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| | [[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>]] | | [[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>]] |
| − | Atheist Francois Tremblay wrote: "One last problem that undermines any propagation of [[atheism]] is inspiration. Let's be honest here, 'there is no god!' is not a very motivating call for most people."<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref> See also: [[Atheism is uninspiring]] | + | Atheist Francois Tremblay wrote: "One last problem that undermines any propagation of [[atheism]] is inspiration. Let's be honest here, 'there is no god!' is not a very motivating call for most people."<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html ''Herding Cats: Why atheism will lose''] by Francois Tremblay</ref> See also: [[Atheism and inspiration]] |
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| | According Pew Research: | | According Pew Research: |
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| | == Ex-atheist Alister McGrath on atheism == | | == Ex-atheist Alister McGrath on atheism == |
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| − | ''See also:'' [[Atheism is uninspiring]] | + | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and inspiration]] |
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| | The [[ex-atheist]] [[Alister McGrath]] has repeatedly pointed out the uninspiring nature of atheism.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tSQPGYvE0s Clear Voices 2014 - Alister McGrath - C. S. Lewis’s Vision of the Christianity] | | The [[ex-atheist]] [[Alister McGrath]] has repeatedly pointed out the uninspiring nature of atheism.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tSQPGYvE0s Clear Voices 2014 - Alister McGrath - C. S. Lewis’s Vision of the Christianity] |
| | *''In the Aftermath: Provocations and Laments'' By David Bentley Hart, page 136</ref> According to McGrath, atheism is "stale", "dull" and difficult to believe.<ref> | | *''In the Aftermath: Provocations and Laments'' By David Bentley Hart, page 136</ref> According to McGrath, atheism is "stale", "dull" and difficult to believe.<ref> |
| | *[http://www.christian.org.uk/news/stale-dull-atheism-is-in-decline-says-professor/ ‘Stale, dull atheism is in decline’ says professor], The Christian Institute | | *[http://www.christian.org.uk/news/stale-dull-atheism-is-in-decline-says-professor/ ‘Stale, dull atheism is in decline’ says professor], The Christian Institute |
| − | *[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/atheism.in.decline.and.will.be.defeated.by.faith.says.oxford.professor/71639.htm Atheism in decline and will be defeated by faith, says Oxford professor] by Harry Farley, ''Christianity Today'', 25 November 2015</ref> Throughout mankind's history, most people have found [[atheism]] to be uninspiring (See also: [[Atheism is uninspiring]] and [[Atheism and sloth]]). | + | *[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/atheism.in.decline.and.will.be.defeated.by.faith.says.oxford.professor/71639.htm Atheism in decline and will be defeated by faith, says Oxford professor] by Harry Farley, ''Christianity Today'', 25 November 2015</ref> Throughout mankind's history, most people have found [[atheism]] to be uninspiring (See also: [[Atheism and inspiration]] and [[Atheism and sloth]]). |
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| | == Events that have lowered the morale of the atheist movement == | | == Events that have lowered the morale of the atheist movement == |
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| | == Atheists have a low retention rate compared to other worldviews == | | == Atheists have a low retention rate compared to other worldviews == |
| | [[File:Georgetown University -28.JPG|thumbnail|right|150px|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>]] | | [[File:Georgetown University -28.JPG|thumbnail|right|150px|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 is uninspiring]] | + | ''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheism and inspiration]] |
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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: | | 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: |