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Reverted edits by Mattl (talk) to last revision by Conservative
[[File:David Silverman Reason Rally.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|[[David Silverman]] is the president of the [[American Atheists]] organization. ]]
The Pew Research Center reported in 2013:
{{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]] (a July 2011 controversy in which [[Richard Dawkins]] was accused of [[misogny]]), there has been a lot of friction with the [[atheist movement]] and the atheist movement lost a significant amount of momentum (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).
[[New Atheism]] is a form of militant atheism which was launched in 2006. Due to the Elevatorgate controversy and ongoing accusations of prominent new atheists engaging in [[Islamophobia]], the New Atheism movement has waned (see also: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]] and [[Richard Dawkins and Islamophobia accusations]]).<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/article/123349/new-atheism-dead ''Is the New Atheism dead?] by Elizabeth Bruenig, New Republic, November 6, 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/12/uproar-against-dawkins-is-sign-of-new-atheism-retrogression/ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression] by Joshua Kelly</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>
In 2015, the atheist author Joshua Kelly wrote:
{{cquote|...since the death of Hitchens: angry atheism lost its most charismatic champion. Call it what you like: New Atheism, fire-brand atheism, etc., had a surge with the Four Horsemen in the middle of the last decade and in the last four years has generally peetered out to a kind that is more docile, [[Political correctness|politically correct]], and even apologetic.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/12/uproar-against-dawkins-is-sign-of-new-atheism-retrogression/ Uproar Against Dawkins Is Sign of New Atheism Retrogression] by Joshua Kelly</ref>}}
In addition, [[Baylor University]] reported in 2015:
{{cquote|Recent coverage of American religious life, by focusing on the decline of some of the larger denominations and the new organized life of [[Atheist movement|non-theistic communities]], have missed the larger story that since World War II, religion in the United States has grown spectacularly and ahead of the population curve. America is now the most religious it has ever been with Church membership at an all-time high and relatively new worshiping communities representing the spectrum of the world's religions now spread across the urban landscape. As a nation in which the great majority of its people have affiliated with a religious community, without government coercion, America is possibly the most religious country that the world has ever seen.”<ref>[http://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&story=162855 Scholars Will Challenge “Secularization Myth” Nov. 10 at National Press Club]</ref>}}
For more information, see: [[Baylor University researchers: American Christianity is not on the decline]]
[[Liberal Christianity]] is shrinking in the United States and some of these individuals are becoming "[[nones]]"/religiously unaffialiated (only 7% if nones are atheists), others are embracing more conservative/fervent forms of Christianity and a small percentage are joining the atheists/agnostic camps.
== Low stature of American atheists in American society ==
Concerning various '''[[views on atheists]]''', research in the American Sociological Review finds that among several groups listed, atheists are the group that Americans relate least to in terms of their vision of American society and are the group most likely to be mentioned as one that Americans would not want to have marry into their family.
<ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref> Dr. [[Sam Harris]] is a founder of the [[New Atheism]] movement. [[Sam Harris]] is quite aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has even advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref>http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref>http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist</ref>
== American study on the six types of atheists ==
A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga study of non-believers found that there are 6 types of atheists/agnostics/non-believers: atheists/agnostics who are more intellectually minded (38% of total sample); non-believer political activists who commonly get involved in leftist/political causes more than [[Atheist movement|atheist activism]] (23% of non-believers, most atheists lean toward the left end of the political spectrum, see [[Atheism and politics]]); [[Antitheism|Anti-Theist]] (This vocal group often gets conflated with all atheists by believers, but they merely constitute 15 percent of non-believers); Seeker-Agnostic (makes up 7.6 percent of non-believers) and Non-Theist (apathetic and is only 4.4 percent of non-believers).<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/belief/6-types-atheists-and-non-believers-america The 6 Types of Atheists and Non-Believers in America] By Amanda Marcotte / AlterNet
July 11, 2013</ref>
See also: [[Antitheism and antisocial behavior]]
== American atheists and loneliness ==
[[File:PZ Myers.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|[[PZ Myers]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]
As noted above, Americans typically have a very negative view of atheists and they are often seen as lacking moral character and very arrogant (see also: [[Views on atheists]] and [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist community]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]).
