Changes

*[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, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]

*[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, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]</ref><ref>[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]</ref><ref>[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series

*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]]  

*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</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]] 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>

This task will arguably become far more difficult as the supply of nominal Christians dries up while more secularisation-resistant Muslims and committed rump Christians comprise an increasing share of the population.<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>}}

This task will arguably become far more difficult as the supply of nominal Christians dries up while more secularisation-resistant Muslims and committed rump Christians comprise an increasing share of the population.<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 also: [[Atheism vs. Islam#Investor's Business Daily on the flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe|Investor's Business Daily on the flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe]]

{{See also|Atheism vs. Islam#Investor's Business Daily on the flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe|l1=Investor's Business Daily on the flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe}}

== Decline of global atheism: A well established trend ==

== Decline of global atheism: A well established trend ==

In 2010, it was reported that the rate of secularisation flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Europe and France.<ref>[http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref> In terms of the English speaking world, Google trend data as of August 2013 indicates that the world's interest in atheism and [[evolution]]ism has declined since 2004 while interest in [[God]] has increased.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/08/google-trends-interest-in-atheism.html Google trends: Interest in atheism and evolution down. Google searches for God are up. Atheism beaches will be softened up before major attacks on atheism ]</ref>

In 2010, it was reported that the rate of secularisation flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Europe and France.<ref>[http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref> In terms of the English speaking world, Google trend data as of August 2013 indicates that the world's interest in atheism and [[evolution]]ism has declined since 2004 while interest in [[God]] has increased.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/08/google-trends-interest-in-atheism.html Google trends: Interest in atheism and evolution down. Google searches for God are up. Atheism beaches will be softened up before major attacks on atheism ]</ref>

[[Image:Amish Republicans.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Many Amish have large families and in 2012 the Amish were named the fastest growing faith group in the United States and the Amish population is projected to grow to 1 million people by 2050.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/1130/For-Amish-fastest-growing-faith-group-in-US-life-is-changing  For Amish, fastest-growing faith group in US, life is changing]</ref>

[[Image:Amish Republicans.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Many Amish have large families and in 2012 the Amish were named the fastest growing faith group in the United States and the Amish population is projected to grow to 1 million people by 2050.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/1130/For-Amish-fastest-growing-faith-group-in-US-life-is-changing  For Amish, fastest-growing faith group in US, life is changing]</ref>

 

In the above picture, Amish residents are waving to President George W. Bush (Lancaster, Pa., August 2006)]]

In the above picture, Amish residents are waving to President George W. Bush (Lancaster, Pa., August 2006)]]

=== Aging population and religiosity ===

=== Aging population and religiosity ===

In addition, currently the [[Western World]] population is aging in terms of its demographic makeup, particularly in secular [[Europe]], and it has been found that belief in God grows as a person's death nears.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-religion-belief-idUSBRE83H05W20120418 Belief in God grows as mortality nears, survey says]</ref><ref>[http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2008/03/the-demographic-winter-and-the The Demographic Winter and the Barren Left</ref>

In addition, currently the [[Western World]] population is aging in terms of its demographic makeup, particularly in secular [[Europe]], and it has been found that belief in God grows as a person's death nears.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-religion-belief-idUSBRE83H05W20120418 Belief in God grows as mortality nears, survey says]</ref><ref>[http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2008/03/the-demographic-winter-and-the The Demographic Winter and the Barren Left]</ref>

=== Economic stagnation/instability and Europe ===

=== Economic stagnation/instability and Europe ===

''See also:'' [[Global Christianity]]

''See also:'' [[Global Christianity]]

[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp.  

[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp.  

 

In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>]]

In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>]]

[[Christianity]] is the world's largest religion and it has seen tremendous growth over its 2000 year history.<ref>[http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE]</ref>  

[[Christianity]] is the world's largest religion and it has seen tremendous growth over its 2000 year history.<ref>[http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE]</ref>  

Professor Philip Jenkins at Penn State University projects that by 2100, Muslims will be about 25% of Europe's population. Jenkins indicates that this figure does not take account divergent birthrates amongst Europe's various immigrant Christians.<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Demographics, Religion, and the Future of Europe'', Orbis: A Journal of World Affairs, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 533, summer 2006</ref>

Professor Philip Jenkins at Penn State University projects that by 2100, Muslims will be about 25% of Europe's population. Jenkins indicates that this figure does not take account divergent birthrates amongst Europe's various immigrant Christians.<ref>Philip Jenkins, ''Demographics, Religion, and the Future of Europe'', Orbis: A Journal of World Affairs, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 533, summer 2006</ref>

