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Causes of desecularization (view source)
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[[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>[https://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|thumbnail|right|200px|Atheism is in decline worldwide in terms of number of atheists and the percentage of atheists in world.<ref>
*[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900–2050] (831,000 less atheists in the world than a year ago.
*[https://gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/04/StatusofGlobalChristianity20191.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity/other religions, 2019, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref>
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See: [[Global atheism statistics]] ]]
[[Desecularization]] is the process by which [[religion]] reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring [[secularization]] processes.<ref>''Religion and the State in Russia and China: Suppression, Survival and Revival'' by Christopher Marsh, 2011, page 11 (Christopher Marsh cites the definitions of desecularization given by Peter L. Berger and Vyacheslav Karpov)</ref> Desecularization can also occur through [[Divine Providence|providential]] acts of [[God]] and in reaction to God granting [[Christian]]'s prayers.<ref>
[[Desecularization]] is the process by which [[religion]] reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring [[secularization]] processes.<ref>''Religion and the State in Russia and China: Suppression, Survival and Revival'' by Christopher Marsh, 2011, page 11 (Christopher Marsh cites the definitions of desecularization given by Peter L. Berger and Vyacheslav Karpov)</ref> Desecularization can also occur through [[Divine Providence|providential]] acts of [[God]] and in reaction to God granting [[Christian]]'s prayers.<ref>
*[http://www.jesus.org.uk/blog/radical-christian-history/miracles-seen-china-revival Miracles seen in China revival Published on 20th January 2008]
*[http://www.jesus.org.uk/blog/radical-christian-history/miracles-seen-china-revival Miracles seen in China revival Published on 20th January 2008]
*[http://www.vernonjohns.org/snuffy1186/china%20cry.html China Cry: A True Story (1990)]</ref>
*[http://www.vernonjohns.org/snuffy1186/china%20cry.html China Cry: A True Story (1990)]</ref>
[[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>[https://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>
[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]] in terms of its global market share, 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>[https://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> See: [[Global atheism statistics]]
On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote: "I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/eric-kaufmann/london-a-rising-island-of-religion_b_2336699.html London: A Rising Island of Religion in a Secular Sea] by Eric Kaufmann, ''Huffington Post'', 2012</ref><ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>
On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote: "I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/eric-kaufmann/london-a-rising-island-of-religion_b_2336699.html London: A Rising Island of Religion in a Secular Sea] by Eric Kaufmann, ''Huffington Post'', 2012</ref><ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>
== Weakening of state atheism ==
== Weakening of state atheism ==
[[File:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people.
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See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Militant atheism]] and [[Communism and religious persecution]]
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=https://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=https://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>
== Fertility rates of religious vs. irreligious ==
== Fertility rates of religious vs. irreligious ==
[[File:Baby picture.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The ''Washington Post'' wrote about the United States and fertility rates: "At the low end of the baby-making spectrum you've got atheists, with 1.6 kids, and [[agnosticism|agnostics]], who average only 1.3."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/05/12/charted-the-religions-that-make-the-most-babies/ Charted: The religions that make the most babies], Washington Post</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and fertility rates]]
The higher rate of fertility rate of religious conservatives and the sub-replacement fertility rate of the irreligious and [[liberal Christianity]] is another source of desecularization (see: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).
The higher rate of fertility rate of religious conservatives and the sub-replacement fertility rate of the irreligious and [[liberal Christianity]] is another source of desecularization (see: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).
''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and women]]
Surveys throughout the world and other data indicate that women are less inclined to be atheists.<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.
Surveys throughout the world and other data indicate that women are less inclined to be atheists.<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.
*[http://blog.oup.com/2014/09/atheism-feminism/#sthash.0yIBbelF.dpuf Atheism and Feminism], ''Oxford University Press'' blog</ref>
*[http://blog.oup.com/2014/09/atheism-feminism/#sthash.0yIBbelF.dpuf Atheism and Feminism], ''Oxford University Press'' blog</ref>
<ref name="PZ">Myers, P.Z. (June 29, 2010). [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/29/the-woman-problem/ "The woman problem"]. Pharyngula [blog].</ref>
<ref name="PZ">Myers, P.Z. (June 29, 2010). [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/29/the-woman-problem/ "The woman problem"]. Pharyngula [blog].</ref>
[[File:Women.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Studies indicate that women in the Western World tend to be more religious than men.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kosmin, Barry A., et al. (2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110904110346/http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/NONES_08.pdf "American nones: Profile of the no religion population"]. American Religion Survey website [Trinity College, Hartford, CT]. Retrieved from Internet Archive.
*Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Live Science website.
*Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.</ref>]]
In 2016, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) conducted an annually reoccurring atheist census project and found:
In 2016, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) conducted an annually reoccurring atheist census project and found:
{{Cquote|At the time of writing, the Atheist Census Project recorded that on average worldwide 73.2% of respondents were male. The result is consistent with other research... As such, the focus of many scholarly papers has been on seeking to explain this persistent observation."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>}}
{{Cquote|At the time of writing, the Atheist Census Project recorded that on average worldwide 73.2% of respondents were male. The result is consistent with other research... As such, the focus of many scholarly papers has been on seeking to explain this persistent observation."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>}}
As atheist populations rise in age, the fertility rates of atheistic countries could drop further. The Rand Corporation indicates, "Nearly all European nations are experiencing long-term downtrends in fertility, and consequently, ageing of their populations. These demographic trends could have potentially damaging consequences for European economies."<ref>[http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG206.html Low Fertility and Population Ageing], Rand Corporation</ref>
As atheist populations rise in age, the fertility rates of atheistic countries could drop further. The Rand Corporation indicates, "Nearly all European nations are experiencing long-term downtrends in fertility, and consequently, ageing of their populations. These demographic trends could have potentially damaging consequences for European economies."<ref>[http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG206.html Low Fertility and Population Ageing], Rand Corporation</ref>
== Aging populations in the developed world ==
''See also:'' [[Global atheism and aging populations]]
The article ''Developed countries may become more religious in 20 years'' indicates:
{{Cquote|Researchers from HSE University and RANEPA found that in high-income countries, age, rather than the cohort effect, has more impact on religiosity. They predict that this may have an impact on societal structure in the future. The study was published in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.
It has long been observed that older people tend to be more religious than younger people. However, it is still disputable whether this fact should be attributed to people generally becoming more religious with age per se (age effect), or to the process of secularization, wherein earlier cohorts (to which the now older people belong) used to be more religious than those that appeared later, i.e. younger cohorts (cohort effect). HSE University scholars decided to analyze this issue using data from six waves of the World Values Survey (2016) in high-income OECD countries. A total of 16 countries were studied, including Australia, the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, as well as other European countries.
The researchers used logistic models and multiple linear regression to determine that the age effect has a higher impact on religiosity than the cohort effect. Older people are more inclined to believe in God, attend church, and believe it is important to instill religion in children.. The cohort effect impacts other factors analyzed by the scholars, such as church attendance and a belief in religion's importance in life, but the age effect still strongly prevails over the cohort effect...
The transition from religious to secular values may slow by 2040 in high-income OECD countries and, probably, there will be a resurgence of religiosity, the symptoms of which can be observed in Japan. On the other hand, widely divergent socio-cultural settings in different countries have an impact on religious behavior and attitude, and this must be taken into account in further research.<ref>[https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/nruh-dcm092519.php ''Developed countries may become more religious in 20 years''], Eureka Alert</ref>}}
(See also: [[European desecularization in the 21st century]] and [[United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics]] and [[American atheism]] and [[British atheism]] and [[Irreligion in Australia]] and [[Postsecularism and New Zealand in the 21st century]] and [[Canada and irreligion]])
== Religious immigrants to Europe resistant to secularization ==
See: [[Religious immigrants to Europe resistant to secularization]]
== Religious evangelism and atheist apathy ==
== Religious evangelism and atheist apathy ==
[[Evangelical Christians]] are often zealous when it comes to evangelism and evangelical Christianity has seen rapid growth in the world (see: [[Growth of evangelical Christianity]]).
[[Evangelical Christians]] are often zealous when it comes to evangelism and evangelical Christianity has seen rapid growth in the world (see: [[Growth of evangelical Christianity]]).
== Unappealing nature of atheism ==
*[[Unattractiveness of atheism]]
*[[Atheism and inspiration]]
== Low motivation and apathy of atheists to propagate atheism ==
*[[Atheism and apathy]]
*[[Atheism and inspiration]]
*[[Atheism and motivation]]
*[[Atheism and amotivational syndrome]]
== Religion and migration ==
''See also:'' [[Religion and migration]]
[[File:Austria location.png|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Austria]]'s census data permits demographers to perform analysis which indicates the secular population in Europe plateauing by 2050, or as early as 2021.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century'' by Eric Kaufmann]</ref> See: [[European desecularization in the 21st century]] ]]
According to British anthropologist Edward Dutton, religious people are more likely to migrate (there are various reasons postulated, but it remains unclear why this is so).<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgKx2lS6lRU Why Are Americans So Religious?]</ref>
According to Dutton, this partly explains why the British people who left Britain and migrated to America in the colonial period were more religious.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgKx2lS6lRU Why Are Americans So Religious?]</ref>
Currently, there are many evangelical Christians and Muslims moving to secular regions (See: [[Growth of evangelical Christianity in irreligious regions]]).
