Changes

For some, the story of this survey, based on interviews in multiple languages with more than 35,000 adults, is the strength of American Religion.

For some, the story of this survey, based on interviews in multiple languages with more than 35,000 adults, is the strength of American Religion.

Not too long ago, I wrote that American atheism was going the way of the freak show.  As books by Christopher Hitchens and other "new atheists" climbed the best seller lists, I caught a lot of flak for that prophecy. But atheist make up only 1.6% of respondents to this survey....<ref>American Faith: A Work In Progess by Stephen Prothero, USA Today, March 10, 2008, page 11A</ref>}}

Not too long ago, I wrote that American atheism was going the way of the freak show.  As books by Christopher Hitchens and other "new atheists" climbed the best seller lists, I caught a lot of flak for that prophecy. But atheist make up only 1.6% of respondents to this survey....<ref>American Faith: A Work In Progress by Stephen Prothero, USA Today, March 10, 2008, page 11A</ref>}}

A prime reason for the ineffectiveness of the "New Atheism" is the shallowness of its material.  For example, even atheist philosopher Michael Ruse stated that that Richard Dawkins' book ''The God Delusion'' made him "embarrassed to be an atheist".<ref name="TDD3">http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/47052/?page=3</ref>

A prime reason for the ineffectiveness of the "New Atheism" is the shallowness of its material.  For example, even atheist philosopher Michael Ruse stated that that Richard Dawkins' book ''The God Delusion'' made him "embarrassed to be an atheist".<ref name="TDD3">http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/47052/?page=3</ref>

The "New Atheism" largely has a unfavorable view outside the United States as well.  The [[liberal]] leaning British publication the [[Guardian]] stated the following regarding the "New Atheism":

The "New Atheism" largely has a unfavorable view outside the United States as well.  The [[liberal]] leaning British publication the [[Guardian]] stated the following regarding the "New Atheism":

{{cquote|Anti-[[faith]] proselytising is a growth industry. But its increasingly hysterical flag-bearers are heading for a spectacular failure...

{{cquote|Anti-[[faith]] proselytizing is a growth industry. But its increasingly hysterical flag-bearers are heading for a spectacular failure...

These increasingly hysterical books may boost the pension, they may be morale boosters for a particular kind of American atheism that feels victimised - the latest candidate in a flourishing American tradition - but one suspects that they are going to do very little to challenge the appeal of a phenomenon they loathe too much to understand.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2074076,00.html</ref>}}

These increasingly hysterical books may boost the pension, they may be morale boosters for a particular kind of American atheism that feels victimized - the latest candidate in a flourishing American tradition - but one suspects that they are going to do very little to challenge the appeal of a phenomenon they loathe too much to understand.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2074076,00.html</ref>}}

==Atheism and the Bible==

==Atheism and the Bible==