In April of 2010, Eric Kaufmann indicated concerning the future of Islam in Europe:

In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann indicated concerning the future of Islam in Europe:

{{cquote|I address this in some detail in the book, as well is in a [http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/europes-muslim-future recent article in the April issue of Prospect magazine] here in Britain. The short answer is that I don’t foresee a Muslim-majority Europe in this century or in the next. Why? Mainly because [[Islam|Muslim]] birthrates are plunging both in Europe and the Muslim world. Already, Iran, Tunisia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and several other Muslim countries have replacement-level fertility or below. In the UK, Bangladeshi and Pakistani fertility has halved in a generation and is now under 3 children per woman. This means their long-term growth will begin to tail off. The other part of the equation is the rise of non-Muslim immigrant groups (African and West Indian Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other Eastern faiths) who are also increasing and therefore making Europe more plural and, in the process, rendering it harder for Muslims to increase their share of the population.

{{cquote|I address this in some detail in the book, as well is in a [http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/europes-muslim-future recent article in the April issue of Prospect magazine] here in Britain. The short answer is that I don’t foresee a Muslim-majority Europe in this century or in the next. Why? Mainly because [[Islam|Muslim]] birthrates are plunging both in Europe and the Muslim world. Already, Iran, Tunisia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and several other Muslim countries have replacement-level fertility or below. In the UK, Bangladeshi and Pakistani fertility has halved in a generation and is now under 3 children per woman. This means their long-term growth will begin to tail off. The other part of the equation is the rise of non-Muslim immigrant groups (African and West Indian Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other Eastern faiths) who are also increasing and therefore making Europe more plural and, in the process, rendering it harder for Muslims to increase their share of the population.

That said, Muslim membership retention and in-group marriage is exceptionally high (over 90 per cent) and they are a much younger population than the host society. So they are on course for steady growth. My colleagues and I expect their fertility to fall to host levels by 2030, but they will still make up 5-15 per cent of most West European countries by 2050 and 10-25 per cent by 2100. This is a major change from the 2-6 per cent levels of today<ref>[http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/#sthash.nE0JGi2Y.dpuf ''Shall the religious inherit the earth?''], 2010 Interview with [[Eric Kaufmann] by MercatorNet</ref>}}

That said, Muslim membership retention and in-group marriage is exceptionally high (over 90 per cent) and they are a much younger population than the host society. So they are on course for steady growth. My colleagues and I expect their fertility to fall to host levels by 2030, but they will still make up 5-15 per cent of most West European countries by 2050 and 10-25 per cent by 2100. This is a major change from the 2-6 per cent levels of today<ref>[http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/#sthash.nE0JGi2Y.dpuf ''Shall the religious inherit the earth?''], 2010 Interview with [[Eric Kaufmann]] by MercatorNet</ref>}}

=== Investor's Business Daily on the recent flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe ===

=== Investor's Business Daily on the recent flood of Muslim immigrants to Europe ===

Assuming patterns of net immigration do not change significantly, the Pew Forum thinks that there will be just over 5.5 million British Muslims, representing 8.2 per cent of the UK population, by 2030.

Assuming patterns of net immigration do not change significantly, the Pew Forum thinks that there will be just over 5.5 million British Muslims, representing 8.2 per cent of the UK population, by 2030.

None of this is an exact science, and [http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol19/16/19-16.pdf some demographers] say total fertility rate overestimates the lifetime fertility of immigrants because it doesn’t adjust for the fact that they tend to have children soon after arriving.<ref>[http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-will-britain-have-a-muslim-majority-by-2050/13690 FactCheck: will Britain have a Muslim majority by 2050?</ref>}}

None of this is an exact science, and [http://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol19/16/19-16.pdf some demographers] say total fertility rate overestimates the lifetime fertility of immigrants because it doesn’t adjust for the fact that they tend to have children soon after arriving.<ref>[http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-will-britain-have-a-muslim-majority-by-2050/13690 FactCheck: will Britain have a Muslim majority by 2050?]</ref>}}

At the same time, over several decades/centuries, silent demographic changes due to higher fertility rates can have large scale consequences.<ref>

At the same time, over several decades/centuries, silent demographic changes due to higher fertility rates can have large scale consequences.<ref>

''See also:'' [[Global creationism]] and [[Creationism]] and [[Evolution]]

''See also:'' [[Global creationism]] and [[Creationism]] and [[Evolution]]

[[File:View from Levering Plaza.jpg|thumbnail|left|180px|Johns Hopkins University Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, [[creationism]] has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."

