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[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|right|175px|thumbnail|[[Atheism]] is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s world's population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020.<ref>[httphttps://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]] ]]

As a percentage of the world's population, [[atheism]] peaked in 1970.<ref>[http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/atheism_peaks_while_spiritual_groups_move_toward_convergence-156528 Atheism Peaks, While Spiritual Groups Move Toward Convergence] by Nury Vittachi, July 14, 2015, website Sciene 2.0</ref> Global atheism is expected According to decline in the 21st century and beyond in terms ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of its the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global market sharechange for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<refname="eb-2010">*[http{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=https://www.christianpostbritannica.com/newsEBchecked/studytopic/1731588/Religion-worldYear-isIn-turningReview-more-religious-atheism-declining-1005182010/ Study: World is becoming more religious]*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012298437/05/globallyWorldwide-worldviewsAdherents-of-atheism-andAll-nonReligions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non|accessdate=2013-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity 11-21}}</ref> Global atheism is exploding expected to decline in adherents]the 21st century and beyond in terms of its global market share.<ref>

The [[theology|theologian]] and [[Harvard University]] academic Harvey Cox asserted that [[grassroots]] movements such as [[fundamentalism]] and the [[Charismatic movement]]/[[pentecostalism]] are significant religious forces that are resistant to secularization forces.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8028-4691-4 Publisher's Weekly Review of'' The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics'' by Peter L. Berger]</ref><ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harvey-cox/fire-from-heaven/ Kirkus Reviews- ''FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century'' by Harvey Cox]</ref> In her book ''The Battle for God'', Karen Armstrong wrote: "One of the most startling developments of the late 20th century has been the emergence within every major religious tradition of a militant piety known as 'fundamentalism'… this religious resurgence has taken many observers by surprise."<ref>Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9</ref> Today, even the highly [[secular]]ized public and political sphere of [[France]] is showing a new and more open attitude towards religion.<ref>[https://edoc.unibas.ch/50856/3/20170119190142_5880ff06238b8.pdf How religious is the public sphere? – A critical stance on the debate about public religion and post-secularity], Draft Version, Jens Koehrsen (Köhrsen). Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Germany. École des hautes études en sciences socials, France. Published in: Acta Sociologica 55 (3), S. 273-288.</ref>

{{cquote|[[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, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>[httphttps://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>}}

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] , who teaches at Birbeck [[Birkbeck College, University of London ]], specializes in the academic area of how [[demography|demographic]] changes affect religion/irreligion and politics. Kaufmann is an [[agnosticism|agnostic]]. On December 23, 2012, Kaufmann wrote:

*[httphttps://forawww.tvyoutube.com/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth watch?v=VwmgFZsgSo0 Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]] 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://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]</ref><ref>[httphttps://forawww.tvyoutube.com/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth watch?v=VwmgFZsgSo0 Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.<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]</ref> Kaufmann is author of the book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?''.<ref>[httphttps://books.google.com/books/about/Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth.html?id=nXVylycU2gQC Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann]</ref><ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Early paper - 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]</ref> In the [[Western World]] due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Early paper - 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]</ref>

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."<ref>[httphttps://forawww.tv/2010/09/05youtube.com/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth watch?v=6NtvDErEmBY Shall the religious inherit the earth- Festival of Dangerous Ideas - Eric Kaufmann]</ref> Furthermore, Kaufmann also argues that secularization may reverse itself significantly earlier than 2050 in the West due to religious immigration and a religious population which is increasingly resistant to secularization in Europe.<ref>*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/european-christian-immigration-will.html European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe]

*[httphttps://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]

[[Eric Kaufmann]] is a professor of politics at Birkbeck, University of London and author. His academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics. In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann, who is an [[agnosticism|agnostic]], declared "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Europe]] and [[France]]."<ref>[httphttps://questionevolutionwww.blogspotmercatornet.com/2013articles/03view/british-academic-eric-kaufmann-says.html British academic shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the religious inherit the earth?] by Eric Kaufmann says "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of Protestant Europe and France". Also, Kaufmann writes that secularism "appears exhausted and lacking in confidence"]</ref> Kaufmann also declared that [[secularism]] "appears exhausted and lacking in confidence".<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]</ref>

In April 2012, French scholars reported that [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christianity]] was likely the fastest growing religion in France.<ref>[httphttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0712/In-a-France-suspicious-of-religion-evangelicalism-s-message-strikes-a-chord France and evangelicalism - Christian Post]</ref>

In addition, France has Europe's second largest Muslim population.<ref>[httphttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/19/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/ 5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe]</ref>

Germany also has Europe's largest Muslim population.<ref>[httphttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/19/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/ 5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe]</ref>

{{Cquote|In recent decades, the Muslim share of the population throughout Europe grew about 1 percentage point a decade, from 4% in 1990 to 6% in 2010. This pattern is expected to continue through 2030, when Muslims are projected to make up 8% of Europe’s population.<ref>[httphttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/19/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/ 5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe]</ref>}}

Far-right European political parties seek to expel Muslims from Europe.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/02/19/511219/Europe-Netherlands-Geert-Wilders-Morocco-Muslims-France-immigrants Far-right parties in Europe seek to expel Muslims: Scholar], Press TV</ref> In June 2014,'' Forbes'' reported that it is undeniable that politically right wing parties are ascendant in Europe.<ref>[httphttps://www.forbes.com/sites/stratfor/2014/06/04/europes-deep-right-wing-logic/ Europe's Deep Right-Wing Logic] By Robert D. Kaplan</ref>

Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s [[Atheism|atheists]] are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]] and [[Global atheism]] One of the steepest declines of atheism that is expected to occur is in [[China]] which currently has the largest atheist population in the world. China is experiencing a rapid an explosive growth of theologically [[conservative]] [[Christianity]] which will have a significant effect on the global atheist population.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2014/04/7-reasons-why-chinese-creationist.html 10 reasons why biblical Christianity will flood the UK in the 21st century]</ref>To see the magnitude of the explosive growth of Christianity in China, look at [https://www.dw.com/en/in-xi-we-trust-is-china-cracking-down-on-christianity/a-42224752 this graph about the growth of Christianity in China] in a DW news story about Chinese Christianity (DW is a mainstream news outlet in Germany).

According to the British sociologist of religion James A. Beckford in the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick, the term "postsecular" is currently proliferating amongst scholars in the humanities and social science fields.<ref>[httphttps://www.academia.edu/1785171/Public_religions_and_the_post-secular_critical_reflections Postsecular - James A. Beckford in the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick]</ref> In terms of the English speaking world, Google trend data as of August 2013 indicates that the world's interest in the topics of atheism and [[evolution]] 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>

[[File:France location.png|thumbnail|200px|left|French scholars say, [[evangelicalism]] is likely the fastest-growing religion in [[France]] – defying all stereotypes about one of Europe’s Europe's most secular nations. In 2011, The number of evangelical churches increased from 769 to 2,068 in 2011.<ref>[httphttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0712/In-a-France-suspicious-of-religion-evangelicalism-s-message-strikes-a-chord In a France suspicious of religion, evangelicalism's message strikes a chord]</ref> ]]

Daniel Liechti, vice-president of the French National Evangelical Council, found that since 1970, a new evangelical church has opened in France every 10 days. The number of churches increased from 769 to 2,068 last year.<ref>[httphttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0712/In-a-France-suspicious-of-religion-evangelicalism-s-message-strikes-a-chord In a France suspicious of religion, evangelicalism's message strikes a chord]</ref>}}

The website Science 2.0 reportsdeclared on July 14, 2015:{{cquoteCquote|THE WORLD IS TURNING ATHEIST, the media tells us. Europe is already dominated by non-believers Atheism as a belief system has peaked and plummeting church attendance figures elsewhere indicate that religion itself could disappear within a generation. Christianity its share of humanity is shrinking fast, extremism has soured Islam, demographic studies indicate. Win/Gallup’s 2012 global poll on religion and the fastest growing belief-system is to have no beliefsatheism put atheists at 13%, which could lead while its 2015 poll saw that category fall to 11%. Other figures suggest the world becoming a peacefulchanges have deep, atheist utopia. So says conventional wisdom in some quartersbroad roots.1

Are there figures to back this up? Actually, no. IndeedFirst, a close examination community’s possession of empirical data about atheistic world-views tells a story that is different in almost every way—and especially in regard to humanity’s next chapterviews—for whatever reason—correlates with low or negative birth rates. The most significant examples are East Asian and European countries, which are at “below replacement” rates of birth, shrinking at speed.

Atheism as a belief system Second, [[Atheist state|“forced” atheism]] has peaked been disappearing steadily over the past 40 years and we see a corresponding surge of people towards spiritual clusters. In percentage terms, 1970 may be considered the high point for global atheism and agnosticism. As communism weakened, and eventually collapsed in 1989, there was a significant resurgence of religious belief (see chart below). The same thing is now happening in China. Third, the surge of popularity for a [[New Atheism|novel type of “evangelical atheism”]] which began about a decade ago appears to be [[Decline of militant atheism in the West|losing some of its steam]]. The movement’s celebrity leaders have fallen out of the bestseller lists, and are often now criticized by their former cheerleaders in newspaper columns. After a high-publicity start in 2013, Sunday Assemblies have plummeted out of the limelight and growth has been glacial. And the near future? The latest global data also shows that young people, classified as those under 34, tend to be measurably more religious (66%) than older ones (60%). “With the trend of an increasingly religious youth globally, we can assume that the number of people who consider themselves religious will only continue to increase,” said Jean-Marc Leger, President of WIN/Gallup International Association. ..the view that atheism will sweep the globe to produce a non-believing utopia is extremely unlikely. The shrinking of the skeptical share of humanity is shrinkinginevitable, demographic studies indicateas Welsh geneticist Steve Jones has stated. Win/Gallup’s 2012  ..the data suggests that the global poll on religion and atheism put proportion of atheists at 13%will fall, while its 2015 poll saw that category fall to 11%. Other figures suggest the changes have deepnumber of pro-spiritual, broad rootspro-science middle group will grow.<ref>[http://www.science20.com/writer_on_the_edge/blog/atheism_peaks_while_spiritual_groups_move_toward_convergence-156528 Atheism Peaks, While Spiritual Groups Move Toward Convergence] by By Nury Vittachi | , July 13th 14, 2015 09:31 PM, website Science 2.0 website</ref>}}

The atheist [[Michael Ruse]], evolutionist science philosopher admitted, “Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.”<ref>[httphttps://creation.com/15-questions 15 questions for evolutionists]</ref> See also: [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]