In his article entitled ''The Lonely Life of an American Atheist'', Alfred Garcia wrote:
{{cquote|...life remains hard for non-theists in the United States. There is, of course, the cultural stigma—of being nontheistic in a nation where more than 90 percent of people believe in a higher power. There is only one openly atheist member of Congress, Rep. Peter Stark from California (who had a video appearance at the Reason Rally). Atheists are viewed more negatively than any other U.S. religious group, with less than half of Americans (45 percent) holding a favorable opinion of them. It can be a lonely existence. With no single umbrella organization to bring non-theists together, individuals can feel isolated, compounded by the fact that the various non-theist organizations are often fragmented in their approaches....
What has not changed much, though, is the image of the non-theist that [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair|O’Hair]] left in her wake. It’s the image of the atheist out to pick a fight, the unbeliever who is constantly seeking the next debate. As Fidalgo from CFI put it, O’Hair was an “extremely polarizing” figure who “gained visibility for [[American Atheists]] but may have been integral in forming the image of atheism in the U.S. as arrogant.”<ref>[http://religionandpolitics.org/2012/05/24/the-lonely-life-of-american-atheists/ ''The Lonely Life of an American Atheist''] by Alfred Garcia, Religion and Politics</ref>}}
__TOC__
== American atheist activists exaggerating the number of atheists in the United States ==
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]]
In 2012, the organization PolitiFact Rhode Island accused [[American Atheists]] president [[David Silverman]] of wildly exaggerating the number of atheists in America by attempting to included the Unaffiliated (also called [[Nones]]) who made up about 15% of the United States population at the time (despite the fact that only 15 percent of "nones" identify as atheists) and by also attempting to lump agnostics with the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]].<ref>[http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2012/feb/26/david-silverman/american-atheists-president-david-silverman-says-t/ American Atheists President David Silverman says there are twice as many atheists in U.S. as Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists combined] By C. Eugene Emery Jr. on Sunday, February 26th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.</ref><ref>[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2501462&sid=555&fid=181 Meet the 'Nones:' Spiritual but not religious]</ref>
According to PolitiFact Rhode Island:
{{cquote|When the American Religious survey asked people what they thought of the existence of God, 2.3 percent said 'There is no such thing.'...When Pew asked a broader question -- "Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?" -- 5 percent said "No."<ref>[http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2012/feb/26/david-silverman/american-atheists-president-david-silverman-says-t/ American Atheists President David Silverman says there are twice as many atheists in U.S. as Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists combined] By C. Eugene Emery Jr. on Sunday, February 26th, 2012 at 12:01 a.m.</ref>}}
The 2008 [[American Religious Identification Survey]] (ARIS) found that only 0.7% of U.S. adults identified as atheist, but at the same time 2.3% said there is no such thing as a god.<ref>Barry A. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, [http://b27.cc.trincoll.edu/weblogs/AmericanReligionSurvey-ARIS/reports/ARIS_Report_2008.pdf], March 2009, American Religious Identification Survey [ARIS 2008], Trinity College</ref> The reluctance of Americans to self-identify as atheists is likely due to the American public's low opinion of atheists (See: [[Views on atheists|Americans have a low opinion of atheists]]).