[[File:View from Levering Plaza.jpg|thumbnail|left|180px|Johns Hopkins University Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, [[creationism]] has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."

 

 

 

<small>Picture above was taken at Johns Hopkins University</small>]]

<small>Picture above was taken at Johns Hopkins University</small>]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Islam]] and [[Multiculturism and European desecularization]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Islam]] and [[Multiculturism and European desecularization]]

[[Image:Quran.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pages from the [[Koran]], the holy book of Islam.

[[Image:Quran.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Pages from the [[Koran]], the holy book of Islam.

 

Assuming patterns of net immigration do not change significantly, the Pew Forum thinks that there will be just over 5.5 million British Muslims, representing 8.2 per cent of the UK population, by 2030.<ref>[http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-will-britain-have-a-muslim-majority-by-2050/13690 FactCheck: will Britain have a Muslim majority by 2050?]</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Islam]] ]]

Assuming patterns of net immigration do not change significantly, the Pew Forum thinks that there will be just over 5.5 million British Muslims, representing 8.2 per cent of the UK population, by 2030.<ref>[http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-will-britain-have-a-muslim-majority-by-2050/13690 FactCheck: will Britain have a Muslim majority by 2050?</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Islam]] ]]

According the news website ''The Commentator'': "Belief in evolution remains a minority position in virtually all Muslim societies around the world today. According to studies, 22 percent of Turks, 16 percent of Indonesians, 14 percent of Pakistanis, 11 percent of Malaysians, and 8 percent of Egyptians believe in evolution."<ref>[The Muslim theory of evolution] by Ghaffar Hussain

According the news website ''The Commentator'': "Belief in evolution remains a minority position in virtually all Muslim societies around the world today. According to studies, 22 percent of Turks, 16 percent of Indonesians, 14 percent of Pakistanis, 11 percent of Malaysians, and 8 percent of Egyptians believe in evolution."<ref>[The Muslim theory of evolution] by Ghaffar Hussain

On 14 January 2013 10:03</ref>

On 14 January 2013 10:03</ref>

"These things can no longer be thought of as occurring in other countries. In London, where I work, there are increasingly quite large numbers of highly intelligent 16, 17 and 18-year-olds doing Advanced Level biology who do not accept evolution. That's either because they come from a fundamentalist Christian background or from Muslim backgrounds."<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/nov/13/migration-creationism-evolution-michael-reiss Migration is spreading creationism across Europe, claims academic] by  Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent, Friday 13 November 2009 07.49 EST</ref>}}

"These things can no longer be thought of as occurring in other countries. In London, where I work, there are increasingly quite large numbers of highly intelligent 16, 17 and 18-year-olds doing Advanced Level biology who do not accept evolution. That's either because they come from a fundamentalist Christian background or from Muslim backgrounds."<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/nov/13/migration-creationism-evolution-michael-reiss Migration is spreading creationism across Europe, claims academic] by  Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent, Friday 13 November 2009 07.49 EST</ref>}}

==== New atheist Richard Dawkins on Islamic creationism and multiculturism ====  

==== New atheist Richard Dawkins on Islamic creationism and multiculturism ====

''See also:'' [[Causes of the New Atheism movement#New Atheism as a reaction to creationism|New Atheism as a reaction to creationism]]

''See also:'' [[Causes of the New Atheism movement#New Atheism as a reaction to creationism|New Atheism as a reaction to creationism]]

''See also:'' [[Culture war]] and [[American atheism]]

''See also:'' [[Culture war]] and [[American atheism]]

[[File:US map.PNG|thumbnail|200px|left|After the prayer-in-school decision in 1962 and particularly after [[Roe v. Wade|Rowe vs. Wade]] in 1973 desecularization accelerated rapidly and seriously impacted the national political arena in a divisive fashion pitting a secular-liberal [[secular humanism|humanism]] against a conservative moralism, pitting [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]] against “[[intelligent Design]]”.<ref>[https://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/2007/new_york/texte_5/Ostendorf.php The Nation with a soul of a church]</ref> ]]

[[File:US map.PNG|thumbnail|200px|left|After the prayer-in-school decision in 1962 and particularly after [[Roe v. Wade|Rowe vs. Wade]] in 1973 desecularization accelerated rapidly and seriously impacted the national political arena in a divisive fashion pitting a secular-liberal [[secular humanism|humanism]] against a conservative moralism, pitting [[Charles Darwin|Darwin]] against “[[intelligent Design]]”.<ref>[https://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/2007/new_york/texte_5/Ostendorf.php The Nation with a soul of a church]</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> See also: [[American atheism]]