According to Pew Forum:
{{Cquote|About 3% of the world’s population has migrated across international borders. While that may seem like a small percentage, it represents a lot of people. If the world’s 214 million international migrants were counted as one nation, they would constitute the fifth most populous country on the globe, just behind Indonesia and ahead of Brazil.
Faith on the Move, a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, focuses on the religious affiliation of international migrants, examining patterns of migration among seven major groups: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, adherents of other religions and the religiously unaffiliated.
Christians comprise nearly half – an estimated 106 million, or 49% – of the world’s 214 million international migrants, the total number of people who reside permanently in a country other than where they were born. (See Defining International Migrants box. All figures in this report are as of 2010.)
Muslims make up the second-largest share of people who have migrated across borders – almost 60 million, or 27% Hindus (nearly 11 million) account for 5%) and Buddhists (about 7 million) account for 3%.<ref>[https://www.pewforum.org/2012/03/08/religious-migration-exec/ Faith on the Move – The Religious Affiliation of International Migrants], Pew Forum</ref>}}
== Poor international cooperation among atheists ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and international cooperation among atheists]]
In recent years, international cooperation among atheists has been low (see: [[Atheism and international cooperation among atheists]]).
== Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world ==
See: [[Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world]]
== Economic duress/instability ==
== Economic duress/instability ==
The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-[[atheism]] bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>
The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-[[atheism]] bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>
The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, published in January this year, reveals a “crisis in trust” around the world in four key institutions – business, NGO’s, media and government – with media and government distrusted by more people than trusted (see: [http://www.fipp.com/news/features/media-trust-problem Lack of trust in media: 'magazine media could offer a blue print out'] ).
''The Daily Mail'' reported about Britain's influential broadcaster the BBC:
{{cquote|The BBC employs more atheists and non-believers than Christians, an internal ‘diversity’ survey has found.
Distrust of the media is at all time high, but the media still does have some influence (see: [https://www.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx Americans' Trust in Mass Media Sinks to New Low]).
The new research has been seized on by critics who accuse the Corporation of bias against Christianity and marginalising the faith in its output.
The survey found that just 22.5 per cent of all staff professed to be Christians.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069649/Christians-minority-biased-BBC.html Christians a minority at 'biased' BBC where staff are more likely to be atheists or non-believers]</ref>}}
=== Trust in media has fallen ===
The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, published in January this year, reveals a “crisis in trust” around the world in four key institutions – business, NGO's, media and government – with media and government distrusted by more people than trusted (see: [http://www.fipp.com/news/features/media-trust-problem Lack of trust in media: 'magazine media could offer a blue print out'] ).
Distrust of the media is at all-time high, but the media still does have some influence (see: [https://www.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx Americans' Trust in Mass Media Sinks to New Low]).
== Causes of desecularization in Asia ==
== Causes of desecularization in Asia ==
[[Image:Asia pol00.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Political boundaries of Asia]]
''See also:'' [[Asian atheism]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]]
''See also:'' [[Asian atheism]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]]
== Atheism, loneliness and lower social cohesion ==
== Atheism, loneliness and lower social cohesion ==
Division is widespread within the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Atheist factions]]) and numerous atheists have declared that the "atheist movement is dead" or that it is dying (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]])<ref>
*[https://freethoughtblogs.com/reasoner/2017/10/21/the-atheism-movement-dead-or-alive/ The “Atheism Movement:” Dead or Alive?], [[Freethought Blogs]]
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/11/seth-andrews-keeps-hearing-reports-of.html Atheist activist Seth Andrews keeps seeing reports on social media and the media that the atheist movement is dying], ''Examining Atheism''
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/10/now-that-that-poseur-atheist-aron-ra.html Atheist Aron Ra indicates the atheist movement is dead. Now that that Aron Ra has surrendered....], ''[[Examining Atheism]]''
*[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution
*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal destroying the atheist movement], [[Jen McCreight]], Twitter</ref> In 2019, a writer at [[Freethought Blogs]] wrote: "Last month I looked at some [[Post-mortem interval|postmortems]] of the atheist movement...".<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/atrivialknot/2019/03/26/the-ghost-of-atheist-past/ The ghost of atheist past], Freethought Blogs</ref>
Citing the work of the French researcher Gilles Kepel who wrote the book ''The Revenge of God'' and the work of Harvard University political scientist Samuel Huntington, who authored the work ''The Clash of Civilizations'', the Christian ministry Tomorrow's World declared:
Citing the work of the French researcher Gilles Kepel who wrote the book ''The Revenge of God'' and the work of Harvard University political scientist Samuel Huntington, who authored the work ''The Clash of Civilizations'', the Christian ministry Tomorrow's World declared: