Changes

Atheists in religious countries or religious subcultures often face family and social pressure to be silent about their atheism and for many young people the thought of telling their parents about their atheism causes them a great deal of anguish.<ref>[http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2008/07/30/us-atheists-to-have-coming-out-party/ U.S. atheists to have ‘coming out party’]</ref> It is not uncommon for [[Islam|Muslims]] who become atheists to be disowned by their family and to sometimes receive death threats.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/allah-vs-atheism-leaving-islam-was-the-hardest-thing-i-ve-done-9069598.html Allah vs atheism: ‘Leaving Islam was the hardest thing I’ve done’], The Independent</ref> See also: [[Persecution of atheists]]

Atheists in religious countries or religious subcultures often face family and social pressure to be silent about their atheism and for many young people the thought of telling their parents about their atheism causes them a great deal of anguish.<ref>[http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2008/07/30/us-atheists-to-have-coming-out-party/ U.S. atheists to have ‘coming out party’]</ref> It is not uncommon for [[Islam|Muslims]] who become atheists to be disowned by their family and to sometimes receive death threats.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/allah-vs-atheism-leaving-islam-was-the-hardest-thing-i-ve-done-9069598.html Allah vs atheism: ‘Leaving Islam was the hardest thing I’ve done’], The Independent</ref> See also: [[Persecution of atheists]]

The [[We Are Atheism]] campaign was launched by atheists to address the widespread prevalence of closet atheism. [[David Silverman]] (ex-president of the [[American Atheists]]) mentioned the issue of "closet atheists" in a publicity piece promoting the campaign.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/23/we-are-atheism-atheists-campaign_n_1109080.html 'We Are Atheism': Atheists Launch Campaign To Get Unbelievers To 'Come Out'], ''Huffington Post''</ref>  

The [[We Are Atheism]] campaign was launched by atheists to address the widespread prevalence of closet atheism. [[David Silverman]] (ex-president of the [[American Atheists]]) mentioned the issue of "closet atheists" in a publicity piece promoting the campaign.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/23/we-are-atheism-atheists-campaign_n_1109080.html 'We Are Atheism': Atheists Launch Campaign To Get Unbelievers To 'Come Out'], ''Huffington Post''</ref>  

A Eurobarometer poll in 2010 reported that 37% of UK citizens "believed there is a God", 33% believe there is "some sort of spirit or life force" and 25% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, p. 204"]. Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010.</ref>  See also: [[British atheism]]

A Eurobarometer poll in 2010 reported that 37% of UK citizens "believed there is a God", 33% believe there is "some sort of spirit or life force" and 25% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, p. 204"]. Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010.</ref>  See also: [[British atheism]]

[[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders 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 name="Harris"/> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]

[[Sam Harris]] is one of the founders 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 name="Harris"/> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/> See also: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]

Due to the stigma of the label of atheist, it is common for atheists to choose to call themselves skeptics, nonbelievers, [[Humanism|humanists]] and [[freethought|freethinkers]]<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref> Individuals of Jewish descent often call themselves secular Jews or simply Jews rather than call themselves atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

Due to the stigma of the label of atheist, it is common for atheists to choose to call themselves skeptics, nonbelievers, [[Humanism|humanists]] and [[freethought|freethinkers]]<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?] by Roy Speckhardt. HuffPost Religion</ref> Individuals of Jewish descent often call themselves secular Jews or simply Jews rather than call themselves atheists.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

== Reluctance of many atheists to tell others about their atheism ==

== Reluctance of many atheists to tell others about their atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Islam]] and [[Militant atheism vs. Christianity, Islam and right-wing ideology]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Islam]] and [[Militant atheism vs. Christianity, Islam and right-wing ideology]]

The number of atheists is growing in [[Islam]]ic countries, but statistics on the number of atheists is hazy due due to the fact that atheists are very often closet atheists in Islamic countries.<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/1/atheists-in-muslim-world-growing-silent-minority/ Atheists in Muslim world: Silent, resentful and growing in number], ''Washington Times''</ref> See also: [[Persecution of atheists]]

The number of atheists is growing in [[Islam]]ic countries, but statistics on the number of atheists is hazy due due to the fact that atheists are very often closet atheists in Islamic countries.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/1/atheists-in-muslim-world-growing-silent-minority/ Atheists in Muslim world: Silent, resentful and growing in number], ''Washington Times''</ref> See also: [[Persecution of atheists]]

== See also ==

== See also ==

*[http://www.inquisitr.com/4160840/closet-atheists-study-finds-most-non-believers-fear-social-stigma-of-atheism-claim-to-be-religious/ Closet Atheist: Most Non-believers Fear Social Stigma of Atheism and Claim To Be Religious], Inquistir

*[http://www.inquisitr.com/4160840/closet-atheists-study-finds-most-non-believers-fear-social-stigma-of-atheism-claim-to-be-religious/ Closet Atheist: Most Non-believers Fear Social Stigma of Atheism and Claim To Be Religious], Inquistir

*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/study-closet-athiests_us_58f67e31e4b0de5bac41d3eb New Study Suggests U.S. Has A Lot Of ‘Closet’ Atheists], ''Huffington Post''

*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/study-closet-athiests_us_58f67e31e4b0de5bac41d3eb New Study Suggests U.S. Has A Lot Of ‘Closet’ Atheists], ''Huffington Post''

*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2014/09/24/why-some-of-us-dont-come-out-of-the-atheist-closet/ Why Some of Us Don’t Come Out of the Atheist Closet] by Neil Carter

*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2014/09/24/why-some-of-us-dont-come-out-of-the-atheist-closet/ Why Some of Us Don’t Come Out of the Atheist Closet] by Neil Carter