Changes

According to the 2014 [[General Social Survey]] (GSS), the number of [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] in the United States has remained relatively stable in the past 23 years. In 1991, 2% of Americans identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic. In 2014, 3% of Americans identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics.<ref>Hout, Michael; Smith, Tom (March 2015). "[http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS%20Reports/GSS_Religion_2014.pdf Fewer Americans Affiliate with Organized Religions, Belief and Practice Unchanged: Key Findings from the 2014 General Social Survey]" (PDF). General Social Survey. NORC</ref>

According to the 2014 [[General Social Survey]] (GSS), the number of [[atheism|atheists]] and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] in the United States has remained relatively stable in the past 23 years. In 1991, 2% of Americans identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic. In 2014, 3% of Americans identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics.<ref>Hout, Michael; Smith, Tom (March 2015). "[http://www.norc.org/PDFs/GSS%20Reports/GSS_Religion_2014.pdf Fewer Americans Affiliate with Organized Religions, Belief and Practice Unchanged: Key Findings from the 2014 General Social Survey]" (PDF). General Social Survey. NORC</ref>

In June of 2016, ''American Interest'' reported:

In June 2016, ''American Interest'' reported:

{{Cquote|First of all, religious belief is still very powerful and widespread, and there is nothing inevitable about its decline. In fact, the proportion of people who say they believe in God actually ticked modestly upward, from 86 percent to 89 percent, since [[Gallup Poll|Gallup]] last asked the question in 2014.<ref>[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/06/30/atheism-is-rising-but/ Atheism is Rising, But…], American Interest</ref>}}

{{Cquote|First of all, religious belief is still very powerful and widespread, and there is nothing inevitable about its decline. In fact, the proportion of people who say they believe in God actually ticked modestly upward, from 86 percent to 89 percent, since [[Gallup Poll|Gallup]] last asked the question in 2014.<ref>[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/06/30/atheism-is-rising-but/ Atheism is Rising, But…], American Interest</ref>}}

{{Cquote|The organisational structure of the atheist movement is characterised by plurality and eclecticism. Based around no predominant group and possessing no formal leadership or tangible set of governing arrangements, this movement assumes a non-hierarchical and decentralised form that operates within a number of organisations set up to promote a range of atheist, secularist, and humanist (collectively referred to here as ‘ASH’) ideas and causes. Notable organisations include: the American Humanist Association (established in 1941), [[American Atheists]] (formed in 1963), the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] (1978), the Council for Secular Humanism (1980), the Atheist Alliance of America (1991), the [[Center for Inquiry]] (1991), the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (1998), the [[Secular Student Alliance]] (2000), the Secular Coalition for America (2002), and the United Coalition of Reason (2009).

{{Cquote|The organisational structure of the atheist movement is characterised by plurality and eclecticism. Based around no predominant group and possessing no formal leadership or tangible set of governing arrangements, this movement assumes a non-hierarchical and decentralised form that operates within a number of organisations set up to promote a range of atheist, secularist, and humanist (collectively referred to here as ‘ASH’) ideas and causes. Notable organisations include: the American Humanist Association (established in 1941), [[American Atheists]] (formed in 1963), the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] (1978), the Council for Secular Humanism (1980), the Atheist Alliance of America (1991), the [[Center for Inquiry]] (1991), the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (1998), the [[Secular Student Alliance]] (2000), the Secular Coalition for America (2002), and the United Coalition of Reason (2009).

At the present time, little is known about the specific composition of such groups and the reasons why individuals become actively involved in the atheism movement are still being debated (e.g. LeDrew). Research suggests that a majority of atheists positively engage in efforts to promote atheism in some form (Silver), but it appears that only a small percentage become involved in formal organisations of this kind. Research also indicates that atheists who are actively participating in formal non-religious organisations tend to belong to a number of different groups at any one time (Hunsberger and Altemeyer).<ref>[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell]''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}

At the present time, little is known about the specific composition of such groups and the reasons why individuals become actively involved in the atheism movement are still being debated (e.g. LeDrew). Research suggests that a majority of atheists positively engage in efforts to promote atheism in some form (Silver), but it appears that only a small percentage become involved in formal organisations of this kind. Research also indicates that atheists who are actively participating in formal non-religious organisations tend to belong to a number of different groups at any one time (Hunsberger and Altemeyer).<ref>[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13537903.2014.945722 Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States] by Steven Kettell ''Journal of Contemporary Religion'', Volume 29, Issue 3, 2014</ref>}}

== Atheist Eddie Tabash on the American atheist movement ==

== Atheist Eddie Tabash on the American atheist movement ==