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In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
Secularism tends to make society more progressive.<ref>Van Tongeren, Daryl R. et al. "Religious dones become more politically liberal after leaving religion." ''Journal of Personality'', 2025.</ref> Furthermore, it is a sufficient, though not necessary, condition for demographic decline.<ref>Schnabel, Landon. "Secularism and fertility worldwide." ''Socius'', v. 7, 2021.</ref> Secular individuals have significantly fewer children than religious ones.<ref>Kaufmann, Eric. ''Shall the religious inherit the earth?: Demography and politics in the twenty-first century''. Profile Books, 2010.</ref><ref>Stark, Rodney. ''America's blessings: How religion benefits everyone, including atheists''. Templeton Foundation Press, 2012.</ref> This creates problems such as pressure on pension systems and labor shortages. In Europe, this has led to an increase in immigration.<ref>Schnabel, Landon. "Secularism and fertility worldwide." ''Socius'', v. 7, 2021.</ref> These immigrants have made Islam the fastest-growing religion on the continent,<ref>[https://time.com/3671514/islam-europe/ How Islam Became the Fastest-Growing Religion in Europe], ''TIME'', January 16, 2015.</ref> and the non-Muslim population is projected to decrease.<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/ Europe’s Growing Muslim Population], ''Pew Research Center'', November 29, 2017.</ref> This has already produced a series of conflicts, mainly—and ironically—with secular individuals themselves.<ref>Ribberink, Egbert; Achterberg, Peter; Houtman, Dick. "Secular tolerance? Anti‐Muslim sentiment in Western Europe." ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', v. 56, n. 2, pp. 259-276, 2017.</ref> In Sweden, two atheists staged a protest by burning copies of the Quran.<ref>[https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2023/09/03/charlie-hebdo-s-lawyer-penalizing-quran-burnings-means-embarking-on-an-extraordinarily-dangerous-path_6122010_23.html Charlie Hebdo's lawyer: 'Penalizing Quran burnings means embarking on an extraordinarily dangerous path'], ''Le Monde'', September 3, 2023.</ref> This led to a series of protests, acts of vandalism, and violence.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66706937 Violent protests after Quran burning in Sweden], ''BBC News'', September 4, 2023.</ref> In Denmark, it resulted in a ban on the burning of the Quran.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67651580 Denmark passes law to ban Quran burnings], ''BBC News'', December 7, 2023.</ref>
== Secular state ==
== Secular state ==