Are there more atheists in the US now?

curious · May 16, 2009

There has been some press recently about how much more prevalent atheism is now in the US. I'm not sure there are more atheists, any more than there are more gay people than there were before. It's just that it has become more acceptable to be 'out'. I also think people are more willing to label a lack of beief as atheist rather than copping out with 'agnostic'.

What do you think? Are more people atheists, or are they just more willing to say so?

deanhills · May 20, 2009

I found a good overview of "Demographics of Atheism" at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism

Would appear that less than 5% of the US population could fit the category of atheism, although there are no exact stats recorded anywhere. Interesting that the percentage is higher in Canada - 19 to 30% of the population hold an atheistic or agnostic view point.

The Parakeet · May 21, 2009

It's almost impossible to tell anymore. I thought it was closer to 15% in the last poll.

Part of it is a shift in thought. People feel alright saying that they are agnostic or atheist now. I know a lot of people who have abandoned most organized religions and only hold onto a last ember of religion. They would normally just say that they were Christian because that's fairly close. It seems like more and more of these people are crossing over and admitting it.

I also feel a bit of deja vu. I think I pointed this out before a few months ago. The religious groups have polarized the issue much more with the topics of gay marriage and evolution. This was a signal that the agnostics and atheists had to circle the wagons and speak up. So it certainly seems like we're spreading, just because we had to figuratively fight or die.

deanhills · May 25, 2009

The Parakeet said:
It's almost impossible to tell anymore. I thought it was closer to 15% in the last poll.

Part of it is a shift in thought. People feel alright saying that they are agnostic or atheist now. I know a lot of people who have abandoned most organized religions and only hold onto a last ember of religion. They would normally just say that they were Christian because that's fairly close. It seems like more and more of these people are crossing over and admitting it.

I also feel a bit of deja vu. I think I pointed this out before a few months ago. The religious groups have polarized the issue much more with the topics of gay marriage and evolution. This was a signal that the agnostics and atheists had to circle the wagons and speak up. So it certainly seems like we're spreading, just because we had to figuratively fight or die.

Perhaps you have a good point depending in which geographical area of the United States you are in. I would imagine that any of this would be deeply frowned upon in Mississippi. The President obviously is an indication of what the average thoughts are about religion, and he seems to have placed a strong emphasis on religion during his election campaign. As long as that seems to be an important point for the candidates, i.e. to show that they are religious as a good requirement for being elected, it is still going to take a long time for atheism to make inroads.

clax · Feb 14, 2012

curious said:
There has been some press recently about how much more prevalent atheism is now in the US. I'm not sure there are more atheists, any more than there are more gay people than there were before. It's just that it has become more acceptable to be 'out'. I also think people are more willing to label a lack of beief as atheist rather than copping out with 'agnostic'.

What do you think? Are more people atheists, or are they just more willing to say so?

I don't think people are generally atheist, its a misuse of the word, atheism means with out theism. A theocratic idea is that it is wrong to murder people. This is a belief shared by theists and so called "atheists" alike. This objection to allowing murder to be legalized is based in a belief "that it is wrong to murder people" I could argue that from a purely fact based position that it is not wrong to commit murder, in fact that it could benifit the world or community to do so.

Yet so called "atheists" will argue that they believe it is wrong. Believeing in something with no proof is a form of theisum.

I think atheists are really adeists, meaning they don't follow or admit to the existance in a deity.

If you have no beliefs, you believe in nothing, you are a nihilist

DodgeFB · Feb 14, 2012

clax said:
I don't think people are generally atheist, its a misuse of the word, atheism means with out theism. A theocratic idea is that it is wrong to murder people. This is a belief shared by theists and so called "atheists" alike. This objection to allowing murder to be legalized is based in a belief "that it is wrong to murder people" I could argue that from a purely fact based position that it is not wrong to commit murder, in fact that it could benifit the world or community to do so.