See also: [[David Silverman#Silverman intentionally exaggerating the number of atheists in the USA|David Silverman intentionally exaggerating the number of atheists in the USA]]
=== Atheist Jacques Berlinerblau on American atheist movements ===
[[File:67275975 vVzy1OLk PICT0158.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|The atheist Georgetown professor Jacques Berlinerblau likens the strength of the American atheist movement to a "gimpy little zebra".<ref>[http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-09/professor-jacques-berlinerblau-tells-atheists-stop-whining Professor Jacques Berlinerblau tells atheists: Stop whining!], Christian Century, Sep 14, 2012 by Kimberly Winston</ref>]]
The atheist Georgetown professor Jacques Berlinerblau declared:
{{cquote|American atheist movements, though fancying themselves a lion, are more like the gimpy little zebra crossing the river full of crocs. In terms of both political gains and popular appeal, nonbelievers in the United States have little to show. They are encircled by cunning, swarming [religious] Revivalist adversaries who know how to play the atheist card. The gimpy zebra remark was a little goofing on this over-the-top chest-thumping that emerges from Movement Atheists. They [[Nones#Atheists attempting to falsely inflate their numbers via the nones|wildly overestimate]] their numbers. They tend to overestimate the efficacy of their activism. They underestimate how disciplined and organized their adversaries in the religious right are, too. They fail to recognize that mocking religious people in public is entirely inimical to the goals they wish to achieve."<ref>[http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-09/professor-jacques-berlinerblau-tells-atheists-stop-whining Professor Jacques Berlinerblau tells atheists: Stop whining!], Christian Century, Sep 14, 2012 by Kimberly Winston</ref>}}
== Hate crimes in the United States against atheists/agnostics are very low in number ==
''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]] and [[Atheism statistics]]
According to a 2007 Pew Forum survey, about 4% of Americans are atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref>[http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew Forum Religious Landscape Survey - Key findings]</ref> A 2008 [[Gallup poll]] showed that 6% of the U.S. population believed that no god or universal spirit exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/109108/belief-god-far-lower-western-us.aspx |title=Belief in God Far Lower in Western U.S |publisher=Gallup.com |accessdate=2012-02-05}}</ref>
According to 2013 [[FBI]] statistics, 6/10 of a percent of [[hate crime]]s were against atheists/agnostics.<ref>[http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2013/topic-pages/victims/victims_final 2013 FBI hate crime statistics]</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/atheism-the-next-civil-rights-movement.html Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement], Vlad Chituc, ''The Daily Beast'', 4-6-2015</ref>
== Claims of being an oppressed minority by American atheists are often not taken seriously ==
[[File:Dennis Prager.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Dennis Prager]] is a vocal opponent of [[atheist indoctrination]] in public schools.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=43734 How atheism is being sold in America]</ref> ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
In the [[United States]], a significant amount of atheists are white males and the [[American atheism|American atheist]] population has been criticized for its lack of racial diversity and lower amount of females in its population ([[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and women]]). The Pew Research Forum reported in 2013 concerning American atheists: "About four-in-ten atheists (43%) [[Atheism and education|have a college degree]], compared with 29% of the general public."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/23/5-facts-about-atheists/ 5 facts about atheists] By Michael Lipka, Pew Research Forum, October 23, 2013</ref> In 2012, the Pew Research Forum reported regarding American atheists: "And about 38% of atheists and agnostics have an annual family income of at least $75,000, compared with 29% of the general public."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise-demographics/ “Nones” on the Rise - Demographics], Pew Research Forum, October 9, 2012</ref>
Also, atheists within the [[United States]] have developed a reputation of uncharitableness as they gave far less to charities, even if church donations are not counted (see: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]). As a result of these factors, claims of being an oppressed minority by atheists are often not taken seriously even by fellow atheists (For more information, please see: [[Atheist whining]] and [[Persecution of atheists]]).<ref>
*[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/atheism-the-next-civil-rights-movement.html Atheism: The Next Civil Rights movement], Vlad Chituc, ''The Daily Beast'', 4-6-2015
*[http://freethoughtblogs.com/almostdiamonds/2014/07/17/youre-not-oppressed-white-atheist-dudes/ “You’re Not Oppressed, White Atheist Dudes”], [[Freethoughtblogs]] - Almost Diamonds, July 17, 2014 at 6:28 pm
*[http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-thornton18apr18-story.html Disliked, Not Oppressed] By Paul Thornton, ''LA Times'', April 18, 2007</ref>
In addition, given the favorable treatment atheist activists often [[Atheism and the media|receive in the media]] and the [[Atheist indoctrination|atheistic indoctrination]] that occurs in public schools/universities, the notion of atheists as an oppressed minority is often rejected by Americans.
