The growth of atheism

[CleanShavenJesus]

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?

[One Above All]

I sure hope so.

[NomenMihiNon]

Unfortunately, "no religious affiliation" does not automatically mean atheist. Not just deists and agnostics, but there are plenty of theists whose beliefs don't fit into a specific religion. Heck, even liberal Christians who don't belong to a particular denomination might be inclined to list no affiliation on such a survey. No, most surveys I've seen would indicate that those of us who are specifically atheists have remained in the 5% to 10% range for the past several decades.

Be careful of misinterpreting the data and distorting the facts in order to get the result you want. That's what religious fundamentalists do, and sinking to their level will only damage our own credibility...

[Sal]

I won't come by itself. And it certainly won't come by "atheist proselytizing" .

A good and strong education system that simply teaches its young students to use their own mind on the available data and theories should do it, IMO. Preferably before indoctrination.

[Minimalist]

Unfortunately, "no religious affiliation" does not automatically mean atheist.

Actually, for the worst abuses of religion it makes no difference. These nutty imams and preachers draw their strength from the alleged numbers of followers. People who drift off to do their own thing do not help them and more importantly are not much of a threat to anyone.

[Norfolk And Chance]

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?

Yes.

Religion will be crushed, and the deluded will have to start to comply.

[Gabriel Syme]

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

I echo what others have saiod, that "no religious affiliation" doesnt = "atheist".

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

[Minimalist]

The problem is hardly unknown....even among catholic marketers.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/apr...-why-pews/

The numbers are hard to avoid. A 2009 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 1 in 10 Catholic adults in the United States has left the church, with four exiting for every one that converts into the church. Meanwhile, weekly Mass attendance has fallen from 75 percent or higher in the 1950s to about 25 percent today.

2009? Perhaps molesting children is coming home to roost?

[Dena]

Unfortunately, "no religious affiliation" does not automatically mean atheist. Not just deists and agnostics, but there are plenty of theists whose beliefs don't fit into a specific religion. Heck, even liberal Christians who don't belong to a particular denomination might be inclined to list no affiliation on such a survey.

Agreed. Then again, there may be people inside of religious organizations who still wear that label despite being atheist. If you asked me to which religion I belong, I will say Judaism. But I don't believe in the existence of god. There are most definitely others. I don't tend to see surveys where you can choose both.

[Polaris]

It's hard to tell because of those who say they are spiritual but not religious which could mean they are atheists who believe in spirituality like the Buddhists or they could be people closer to Deism who believe there is a god but don't adhere to any belief system....most people who I have heard believe in God are like this.

Remember the saying, "Christianity is not a religion, it's a personal relationship." Even though those who believe that are Christian, they may not want to label themselves as Christians in a religious context.