict dialogue

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- interfaith dialogue
- academic debate
- policy making
- media literacy
- education curricula

Key Concepts

philosophy of science postmodernism fundamentalism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we foster respectful discourse across worldviews?
- What common ground exists among opposing groups?

A Different Perspective

Bridging gaps often meets resistance from entrenched beliefs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fashion Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion-styles-226185/) [Fundamentalists Archaic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalists-archaic-3781002/) [Fundamentalists Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentalists-think-3781004/) [Pluralists Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluralists-think-3781006/) [Postmodern Pluralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/postmodern-pluralists-3781003/) [Traditional Fundamentalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traditional-fundamentalists-3781005/)

## Related quotes

> [Fashion is a language, and therefore says something about politics, and certain fashion styles get associated with certain political standpoints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/fashion-is-a-language-and-therefore-says-something-about-politics-and/)

[Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/)

> [Music and fashion have to have their own styles. It's a must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suga/music-and-fashion-have-to-have-their-own-styles-it-s-a-must/)

[Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suga/)

## More by Ken Wilber

> [A language possesses utility only insofar as it can construct conventional boundaries. A language of no boundaries is no language at all, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/a-language-possesses-utility-only-insofar-as-it-can-construct/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [If Spirit has any meaning, it must be omnipresent, or all-pervading and all-encompassing. There can't be a place where Spirit is not, or it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/if-spirit-has-any-meaning-it-must-be-omnipresent-or-all-pervading-and/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Evolution occurs in the world of time and space and form, whereas Spirit's primordial nature is finally timeless and Formless, prior to the of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/evolution-occurs-in-the-world-of-time-and-space-and-form-whereas/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [The most striking feature of the perennial philosophy/psychology is that it presents being and consciousness as a hierarchy of dimensional levels, moving from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-most-striking-feature-of-the-perennial-philosophy-psychology-is/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Is this a topic whose time has truly come? The integration of science and religion? Or have I just written a clever book that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/is-this-a-topic-whose-time-has-truly-come-the-integration-of-science/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [In other words, the real problem is not exterior. The real problem is interior. The real problem is how to get people to internally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/in-other-words-the-real-problem-is-not-exterior-the-real-problem-is/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Authentic spirituality... does not render the self content, it renders it undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/authentic-spirituality-does-not-render-the-self-content-it-renders-it/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [When it comes to spiritual teachers, there are those safe, gentle, consoling, soothing, caring; and there are the outlaws, the living terrors, the Rude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/when-it-comes-to-spiritual-teachers-there-are-those-safe-gentle/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Conscious means "having an awareness of one's inner and outer worlds; mentally perceptive, awake, mindful." So "conscious business" might mean, engaging in an occupation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/conscious-means-having-an-awareness-of-one-s-inner-and-outer-worlds/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [I believe that evidence shows that there is a real spirit, a real Beach, but it is beneath no pavement whatsoever, for all pavements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/i-believe-that-evidence-shows-that-there-is-a-real-spirit-a-real/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Furthermore, it is not that Spirit is present but you need to be enlightened in order to see it. It is not that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/furthermore-it-is-not-that-spirit-is-present-but-you-need-to-be/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Authentic spirituality is revolutionary. It does not legitimate the world, it breaks the world; it does not console the world, it shatters it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/authentic-spirituality-is-revolutionary-it-does-not-legitimate-the/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [What's my philosophy? In a word, integral. And what on earth — or in heaven — do I mean by integral? The dictionary meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/what-s-my-philosophy-in-a-word-integral-and-what-on-earth-or-in/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [Matter begins evolving back to Spirit and, when it's reached, the whole process begins over again for the billionth time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/matter-begins-evolving-back-to-spirit-and-when-it-s-reached-the-whole/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

[Explore all 200 Ken Wilber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

## More Fashion Styles quotes

> [Fashion is a language, and therefore says something about politics, and certain fashion styles get associated with certain political standpoints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/fashion-is-a-language-and-therefore-says-something-about-politics-and/)

[Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/)

> [Music and fashion have to have their own styles. It's a must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suga/music-and-fashion-have-to-have-their-own-styles-it-s-a-must/)

[Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suga/)

[Browse all 3 Fashion Styles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion-styles-226185/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the “sensitive, caring” postmodern Pluralists are loopy and “woo-woo,” and that the traditional religious fundamentalists are archaic, childish, and dangerous. The postmodern Pluralists think that both the Rational scientists and the traditional fundamentalists are caught up in “socially constructed” modes of knowing, which are culturally relative and have no more binding power than poetry or fashion styles; this “knowledge” gives the Pluralist an enormous sense of superiority (although in their worldview, nothing is supposed to be superior). And the traditional fundamentalists think that both the modern Rational scientists and the postmodern Pluralists are all unbelieving heathens, bound for an everlasting hell, so who cares what they think anyway?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ken Wilber"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists-believe-the-sensitive-caring/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fashion Styles"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists-believe-the-sensitive-caring/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/ken-wilber-1886_quote_the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists_1227239.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the “sensitive, caring” postmodern Pluralists are loopy…” — Ken Wilber",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ken Wilber",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The rational scientists—and “new atheists”—believe the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists-believe-the-sensitive-caring/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/the-rational-scientists-and-new-atheists-believe-the-sensitive-caring/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
