The growth of atheism

[Tom540]

In the world today, "no religious affiliation" is the third largest religious affiliation. Over 1.1 billion people identify as "atheist" around the world.

Atheism is at an all-time high right now. What do you think the stats will be in another 50 years? Will there ever be more atheists in the world than Muslims or Christians?

In 50 years I am pretty sure atheists, or at least non believers, will be a far greater percentage. Going to a Christian primary school and now a Christian secondary, more and more people brought up in Christian families are moving away from religion; in fact, people are actually standing up for their beliefs.
I remember the week before we broke up, probably a few weeks ago, during an RE lesson when praying someone refused to participate, keeping his hands in his pockets. When asked why they weren't joining in, they simply said "I don't believe in god", to which the RE teacher was horrified. Talking to others, next to no one believes in god, Jesus, the Bible, although some do believe in an afterlife.
I think this is great, I doubt there will be many theists in my generation (in the UK at least).

[Simon Moon]

Even if 'religiously unaffiliated' does not equate to atheism, it doesn't matter.

Even if they believe in a god of some sort, the 'religiously unaffiliated' are not very likely to: to prevent homosexuals from marrying, try to get pseudoscience taught in public schools, fly planes into buildings at 400 kph, perform 'honor killings', pray for their dying child instead of getting medical help, etc.

It's the bad dogma associated with the religious beliefs that usually go along with a god belief that are harmful.

I don't see any pantheist vs deist wars going on. I don't see too many Unitarian-Universalists blowing themselves up in public places. I've never once been threatened by a deist because I didn't believe in a god of first cause.

[NoraBrimstone]

Now that being openly atheist won't get you killed in many countries, and now that science is explaining things that used to be attributed to the supernatural, atheism will definitely continue to rise.

[CleanShavenJesus]

You're right whoever said "no religious affiliation" does not equal "atheism", sorry about that. Perhaps I should have worded it simply "no religous affiliation". Either way, it's a pretty awesome trend to see.

But in any case, what is the source for that figure quoted?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...Islam.html

[Doubting Thomas]

I agree with Simon. I don't care what they want to label themselves, the "nones" are not going to be the ones calling for putting God into government, banning abortion & stem cell research, boycotting businesses which have tolerance policies toward gay employees, and everything else the ultra-religious fundies do. They could call themselves Martians for all I care, as long as they don't practice bigotry.

[thesummerqueen]

They'll come up with other shit, like hating on GMO's and deciding wheatgrass cures everything.

No religious affiliation doesn't come with a smart-chip-boost in your brain.