What is needed to combat the overwhelming level of belief in God?

[Mudhammam]

Does anyone else find it slightly encouraging that there is a "HUGE upswing" in the study of apologetics, "almost every church" having a class devoted to making their silly beliefs appear less silly to themselves and others? For many atheists, apologetics was the first door upon leaving religion because it forces you to confront rational arguments. I can only imagine the numbers who will continue to leave the church as a result of efforts to conceal the absurd with superfluous reason and evidence. Further, what would you think if other ideas were getting the same kind of attention as the "defense of faith" is apparently receiving in religious communities? Might you perhaps wonder why there is all of this emphasis on its defense, as it implies some uncomfortable questions about its inherent credibility (i.e. the reason and evidence that is readily available must be pretty fucking shitty to require such extraneous efforts)? Of course, the OP is right that religion is surging, but I think he also inadvertantly concedes us a silver lining: that religion as an intellectually respectable exercise is in its death throes.