At the same time, in America as in many [[theism|theistic]] societies, atheists are the least trusted group and many Americans have a low opinion of atheism/atheists (see: [[Views on atheists]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]]).
Historically, many Christians have shown a significant amount of patience/tolerance towards atheists - even in face of persecution by atheists (see: [[Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists]]).
== Reason Rally ==
The [[Reason Rally]] was billed as the largest [[Atheist conferences|secular event]] in history.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2014/12/06/is_mocking_religion_enough_harris_dawkins_and_the_future_of_atheistsecular_politics/ Is mocking religion enough? Harris, Dawkins and the future of atheist/secular politics] by Richard Cimino and Christopher Smith, Salon magazine</ref> It was held in the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2012.
According to the ''Religion News Service'' 8,000-10,000 people showed up for the rally. <ref>Winston, Kimberly (March 24, 2012). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/24/atheist-rally_n_1377443.html#s811235&title=Reason_Rally_on Atheists Rally On National Mall; The 'Reason Rally' Largest Gathering Of Nonbelievers (PHOTOS)]". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-05-02.</ref> ''The Atlantic'' reported 20,000 individuals were in attendance.<ref>Benjamin Fearnow & Mickey Woods, [http://www.theatlantic.com/national/print/2012/03/richard-dawkins-preaches-to-nonbelievers-at-reason-rally/255012/ "Richard Dawkins Preaches to Nonbelievers at Reason Rally"], ''The Atlantic'', March 24, 2012.</ref>
Although the event was billed as the largest secular event in world history, strictly speaking that is not accurate. [[Communism|Communist]] countries have embraced [[state atheism]]. And [[Marxism|Marxist]]-[[Vladimir Lenin|Leninism]] along with [[Maoism]] explicitly adhered to the [[atheist worldview]] and communist countries have engaged in [[militant atheism]] and religious persecution (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).<ref>[http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism]</ref> China [[Atheism and communism|still engages]] in religious persecution. Communist countries often had large/massive rallies. For example, at [[Tiananmen Square]] during the [[Cultural Revolution]], the atheist [[Mao Zedong]] greeted 1,500 [[Red Guards|Red Guards]] and waved to 800,000 Red Guards and spectators below.
<ref>(Chinese) [http://dangshi.people.com.cn/GB/85039/14329784.html 倪天祚, "毛主席八次接见红卫兵的组织工作" 中国共产党新闻网] 2011-04-07</ref>
== American 1990s secularism ==
''See also:'' [[Decline of American 1990s secularism]]
In 2008, the [[American Religious Identification Survey]] (ARIS) reported:
{{cquote|The 1990s was the decade when the “secular boom” occurred – each year 1.3 million more adult Americans joined the ranks of the Nones. Since 2001 the annual increase has halved to 660,000 a year...
Regarding belief in the divine, most Nones are neither [[atheism|atheists]] nor [[theism|theists]] but rather [[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[deism|deists]] (59%) and perhaps best described as [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptics]].<ref>[http://commons.trincoll.edu/aris/2009/09/22/american_nones_the_profile_of_the_no_religion_population/ Press: Americans Who Don’t Identify with a Religion No Longer a Fringe Group]</ref>}}
In 2012, Baylor University indicated that a significant amount of American nondenominational church members are checking "unaffiliated" or "no religion" on surveys.<ref>http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/research-shows-american.html</ref> Nondenominational Christians, who tend to be conservative and creationists, are the fastest growing segment of the religious population.<ref>http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/research-shows-american.html</ref>
== Lack of significant outreach to racial minorities in the Western World ==
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]]
The atheist community has not had significant outreach to racial minorities within the [[Western World]] whereas Christians have done this (particularly among the poor).<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about] by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014</ref> The atheist [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] declared “If mainstream freethought and [[Secular humanism|humanism]] continue to reflect the narrow cultural interests of white elites who have disposable income to go to conferences then the secular movement is destined to remain marginal and insular.”<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2014/10/04/atheisms_white_male_problem_a_movement_needs_a_moral_cause_beyond_glamorizing_disbelief/ Atheism’s white male problem: A movement needs a moral cause beyond glamorizing disbelief] by CJ Werleman, ''Salon, '' October 4, 2014</ref>