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> See also: [[American atheism]]

In the [[United States]], in the latter part of the 20th century, political victories by the [[secular left]]/[[liberal Christianity]]/liberal [[theism|theists]] helped cause a rise in the political influence of the [[religious right]].<ref>[https://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/2007/new_york/texte_5/Ostendorf.php The Nation with a soul of a church]</ref>

In the [[United States]], in the latter part of the 20th century, political victories by the [[secular left]]/[[liberal Christianity]]/liberal [[theism|theists]] helped cause a rise in the political influence of the [[religious right]].<ref>[https://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/2007/new_york/texte_5/Ostendorf.php The Nation with a soul of a church]</ref>

A June 14, 2013 ''Mashable''  article declared: "In recent years, r/atheism has become known for memes, images, quote pictures and other content viewed by some as "low brow."<ref>[http://mashable.com/2013/06/14/reddit-atheism-mods/ Reddit Atheists Have New Leadership After Turbulent Coup]</ref>  See also: [[Reddit atheism]]

A June 14, 2013 ''Mashable''  article declared: "In recent years, r/atheism has become known for memes, images, quote pictures and other content viewed by some as "low brow."<ref>[http://mashable.com/2013/06/14/reddit-atheism-mods/ Reddit Atheists Have New Leadership After Turbulent Coup]</ref>  See also: [[Reddit atheism]]

In May of 2012, it was pointed out by supporters of [[Creation Ministries International]]'s [[Question evolution! campaign]] that from a global internet perspective the public's interest in the views of the [[agnosticism|agnostic]]/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] and the atheist [[PZ Myers]] and in atheism are on the decline while interest in [[Jesus]] and [[Christianity]] are on the upswing.<ref>

In May 2012, it was pointed out by supporters of [[Creation Ministries International]]'s [[Question evolution! campaign]] that from a global internet perspective the public's interest in the views of the [[agnosticism|agnostic]]/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] and the atheist [[PZ Myers]] and in atheism are on the decline while interest in [[Jesus]] and [[Christianity]] are on the upswing.<ref>

*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers.html Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus wins!]

*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers.html Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus wins!]

*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers_28.html Round 2: Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus triumphs again! Onward Christian soldiers!]

*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/jesus-vs-richard-dawkins-and-pz-myers_28.html Round 2: Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus triumphs again! Onward Christian soldiers!]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and leadership]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and leadership]]

The leadership status of prominent atheists/agnostics in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to atheist infighting, the significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]], the [[New Atheism]] failing, the decline of [[liberal media]] market share, a loss of confidence within the atheist community, the decline of [[global atheism]] and the secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and [[France]] (see: [[Decline of atheism]] and [[Atheist factions]]).<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph, How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet'',  August 14th, 2013]</ref>  A recent example of this is [[Richard Dawkins]]' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy (see: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). Another example of this is [[Paul Kurtz]], the father of [[secular humanism]], who left no legacy. <ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy]</ref>  

The leadership status of prominent atheists/agnostics in the secular community at this present juncture is increasingly transient due to atheist infighting, the significant amount of unpleasant personalities within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]], the [[New Atheism]] failing, the decline of [[liberal media]] market share, a loss of confidence within the atheist community, the decline of [[global atheism]] and the secularization rate being zero in former areas of influence such as Protestant Europe and [[France]] (see: [[Decline of atheism]] and [[Atheist factions]]).<ref>[http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph, How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet'',  August 14th, 2013]</ref>  A recent example of this is [[Richard Dawkins]]' loss of influence in the atheist community post subsequent to the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy (see: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). Another example of this is [[Paul Kurtz]], the father of [[secular humanism]], who left no legacy.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/09/paul-kurtz-another-atheist-failure.html Paul Kurtz: Another atheist failure who left no legacy]</ref>  

The British academic and agnostic Eric Kaufmann recently wrote, "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence."<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth</ref>  

The British academic and agnostic Eric Kaufmann recently wrote, "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence."<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref>  

Communist China has the world's largest atheist population and China's atheist leaders are panicking about the explosive growth of Christianity in their country.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/12/chinas-atheist-leaders-and.html China's atheist leaders and intellectuals are panicking about the rapid growth of Christianity in China]</ref>

Communist China has the world's largest atheist population and China's atheist leaders are panicking about the explosive growth of Christianity in their country.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/12/chinas-atheist-leaders-and.html China's atheist leaders and intellectuals are panicking about the rapid growth of Christianity in China]</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

[[Category: Atheism]]

[[Category:Atheism]]

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category: Desecularization]]

[[Category:Desecularization]]