Yet so called "atheists" will argue that they believe it is wrong. Believeing in something with no proof is a form of theisum.

I think atheists are really adeists, meaning they don't follow or admit to the existance in a deity.

If you have no beliefs, you believe in nothing, you are a nihilist

One shoe does not fit all. But I am beginning to think many people think it is "cool" to be ant-God. Then there are the ones that feel insulted to think there could be anything or anyone greater than themselves.

clax · Feb 14, 2012

DodgeFB said:
One shoe does not fit all. But I am beginning to think many people think it is "cool" to be ant-God. Then there are the ones that feel insulted to think there could be anything or anyone greater than themselves.

One shoe dose not fit all you are correct. But if you say you believe in nothing, how are you not a nihilist? By definition of the word nihilist is believeing in nothing.

I simply suggest that atheists are just folks who don't want to believe in a deity,or can't believe in a deity. I am okay with that, belief is hard and living according to that belief is not for everyone.

I will not go against my beliefs ever. Sometimes it seems like atheists tend to mock people who believe in something else. I as a christian need to grow and realize when atheists use words like "make believe" and other such devicive speech, it is because they can't understand my beliefs any more than I can understand theirs.

The road to peace is not the iratication of one in favor of the other but coexistance.

DodgeFB · Feb 14, 2012

clax said:
One shoe dose not fit all you are correct. But if you say you believe in nothing, how are you not a nihilist? By definition of the word nihilist is believeing in nothing.

I simply suggest that atheists are just folks who don't want to believe in a deity,or can't believe in a deity. I am okay with that, belief is hard and living according to that belief is not for everyone.

I will not go against my beliefs ever. Sometimes it seems like atheists tend to mock people who believe in something else. I as a christian need to grow and realize when atheists use words like "make believe" and other such devicive speech, it is because they can't understand my beliefs any more than I can understand theirs.

The road to peace is not the iratication of one in favor of the other but coexistance.

I know in the last five years I have had more people try to stop me from believing in god than in the past 40 or 50 years. Seems they have a "need" to put an end to belief in God. Oh well.

clax · Feb 14, 2012

DodgeFB said:
I know in the last five years I have had more people try to stop me from believing in god than in the past 40 or 50 years. Seems they have a "need" to put an end to belief in God. Oh well.

Who knows, I think a lot of that rhetoric is to show the believers how out of fasion it is. I love to find a way to show people who God is, but if they are not going to go against their beliefs, I respect that. I find it a show of good charecter when someone defends their position with their opinion and dignity in tact. Regardless of beliefs those types of people I find becoming friends with more and more

theconspirator · Feb 29, 2012

there are not more atheists

DodgeFB · Feb 29, 2012

theconspirator said:
there are not more atheists

Maybe just more admit it.

Cerise · Feb 29, 2012

DodgeFB said:
I know in the last five years I have had more people try to stop me from believing in god than in the past 40 or 50 years. Seems they have a "need" to put an end to belief in God. Oh well.

I don't think you should lump all atheists under one umbrella.
I am an atheist but wouldn't 'try to stop you from believing in God'
The reason for that is that you have a right to believe in whatever you want and it has nothing to do with what I think or not.
I would go so far as to say that these people who actively try to dissuade you from your beliefs are trying, in a roundabout way, to justify their own thoughts.
Each to their own...as long as noone tries to force their beliefs on anyone else.

DodgeFB · Feb 29, 2012

Cerise said:
I don't think you should lump all atheists under one umbrella.
I am an atheist but wouldn't 'try to stop you from believing in God'
The reason for that is that you have a right to believe in whatever you want and it has nothing to do with what I think or not.
I would go so far as to say that these people who actively try to dissuade you from your beliefs are trying, in a roundabout way, to justify their own thoughts.
Each to their own...as long as noone tries to force their beliefs on anyone else.

I can go with that.

Cerise · Feb 29, 2012

DodgeFB said:
I can go with that.

Thankyou

Are there more atheists in the US now?

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