Is the Atheism statistic increasing?

Question

I really hope so. I'm worried about the future of this country. Like for instance some Christians would twist history around to say that the majority of our founding fathers were Christian than Deists. Or that this nation was founded on Christianity rather than Secularism. Or try to erode the wall between Church and state even further.

Answer 1

Where have you been? Christians constantly say the things (and have been saying it a long time way before Scary Falwell) you stated for years.

Answer 2

I'm not sure, but here's something to ponder: there have always been (at least for a large portion of human history) religious nuts, yet rationalism and reason somehow shine through. Although it's hard to tell from all the propaganda, we're probably living in the most secular human society that has ever existed: modern medicine, technologies, things we do every day reflect a secular and sane society, not a nutty "here hold my snake" one. We just remember the nuts more often than the sane ones.

The next time you're out driving, look for a car that doesn't have a Christian fish or a cross, or a kneeling Calvin. There's a good chance that that person is as secular and Atheist as anyone else. When you look for the absence of Christian symbols, I think you'll be surprised at how many there are out there.

Answer 3

well, the Christian Fundy Evangelicals would love to set America up as a Christian theocracy. they'd love to be able to have the power to tell everyone what to think and how to live via their interpretation of the Bible. they voted in the most unrepentantly corrupt president in American history ... TWICE in the hopes he would do their bidding, perhaps even bring about Armageddon so as to jump start their "rapture". they're a bunch of nut balls and we must be very vigilant or we'll end up with the Christaban governing every aspect of our lives. it wouldn't be the first time in human history that religious zealots have taken over a country and turned it into a living hell for anyone not of the ruling religion and especially for women and gay folks.

PS. when an Atheist can run for a high public office and actually win i think that will be a very good sign. right now all presidential candidates must be Christian in order to even stand a chance of winning. as if a Christian politician is somehow more honest and knowledgeable than a non-Christian politician. GW Bush has (or should have) dispelled that stupid assumption, fer sure.

Answer 4

To this day, congress opens with prayer. The supreme court as well. In fact, the halls of congress used to be converted to a church service every Sunday morning, and the Marine Corps Band played the worship music. Thomas Jefferson acted as Superintendant of public schools in DC while he was president. One of his orders was that the bible be required reading in public schools. This was AFTER he wrote that PRIVATE letter to the Danbury Baptist Assoc. you and everyone like you so love to quote. It was Thomas Jefferson who, on three separate occasions, ordered that federal lands and dollars be used to build churches, and "bring the gospel to the Indians". And this was also, AFTER he wrote that PRIVATE letter to the Danbury Baptist Assoc.

If you're worried about this country, you should be worried about the liberalist ideas, which only starting in the last couple decades, have been trying to erase this country's long-standing christian heritage.

The fact is, the only thing the Constitution says on the matter is that Congress cannot pass any laws that establish a national religion, nor can they pass a law that prohibits anyone from practicing their religion. How is putting up a nativity scene on public property the same as congress passing a law? It isn't. But when some liberal judge says the nativity scene must be removed, that judge is clearly violating our right to practice our religion freely.

By the way, "passing a law establishing a national religion", and "endorsing or promoting" one particular religion, are not the same thing legally. Historically, this country has done exactly that: allowed the free practice of any religion, but promoted and endorsed christianity as the preferred one. Liberal lawyers and judges today are the ones VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION!

Answer 5

That would be a truly beautiful thing. It's laughable that Christians think the United States was founded on Christianity. The word "God" is not mentioned even once in the Constitution. Nor the words "christian" or "Jesus", or "Christ". The 1st Amendment states:

"Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Christians should reread that first line... Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion... this includes any Christian religion.

Further it is written in the 1793 Treaty of Tripoli:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

Once again Christians need to reread the first line... "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion..."

The original "Pledge of Allegiance" did NOT have the line "One nation under God" in it when it was written in 1892. It was added by the Knights of Columbus in 1951.

This country was founded on a separation of church and state. Our ancestors fled Europe because of religions persecution. It would be quite ironic if they were to come over here and establish the exact same crap they were trying to get away from. Those that wrote and signed the Constitution if they were alive today they'd be ashamed of how Christians have corrupted this country and it's government. They would have impeached George "Warmonger" Bush in his first term.

If the atheism statistic is indeed increasing it's not doing so fast enough. We're dealing with creationists trying to pollute our education system with their laughable "theory". If they succeeded in getting creationism taught in public schools this country would become the laughingstock of the world and American scientists who were taught creationist theory in school would never be taken seriously in the scientific community.

Robert Pirsig author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence said... "When one person suffers from a delusion we call it insanity. When many people suffer from the same delusion we call it religion". True that.

Answer 6

Some surveys now have atheism as approaching 20% of the USA population. That is more than Jews or homosexuals, and look at what powerful lobby groups they have.

Of course in Canada where I am from, "no religious belief" is the majority, esp in my province of British Columbia. Other civilized places like pretty much all of western Europe and Japan are also highly secular.

It is really only the USA and the Islamic countries that have a majority of the population who believe in deities. Ironic, isn't it?

Answer 7

Yes, according to the last census those designating their religious preference as atheist nearly doubled. Probably for the same reasons you have mentioned. Also, the only religious preference that decreased was Christianity. By the way, Buddhism is the fastest growing religion.

Answer 8

I'd guess that is is unclear for the US at this time. The problem is that there is a "class" of people that do not support the importance of education but also really don't fully support belief. The result is not quite believers, but not quite agnostics. They think that they believe and therefore reject controversially topics but lack the drive to examine the facts.

I totally agree with the scripture about being "lukewarm" in this instance.

Answer 9

Statistics this year in australia showed over 6 million people have no affiliation with any religion. Out of 22 million that is great news. The figures in my home town is 68%. yes it is greatly increasing. Oh yeah!

Answer 10

Your going to argue with me, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I Honestly and truthfully dont believe that there is any such thing as a true atheist.
You might outwardly say you dont believe in god, and no one can really argue with that,
But down in the true depths of your soul, where no man but you can search, I believe every man has a hint hiding in his mind and heart that tells him that god does exisist. You may choose to deny it outwardly, but deep down, your very soul and body know that god is there.
I am certain that to be an atheist, you have to be the kind of a person, who is capable of looking directly at the sun at noon day, with no clowds in the sky, and say that the sun is not shining. In the quiet moments, if you sit and search your soul, you will find him. He is there, and you know it. Why you choose to deny it, I've never been able to figure out.

It reminds me of a quote by an english philosopher named C.S. Lewis. He was once an atheist at one point in his life, and he made the comment that he was mad at god for not exisisting. Only to go on to find him later on.

God is there, I know he is, I have felt his influence in my life.
There is no question for me he is there. You know it to, wether you openly deny it or not. You've felt him before, you just either cant or wont recognise it.

I cant bring myself to believe that there are any true athiests.

Answer 11

I think people would be surprised how many regular church attendees are actually atheists. The vocal relogious conservatives are always rattling their sabers and talking about how they are the moral majority. Most American voters are conservative, but far fewer are truly religious.