In the United States, the Hispanic population is expected to triple by the year 2050 and become 30% of the United States population.<ref>[U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050 U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050], USA Today, By Haya El Nasser, 2/12/2008</ref>
== Demographics and trends in American secularism ==
[[File:Bread for the world.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|Due to Hispanic [[evangelicalism|evangelicals]], church attendance was up in New York City in 2013.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2013/11/hispanics-turning-evangelical-jews-secular.php Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secular], Beliefnet.com, November 2103</ref>
<br /><br />
With the continued rise in the number of Hispanic, Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians in North America and the rise of evangelicalism in Latin America and South America, [[secular left|secular leftism]] is not going to be dominant in America's long term future.<ref>
*[http://global.christianpost.com/news/3-reasons-america-may-become-more-religious-102859/ 3 Reasons America May Become More Religious] By Napp Nazworth, ''Christian Post'', August 22, 2013
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-writing-is-on-wall-godless.html The writing is on the wall amigos: Godless progressivism will not be dominant in the USA's future], August 14, 2013
*[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2013/11/hispanics-turning-evangelical-jews-secular.php Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secular], Beliefnet.com, November 2013
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/hispanic-evangelical-church_n_3055752.html Rise Of Hispanic Evangelical Church: Time Magazine Discusses Influence Of Latinos In America's Religion], Huffington Post, April 11, 2013
*[http://nation.time.com/2013/04/04/the-rise-of-evangelicos/ The Rise of Evangélicos] By Elizabeth ''Time'' magazine, April 4, 2013</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Demographics and the expected decline of American secularism]]
Notwithstanding the abovementioned increase in secularism, the Birkbeck College, University of London professor Eric Kaufman wrote in his 2010 book ''Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth?'' concerning American secularism:
{{cquote|High evangelical fertility rates more than compensated for losses to liberal Protestant sects during the twentieth century. In recent decades, white secularism has surged, but Latino and Asian religious immigration has taken up the slack, keeping secularism at bay. Across denominations, the fertility advantage of religious fundamentalists of all colours is significant and growing. After 2020, their demographic weight will begin to tip the balance in the [[Culture War|culture wars]] towards the conservative side, ramping up pressure on hot-button issues such as [[abortion]]. By the end of the century, three quarters of America may be pro-life. Their activism will leap over the borders of the 'Redeemer Nation' to evangelize the world. Already, the rise of the World Congress of Families has launched a global religious right, its arms stretching across the bloody lines of the War on Terror to embrace the entire Abrahamic family.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-are-years-2012-and-2020-key-years.html Why are 2012 and 2020 key years for Christian creationists and pro-lifers?]</ref>}}
=== Demography research indicating that religiosity in the United States may experience growth ===
In 2013, citing experts in demography and survey data, the ''Christian Post'' declared that there were three trends pointing to the United States potentially becoming more religious in coming years - namely an aging population becoming more religious over time, religious immigrants and the higher fertility rate of religious conservatives.<ref>[http://global.christianpost.com/news/3-reasons-america-may-become-more-religious-102859/ 3 Reasons America May Become More Religious]</ref>
=== Hispanic evangelicalism ===
Due to Hispanic [[evangelicalism|evangelicals]], church attendance was up in New York City in 2013.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2013/11/hispanics-turning-evangelical-jews-secular.php Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secular], Beliefnet.com, November 2103</ref>
With the continued rise in the number of Hispanic, evangelical Christians in North America and the rise of evangelicalism in Latin America and South America, [[secular left|secular leftism]] is not going to be dominant in America's future.<ref>
