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| | “Atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think. … They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.” - Graham Lawton in the ''New Scientist'' science magazine <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref> | | “Atheism is psychologically impossible because of the way humans think. … They point to studies showing, for example, that even people who claim to be committed atheists tacitly hold religious beliefs, such as the existence of an immortal soul.” - Graham Lawton in the ''New Scientist'' science magazine <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/science-writer-atheists-might-not-exist Graham Lawton in the New Scientist]</ref> |
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| | + | == Atheists have a low retention rate compared to other worldviews == |
| | + | [[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com.</ref>]] |
| | + | ''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] |
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| | + | In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/> Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or agnostic households, or where there was [[Nones|no specific religious attachment]], later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>Multiple references: |
| | + | *Pearson, Christopher (May 9, 2009). [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095 "Defectors to faith mark a growing trend"]. from theaustralian.com. |
| | + | *Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (February 2011). [http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey "Faith in Flux"] from ''Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U. S.'' PewResearchCenter.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]] |
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| | + | A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]]. |
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| | + | In addition, in atheistic Communist China, [[Christianity]] is experiencing rapid growth (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]). |
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| | == Hopelessness of atheism and apathy == | | == Hopelessness of atheism and apathy == |