The new atheism

I have heard said that unlike past atheism where people really thought about what was true that the current atheism is a fad. I understand this as it seems that many people who push the anti-religion view point consider themselves to be more intelligent than those of us with faith. It almost seems that people call themselves atheists because it instantly makes them an intellectual without having to open their minds and really search for the truth, even in places that they would rather not look: traditional religion and especially Christianity. That would definately not be cool and intellectual sounding.

An example of this would be the atheists who put up their sign denouncing religion in the Washington State Capitol. They announce to the rest of us misguided fools (and I parapharse)that the natural world is the only one that exists and that religion results in the "hardening of hearts and the weakening of minds." What do they base this on? Really? Religion has done no good in the world? There are many non-religious people, even atheists, who would not agree with this. It seems that it is the need of this particular group of people to stroke their own egos and that is their ultimate purpose in putting up such a sign.