*[http://global.christianpost.com/news/3-reasons-america-may-become-more-religious-102859/ 3 Reasons America May Become More Religious] By Napp Nazworth, ''Christian Post'', August 22, 2013
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-writing-is-on-wall-godless.html The writing is on the wall amigos: Godless progressivism will not be dominant in the USA's future], August 14, 2013
*[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2013/11/hispanics-turning-evangelical-jews-secular.php Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secular], Beliefnet.com, November 2013
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/hispanic-evangelical-church_n_3055752.html Rise Of Hispanic Evangelical Church: Time Magazine Discusses Influence Of Latinos In America's Religion], Huffington Post, April 11, 2013
*[http://nation.time.com/2013/04/04/the-rise-of-evangelicos/ The Rise of Evangélicos] By Elizabeth ''Time'' magazine, April 4, 2013</ref>
==== Hispanics and the future of religion/irreligion in the United States ====
*[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2013/11/hispanics-turning-evangelical-jews-secular.php Hispanics turning evangelical, Jews secular], Beliefnet.com, November 2013
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/11/hasta-luego-american-godless.html Hasta luego, American godless progressivism! Worship service attendance is up in New York City amigos!], November 7, 2013
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-writing-is-on-wall-godless.html The writing is on the wall amigos: Godless progressivism will not be dominant in the USA's future], August 14, 2013
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/hispanic-evangelical-church_n_3055752.html Rise Of Hispanic Evangelical Church: Time Magazine Discusses Influence Of Latinos In America's Religion], Huffington Post, April 11, 2013
*[http://nation.time.com/2013/04/04/the-rise-of-evangelicos/ The Rise of Evangélicos] By Elizabeth ''Time'' magazine, April 4, 2013
=== Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon religion/irreligion demographic projections ===
[[File:Loc of United States.png|thumbnail|250px|left|Current religious demography scholarship suggest that the relatively low fertility of secular Americans and the religiosity of the immigrant inflow provide a countervailing force that will cause the secularization process within the total population to plateau before 2043.
<br /><br />
This represents an important theoretical point in that demography permits society to become more religious even as individuals tend to become less religious over time.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/jssr_15101.pdf ''Secularism, Fundamentalism or Catholicism? The Religious Composition of the United States to 2043''], ''Journal for the Sientific Study of Religion'', vol. 49, no. 2 (June) 2010, Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon,</ref>]]
In their 2010 journal article entitled, ''Secularism, Fundamentalism or Catholicism? The Religious Composition of the United States to 2043'' published in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon wrote:
{{cquote|We find considerable stability of religious groups over time, but there are some important shifts. Hispanic Catholics experience the strongest growth rates to 2043. Immigration, high fertility, and a young age structure will enable this group to expand from 10 to 18 percent of the American population between 2003 and 2043, despite a net loss of communicants to secularism and Protestantism. This will power the growth of Catholics as a whole, who will surpass Protestants by mid century within the nation’s youngest age groups. This represents a historic moment for a country settled by anti-Catholic Puritans, whose Revolution was motivated in part by a desire to spread dissenting Protestantism and whose populationon the eve of revolution was 98 percent Protestant (Huntington 2004; Kaufmann 2004). Another important development concerns the growth of the Muslim population and decline of the Jews. High Muslim fertility and a young Muslim age structure contrasts with low Jewish childbearing levels and a mature Jewish age structure. Barring an unforeseen shift in the religious composition and size of the immigrant flow, Muslims will surpass Jews in the population by 2023 and in the electorate by 2028. This could have profound effects on the course of American foreign policy. Within the non-Hispanic white population, we expect to see continued Liberal Protestant decline due to low fertility and a net loss in exchanges with other groups. White Catholics will also lose due to a net outflow of converts. Fundamentalist and Moderate Protestant denominations will hold their own within the white population, but will decline overall as the white share of the population falls.
