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Growth of global desecularization (view source)

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[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<ref>

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[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<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, 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

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A significant drop in the percentage of global atheists post 1970 was caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union (see: [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]).

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Eric Kaufmann, using a a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a further significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<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, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]

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Eric Kaufmann, using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a further significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<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, 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?]

*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]

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

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Another factor which could increase the pace of desecularization is economic instability as ~~their~~ is a positive correlation between economic instability and religiosity.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/05/economics-and-darwinismatheism.html Economics and atheism/Darwinism]</ref> And Europe's economic stagnation combined with its aging population points to future economic instability in Europe (see: [[Secular Europe#Secular Europe's economic crisis|Secular Europe's economic crisis]]).

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Another factor which could increase the pace of desecularization is economic instability as there is a positive correlation between economic instability and religiosity.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/05/economics-and-darwinismatheism.html Economics and atheism/Darwinism]</ref> And Europe's economic stagnation combined with its aging population points to future economic instability in Europe (see: [[Secular Europe#Secular Europe's economic crisis|Secular Europe's economic crisis]]).

For more information please see the articles:

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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>]]

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[[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>

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[[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>

In terms of its geographic distribution, Christianity is the most globally diverse religion.<ref>

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{{cquote|Several decades ago, church statistician and demographer David Barrett began to report the surprising news that around the world, the most rapidly growing faith was Spirit-empowered Christianity, marked by clear gospel preaching, belief in the literal truth of the Scriptures, and the reality of God’s presence. (The data were compiled in the prestigious “World Christian Encyclopedia,” published by Oxford University Press.)...

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This is confirmed in the new Pew Forum report, which showed that [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014 whereas the so-called mainline (liberal) Protestant churches declined by 5 million, meaning that evangelical Protestants now make up the largest religious group in the nation. (Although this is not part of the Pew Forum survey, my surmise is that the evangelical churches that are most Bible-based and make the most serious, grace-empowered demands on their congregants are, generally speaking, the ones that are growing rather than declining.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref>}}

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This is confirmed in the new Pew Forum report, which showed that [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014 whereas the so-called mainline (liberal) Protestant churches declined by 5 million, meaning that evangelical Protestants now make up the largest religious group in the nation. (Although this is not part of the Pew Forum survey, my surmise is that the evangelical churches that are most Bible-based and make the most serious, grace-empowered demands on their congregants are, generally speaking, the ones that are growing rather than declining.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref>}})

In their 2010 journal article entitled, ''Secularism, Fundamentalism or Catholicism? The Religious Composition of the United States to 2043'' published in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon wrote that the "prevailing view ...envisions the continued growth of “strong religion” (Stark and Iannaccone 1994a)."<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/jssr_15101.pdf ''Secularism, Fundamentalism or Catholicism? The Religious Composition of the United States to 2043''], ''Journal for the Sientific Study of Religion'', vol. 49, no. 2 (June) 2010, Vegard Skirbekk and Anne Goujon,</ref> See also: [[Baylor University researchers on American Christianity]]

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

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Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution]]ary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and ~~[[agnosticism|~~agnostics]].<ref>

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Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution]]ary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been [[Atheism|atheists]] and agnostics.<ref>

* Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.

* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]

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On 14 January 2013 10:03</ref>

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In recent years Britain, the ~~birth place~~ of Darwinism, has seen a large influx of [[Islam|Muslim]] immigrants. In the UK, between the years 2001 and 2009 the Muslim population increased nearly 10 times faster than the non-Muslim population.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society]' 30 January 2009, Richard Kerbaj, The Sunday Times</ref> See also: [[Atheism vs. Islam#Atheism, Islam and belief in evolution|Islam and belief in creationism]] and [[Multiculturism and European desecularization]]

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In recent years Britain, the birthplace of Darwinism, has seen a large influx of [[Islam|Muslim]] immigrants. In the UK, between the years 2001 and 2009 the Muslim population increased nearly 10 times faster than the non-Muslim population.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5621482.ece Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society]' 30 January 2009, Richard Kerbaj, The Sunday Times</ref> See also: [[Atheism vs. Islam#Atheism, Islam and belief in evolution|Islam and belief in creationism]] and [[Multiculturism and European desecularization]]

In 2010, the Islamic creationist [[Harun Yahya]] was chosen among the top 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies center in Jordan.<ref>[http://www.csicop.org/si/show/harun_yahyas_islamic_creationism_what_it_is_and_isnt/ Harun Yahya’s Islamic Creationism: What It Is and Isn’t] by Stefano Bigliardi Volume 38.1, January/February 2014</ref>

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''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> ]]

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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]]

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According to the 2014 [[General Social Survey]] (GSS), the number of [[atheism|atheists]] and 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>

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''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]

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Reverend Dwight Longenecker wrote: "In the late eighteenth century [[atheism]], [[rationalism]] and Freemasonry seemed to have taken over [[Europe]]. By the mid to late nineteenth century religious revival had swept through Europe and Christianity was surging forward."<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2015/04/the-facts-atheism-is-dying-out.html The Facts: Atheism is Dying Out], by Rev. Dwight Longenecker, April 8, 2015</ref>

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Reverend Dwight Longenecker wrote: "In the late eighteenth century atheism, [[rationalism]] and Freemasonry seemed to have taken over [[Europe]]. By the mid to late nineteenth century religious revival had swept through Europe and Christianity was surging forward."<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2015/04/the-facts-atheism-is-dying-out.html The Facts: Atheism is Dying Out], by Rev. Dwight Longenecker, April 8, 2015</ref>

In the [[United States]], there were a series of Christian revivals/awakenings between 1730 and the 1970s (see: [[First Great Awakening]] and [[Second Great Awakening]] and [[Third Great Awakening]] and [[Fourth Great Awakening]] and [[Jesus Movement]]).

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[[Nones]] do not subscribe to an organized [[religion]] such as [[Christianity]] or [[Judaism]].<ref>[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2501462&sid=555&fid=181 Meet the 'Nones:' Spiritual but not religious]</ref>

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Although some [[American atheism|American atheist]]s like to claim the "nones" or "no religion" on religious surveys as one of their own, fewer than 15% of the "nones" consider themselves ~~[[Atheism|~~atheists]].<ref>[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2501462&sid=555&fid=181 Meet the 'Nones:' Spiritual but not religious]</ref>

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Although some [[American atheism|American atheist]]s like to claim the "nones" or "no religion" on religious surveys as one of their own, fewer than 15% of the "nones" consider themselves atheists.<ref>[http://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2501462&sid=555&fid=181 Meet the 'Nones:' Spiritual but not religious]</ref>

According to the Pew Research Forum:

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For more information please see:

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* [[American atheism]]

* [[Decline of American 1990s secularism]]

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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]]

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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>

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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 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_28.html Round 2: Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus triumphs again! Onward Christian soldiers!]

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

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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>

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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, 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>

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