Changes

[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|right|200px|thumbnail|[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|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|right|200px|thumbnail|[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|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>]]

The current global [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]]

The current global [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Global atheism]]

The cause of many irreligious countries having aging populations is their sub-replacement fertility rates.  

The cause of many irreligious countries having aging populations is their sub-replacement fertility rates.  

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref>[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref>[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref>  See also: [[Atheism and sexuality]]

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name="scilogs.eu">[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref name="scilogs.eu"/>  See also: [[Atheism and sexuality]]

The ''Washington Post'' wrote about the United States and fertility rates for various religious groups:

The ''Washington Post'' wrote about the United States and fertility rates for various religious groups:

''See also'': [[Asian atheism]] and [[East Asia and global desecularization]]

''See also'': [[Asian atheism]] and [[East Asia and global desecularization]]

[[File:Aging East Asian population.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|An elderly man in Beijing, China.

[[File:Aging East Asian population.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|An elderly man in Beijing, China.

 

CNBC reported in 2015: "36 percent of the world's population over 65 currently live in East Asia. That's 211 million people and it is projected to rise over time."<ref name="cnbc.com">[http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/08/east-asia-could-be-in-trouble-due-to-aging-population-world-bank-says.html Here's why East Asia could be in big trouble], CNBC</ref>]]

CNBC reported in 2015: "36 percent of the world's population over 65 currently live in East Asia. That's 211 million people and it is projected to rise over time."<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/08/east-asia-could-be-in-trouble-due-to-aging-population-world-bank-says.html Here's why East Asia could be in big trouble], CNBC</ref>]]

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]]

{{Cquote|If stock market volatility, slowing economies, and low commodity prices were not enough of a problem for East Asia, many countries in the region now have to worry about losing as much as 15 percent of their working-age population by 2040, according to the World Bank.

{{Cquote|If stock market volatility, slowing economies, and low commodity prices were not enough of a problem for East Asia, many countries in the region now have to worry about losing as much as 15 percent of their working-age population by 2040, according to the World Bank.

In a report released Wednesday, the World Bank said aging population and low fertility rates are to blame as 36 percent of the world's population over 65 currently live in East Asia. That's 211 million people and it is projected to rise over time.<ref>[http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/08/east-asia-could-be-in-trouble-due-to-aging-population-world-bank-says.html Here's why East Asia could be in big trouble], CNBC</ref>}}  

In a report released Wednesday, the World Bank said aging population and low fertility rates are to blame as 36 percent of the world's population over 65 currently live in East Asia. That's 211 million people and it is projected to rise over time.<ref name="cnbc.com">[http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/08/east-asia-could-be-in-trouble-due-to-aging-population-world-bank-says.html Here's why East Asia could be in big trouble], CNBC</ref>}}  

According to the global news website ''Quartz'', Asia is going through a process of [[desecularization]]:

According to the global news website ''Quartz'', Asia is going through a process of [[desecularization]]:

{{cquote|[[Atheism|Atheists]], [[Agnostics|agnostics]], and other [[Nones|religious non-affiliates]] are a dying breed in Asia. According to a [http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol32/27/32-27.pdf Pew Research Center study] released last week, Asia’s shrinking pool of men and women who don’t identify with any religion are driving a drop in the proportion of “religious nones” in the world.

{{cquote|[[Atheism|Atheists]], [[agnostics]], and other [[Nones|religious non-affiliates]] are a dying breed in Asia. According to a [http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol32/27/32-27.pdf Pew Research Center study] released last week, Asia’s shrinking pool of men and women who don’t identify with any religion are driving a drop in the proportion of “religious nones” in the world.

The percentage of the unaffiliated in Asia Pacific—home to about 76% of the world’s unaffiliated—will fall to 17% in 2050 from 21%, Pew estimates. ...this drop in Asia and the growth of religious communities elsewhere will mean the unaffiliated will make up only 13% of the world’s population in 2050, down from 16% in 2010.<ref>[http://qz.com/377065/across-the-asia-pacific-the-population-of-atheists-and-agnostics-is-shrinking/ Across the Asia Pacific, the population of atheists and agnostics is shrinking]</ref>}}

The percentage of the unaffiliated in Asia Pacific—home to about 76% of the world’s unaffiliated—will fall to 17% in 2050 from 21%, Pew estimates. ...this drop in Asia and the growth of religious communities elsewhere will mean the unaffiliated will make up only 13% of the world’s population in 2050, down from 16% in 2010.<ref>[http://qz.com/377065/across-the-asia-pacific-the-population-of-atheists-and-agnostics-is-shrinking/ Across the Asia Pacific, the population of atheists and agnostics is shrinking]</ref>}}

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014).  [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"].  FactTank/Pew Research Center website.</ref>

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014).  [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"].  FactTank/Pew Research Center website.</ref>

 

''See also:'' [[Secular Europe]] and [[Growth of global desecularization]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Secular Europe]] and [[Growth of global desecularization]] ]]

Giuseppe Carone and Declan Costello of the [[International Monetary Fund]] projected in September of 2006 that the ratio of retirees to workers in Europe will double to 0.54 by 2050 (from four workers per retiree to two workers per retiree).<ref name=c>{{cite web|url=http://goldsea.com/Asiagate/607/17europe.html|title=Europe's Aging Population Faces Social Problems Similar to Japan's|publisher=Goldsea Asian American Daily|accessdate=15 December 2007}}</ref>

Giuseppe Carone and Declan Costello of the [[International Monetary Fund]] projected in September 2006 that the ratio of retirees to workers in Europe will double to 0.54 by 2050 (from four workers per retiree to two workers per retiree).<ref name=c>{{cite web|url=http://goldsea.com/Asiagate/607/17europe.html|title=Europe's Aging Population Faces Social Problems Similar to Japan's|publisher=Goldsea Asian American Daily|accessdate=15 December 2007}}</ref>

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014).  [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"].  FactTank/Pew Research Center website.</ref> The cause of this matter is the sub-replacement level of secular Europeans and the higher fertility rates of religious countries in the world.  

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj"/> The cause of this matter is the sub-replacement level of secular Europeans and the higher fertility rates of religious countries in the world.  

However, within secular Europe, there are religious sub-populations seeing significant growth which along with religious immigrants will cause a desecularization of Europe sometime in the 21st century (see: [[European atheism and 21st century decline]]).

However, within secular Europe, there are religious sub-populations seeing significant growth which along with religious immigrants will cause a desecularization of Europe sometime in the 21st century (see: [[European atheism and 21st century decline]]).

Atheist ideology is part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).  

Atheist ideology is part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).  

According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title="Investigating atheism: Marxism"|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014|}}</ref>  

According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref>  

[[File:Joseph-stalin.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people. See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]. ]]

[[File:Joseph-stalin.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people. See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]]. ]]

In 2002, the The National Council for Eurasian and East European Research published a paper entitled ''Are the Communist Dying out in Russia?'' which declared:

In 2002, the The National Council for Eurasian and East European Research published a paper entitled ''Are the Communist Dying out in Russia?'' which declared: