If atheists are truly a minority...?

Question

Anyone that's wondering if there are closet atheists in America today... just take a look at how many people are actually in church on any given Sunday. Even excluding people of other faiths, just look at what a small minority of people in this country actually do attend church on Sundays.

Of course, there are people who will call themselves Christians, but haven't been to church in years. In fact, I would say they probably represent the majority of the "Christians" listed on census reports.

If what I'm suggesting is true, I think it may be more likely that non-believers are not actually the minority in this country. They just aren't very vocal about it...

Answer 1

What vehement_chemical wants to call 'laziness' I call fear. Fear of 'coming out' for our jobs, our family, our friends, etc. Maybe if religious people were more tolerant, we could be more open.

Of course, we don't try to push our beliefs on others (or at least I don't) so we tend to keep this personal piece of information to ourselves. We don't define ourselves by our lack of religion, as many religious people define themselves by their religion.

Answer 2

I couldn't call the Christian mainstream nonbelievers. Most of them try to do their christianly duties but most do not attend church and are religious primarily for their beliefs in an afterlife. It is true that nonbelievers are not very vocal, and that is in part due to the fact that they are not organized, and heavily resisted by most of the mainstream.
As far as Christians in America today being Atheists, that is somewhat of a grey area because most seem to reject some notions of the Bible as being the intentions of god, and many create a new likeness of god entirely. In fact, for every person the concept of God is different, it cannot be consistent between two people, that is, they cannot have exactly the same conception of God.

Answer 3

Even so, we would be a virtual minority. If atheists don't make themselves known when ludicrous statements, claims, and even laws are proposed by religious people, then it doesn't really matter if we exist.

Religion is powerful enough and dangerous enough, in all of its incarnations, that we really should stand up and be counted. It's time to educate the world about just how shallow and inherently awful religious superstitions are.

I do agree that there are probably a lot more atheists than people realize, but I don't think it is a majority.

Answer 4

Yes
Godless atheists incredible power over society, culture, and politics.

Such minorities are loved by conspiracy theorists. A scapegoat for much of what society despises. This allows people to feel better about themselves because they don't have to examine their own lives and behavior critically. It also allows people to believe that if this minority could just be overcome, everything would be right and good again.

Whom else are the bullies gonna beat up? There aren't many groups left where it’s okay to torment, societally speaking.

Answer 5

That might not necessarily be the case as there are some people who just aren't all that religious but they still believe how they believe. Now by no stretch of the imagination should you assume that I am a Christian or any other sort of religion. I figured I'd throw something different at you seeing as there will probably be a lot of people who will agree with you.

Answer 6

I think you are correct. Ever since Constantine made Christianity the religion of the land, true Christianity has become polluted and diluted.

Only Jesus knows those that are His. Census reports are just reports of name tags, not a listing of the people who have a real relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

BTW, I am still praying for you. Just signed in with a new nickname.

Answer 7

There's a lot of people who call themselves Christians who don't realize that has something to do with "following Christ."

Believing that Christ was a guy who did some good stuff does not make someone a Christian any more than me believing that Mohammed went to Mecca makes me a Muslim.

Answer 8

This forum is full of "Christians" who neither live nor sound like Christians, and don't go to church, but believe they assured a place in heaven just 'cos they "believe".

But actually you're right, most people have got better things to do.

Answer 9

You summed it up very succinctly. I couldn't agree more. I think the problem is that we atheists face more prejudice than any other group in the country, so the fear of "coming out" is too strong for people to overcome.

Answer 10

A lot of things are in the closet,lets say skeletons also,of the past.