Changes

{{cquote|The number of people who identify themselves as [[atheism|atheists]] in the United States has been rising, modestly but steadily, in recent years. Our aggregated data from 2012 show that 2.4% of American adults say they are atheists when asked about their religious identity, up from 1.6% in 2007."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/23/5-facts-about-atheists/ Facts about atheists]</ref>}}

{{cquote|The number of people who identify themselves as [[atheism|atheists]] in the United States has been rising, modestly but steadily, in recent years. Our aggregated data from 2012 show that 2.4% of American adults say they are atheists when asked about their religious identity, up from 1.6% in 2007."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/23/5-facts-about-atheists/ Facts about atheists]</ref>}}

However, post [[Elevatorgate]], which occurred in July of 2011, there has been a lot of friction with the [[atheist movement]] (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).  Beginning in 2012, Google USA saw a lower search volume for the words "atheist" and "atheism" (see: [[Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms]]). In addition, the [[New Atheism]] movement has waned (see also: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]).  

However, post [[Elevatorgate]] (a controversy in which [[Richard Dawkins]] was accused of [[misogny]]), which occurred in July of 2011, there has been a lot of friction with the [[atheist movement]] (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).  As a result,  in 2012, Google USA saw a lower search volume for the words "atheist" and "atheism" (see: [[Google trends - Atheism and agnosticism terms]]).  

 

Due to the Elevatorgate controversy and accusations of engaging in Islamophobia, the [[New Atheism]] movement has waned (see also: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]] and [[Richard Dawkins and accusations of Islamophobia]]).  

On November 6, 2015, the ''New Republic'' published an article entitled, ''Is the New Atheism dead?''<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/article/123349/new-atheism-dead ''Is the New Atheism dead?] by Elizabeth Bruenig, New Republic, November 6, 2015</ref>

On November 6, 2015, the ''New Republic'' published an article entitled, ''Is the New Atheism dead?''<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/article/123349/new-atheism-dead ''Is the New Atheism dead?] by Elizabeth Bruenig, New Republic, November 6, 2015</ref>