Difference between revisions of "Essay: Is atheism growing?"

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(Summary: Is atheism growing?)
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*[[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for the existence of God]]
  
 
*[[Atheism debates]]
 
*[[Atheism debates]]

Revision as of 15:24, February 20, 2017

Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020.[1] See: Global atheism statistics

Question: Is atheism growing?

On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported concerning global atheism:

Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) in South Hamilton, Mass."[2]

The global market share of atheism is going down and I provide a number of sources regarding this matter bloew, but is there any data showing that the actual number of atheists going down as well. We need to know the answer to this question in order to answer the question "Is atheism growing?"

Furthermore, it would be helpful to have a number of sources relative to whether or not atheism is growing or not. Below is additional information about global atheism to help answer the question of whether or not atheism is growing, shrinking or staying about the same in terms of the number of atheists in the world.

Is atheism growing in terms of the number of atheists in the world?

Data compiled by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS):

Given the information in the resources directly above, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, expects the global atheist population to shrink in its total number of individuals in 2017.

If CSGC is correct, then not only is the global market share for atheism going downward, but now the actual number of atheists in the world is going down as well. Specifically, CSGC is projecting that from the mid-point of 2016 to the midpoint of 2017, the total number of atheists in the world is going to go from 138,101,000 individuals to 137,041,000 individuals. That is a net loss of 60,000 atheists in the world during this period.[3]

Is atheism growing in terms of global market share?

See also: Global atheism statistics

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.[4] See also: Desecularization

For additional sources indicating the global market share of atheism is going down, please see: Global atheism statistics

Summary: Is atheism growing?

There is excellent research from a number of different showing that atheism has a shrinking global market share. But at this time, there is a limited number of sources showing the actual number of people who are atheists is going down. In fact, I have only found one source so far which I gave above.

With that being said, it wouldn't at all surprise me if atheism is not growing and is in fact shrinking.

to see why, please review the articles listed below:

Demographics of atheism:

Desecularization:

Other relevant information:

See also

Notes