The finding that Protestant fundamentalism may decline in relative terms over the medium
term contrasts with a prevailing view that envisions the continued growth of “strong religion”
(Stark and Iannaccone 1994a). This is the result of an older age structure, which increases
loss through mortality, and immigration, which reduces the size of all predominantly white
denominations — all of which are poorly represented in the immigration flow. Fundamentalists’
relatively high fertility and net surplus from the religious marketplace is not sufficient to counteract the effects of immigration. Obviously, this could change if significant immigration begins to arrive from more Pentecostalist source countries such as Guatemala or parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Our work also sheds light on the religious restructuring paradigm, though we do not find a
clear victor between secularism and fundamentalism. The secular population will grow substantially in the decades ahead because it has a young age structure and more people leave religion
than enter it. The sharpest gains for secularism will be within the white population, where seculars
will surpass fundamentalists by 2030. On the other hand, there are important demographic limits
to secularism, demonstrating the power of religious demography. The relatively low fertility of
secular Americans and the religiosity of the immigrant inflow provide a countervailing force that
will cause the secularization process within the total population to plateau before 2043. This
represents an important theoretical point in that demography permits society to become more
religious even as individuals tend to become less religious over time.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/jssr_15101.pdf ''Secularism, Fundamentalism or Catholicism? The Religious Composition of the United States to 2043''], ''Journal for the Sientific Study of Religion'', vol. 49, no. 2 (June) 2010, Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon,</ref>}}
== Past long Term Increase in Those Who Have No Religious Identity ==
''See also:'' [[Nones]]
Over the longer term there has been a substantial and relatively steady increase in the number of Americans having [[Nones|no religious identity]]. Gallup has been specifically tracking this trend since 1948.<ref>[http://www.gallup.com/poll/128276/Increasing-Number-No-Religious-Identity.aspx Gallup: In U.S., Increasing Number Have No Religious Identity]</ref> At that point a mere 2% of Americans volunteered "no religion". In the intervening years, however, the numbers have steadily grown so that in 2008 the figure had reached some 16% of the population. However, the [[Nones#Percentage of nones expected to stabilize in the United States|percentage of nones is expected to stabilize in the United States]].
As noted above, in 2012 Baylor University indicated that a significant amount of American nondenominational church members are checking "unaffiliated" or "no religion" on surveys.<ref>http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/research-shows-american.html</ref> Nondenominational Christians, who tend to be conservative and creationists, are the fastest growing segment of the religious population.<ref>http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/research-shows-american.html</ref>
A summary of the research is described as follows:
{{cquote|Gallup surveys confirm a downward drift in religious identity among Americans, as well as a slight increase in the number of Americans who view religion as old-fashioned and out of date.
Lack of identification with a formal religious group does not necessarily mean religion is irrelevant in a broad sense in a person's life. One can remain quite religious, or at least spiritual, while at the same time eschewing attachment to or identity with a formal religion or denomination.
Still, trends on an additional Gallup question indicate that there has in fact been a slight uptick in the percentage of Americans who say religion is not very important in their daily lives -- from a range of 11% to 14% through most of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to 19% over the past two years. This suggests that there may be some diminution of "inner" religion accompanying the reduction in explicit religious identity and the increased perception that religion is largely old-fashioned and out of date.}}
== United States atheism news ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism news]]
*[http://www.christianexaminer.com/article/commentators.say.pew.survey.overestimates.decline/48944.htm Pew survey overestimates decline in Christianity, observers say] by Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner, May, 15 2015
*[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2948803/Man-arrested-3-shot-death-North-Carolina.html Three Muslim students shot dead execution-style 'by neighbor who had ranted against religion' in fight over parking at UNC Chapel Hill]'' by Claire Carter and Lydia Warren, Daily Mail'', February 11, 2015
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-group-forces-calif-mother-to-remove-cross-honoring-dead-son-115751/ Atheists Force Woman to Remove Cross Honoring Dead Son] by Katherine Weber, ''Christian Post'', March 7, 2014
*[http://global.christianpost.com/news/3-reasons-america-may-become-more-religious-102859/ 3 Reasons America May Become More Religious] By Napp Nazworth, ''Christian Post'', August 22, 2013
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-are-years-2012-and-2020-key-years.html Why is the year 2020 a key year for Christian creationists and pro-lifers?], May 20, 2012
== See also ==
*[[American Atheists]]
*[[American atheists and church attendance]]
*[[Atheist Population]]
*[[Global atheism]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Decline of atheism]]
*[[Atheist whining]]
Essay:
*[[Essay: 10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline|10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category: Atheism]]