Comments on: Happy Holidays! Atheism Is Growing! http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:09:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Daylight Atheism > Goodbye Religion? How Godlessness Is Increasing With Each New Generation http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-69060 Daylight Atheism > Goodbye Religion? How Godlessness Is Increasing With Each New Generation Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:21:11 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-69060 [...] trend is reflected in the steadily rising percentages of Americans who say that religion is "old-fashioned and out of date" and can't speak to today's social [...] [...] trend is reflected in the steadily rising percentages of Americans who say that religion is "old-fashioned and out of date" and can't speak to today's social [...]

]]> By: Daylight Atheism > Switchers and Stickers http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-60459 Daylight Atheism > Switchers and Stickers Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:19:52 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-60459 [...] the ongoing exodus from religion is validation of our strategy of persuasion. We've turned a large number of people into nonbelievers, and opened up the religious landscape for many more doubters, questioners and seekers - the people [...] [...] the ongoing exodus from religion is validation of our strategy of persuasion. We've turned a large number of people into nonbelievers, and opened up the religious landscape for many more doubters, questioners and seekers - the people [...]

]]> By: Daylight Atheism > As Tithing Declines, Atheists’ Knowledge Grows http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-60457 Daylight Atheism > As Tithing Declines, Atheists’ Knowledge Grows Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:18:43 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-60457 [...] I think this ignores a far simpler explanation: donations are declining because more people are becoming atheists, and fewer trust religion to be able to answer their dilemmas. It's not a lack of trust in institutions in general, but the simple recognition that religion's [...] [...] I think this ignores a far simpler explanation: donations are declining because more people are becoming atheists, and fewer trust religion to be able to answer their dilemmas. It's not a lack of trust in institutions in general, but the simple recognition that religion's [...]

]]> By: SteveC http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-59710 SteveC Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:39:24 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-59710 This might be of interest: <a href="http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/highlights.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/highlights.html</a> This might be of interest:
http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/reports/highlights.html

]]> By: Rollingforest http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-58760 Rollingforest Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:44:48 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-58760 According to Wikipedia, there was a 10.2% shift away from Christianity between 1990 and 2008 and a 6.8% shift toward not having a religion during the same time period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Religions_of_American_adults According to Wikipedia, there was a 10.2% shift away from Christianity between 1990 and 2008 and a 6.8% shift toward not having a religion during the same time period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Religions_of_American_adults

]]> By: Rollingforest http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-58239 Rollingforest Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:18:38 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-58239 The Catholic population peaked in 1978 because Catholics started having fewer children and many, especially from the North East, started leaving the church, not to become Protestant but to become secular. The only reason Catholicism hasn't fallen even lower is because of Illegal immigration, most of whom are Catholic. I grew up in a Conservative Baptist area. While most people had social events at church, it surprised me how none of the kids prayed at lunch and they never talked about religion or politics. They had an unspoken agreement with homosexuals: if you pretend to be straight, we'll pretend we don't notice anything. The Catholic population peaked in 1978 because Catholics started having fewer children and many, especially from the North East, started leaving the church, not to become Protestant but to become secular. The only reason Catholicism hasn't fallen even lower is because of Illegal immigration, most of whom are Catholic.

I grew up in a Conservative Baptist area. While most people had social events at church, it surprised me how none of the kids prayed at lunch and they never talked about religion or politics. They had an unspoken agreement with homosexuals: if you pretend to be straight, we'll pretend we don't notice anything.

]]> By: Why are these theist arguments untrue? « Questionable Motives http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-54242 Why are these theist arguments untrue? « Questionable Motives Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:57:41 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-54242 [...] dial it back…and respond by giving it the horse laugh, and continuing to do what we’ve so successfully been doing. You’ll have to forgive us if we treat the attempts to quiet us down as attempts [...] [...] dial it back…and respond by giving it the horse laugh, and continuing to do what we’ve so successfully been doing. You’ll have to forgive us if we treat the attempts to quiet us down as attempts [...]

]]> By: Kenny Duzan http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-54125 Kenny Duzan Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:59:21 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-54125 Good news indeed. As a person who has been an outspoken atheist since I was 20 years old (I'll turn 62 tomorrow)I am amazed at how many people uderstand how shakey the foundations of religious belief are and confide in me that they are nonbelievers. However, these same people would never admit this to most of their friends, their family, especially their parents. They still go to church and Baptize their children. What I am getting at is that there is a huge flood of non-believers who would "come out of the closet" if it were to become socially acceptable to do so. It is up to us to make it thus. Kenny Good news indeed. As a person who has been an outspoken atheist since I was 20 years old (I'll turn 62 tomorrow)I am amazed at how many people uderstand how shakey the foundations of religious belief are and confide in me that they are nonbelievers. However, these same people would never admit this to most of their friends, their family, especially their parents. They still go to church and Baptize their children.

What I am getting at is that there is a huge flood of non-believers who would "come out of the closet" if it were to become socially acceptable to do so. It is up to us to make it thus. Kenny

]]> By: Marshall Schreiber http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-53765 Marshall Schreiber Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:24:46 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-53765 Unfortunately seventy years of data isn't realy enough to extrapolate two hundered more years out into the future and get a meaningful answer, Jim. Unfortunately seventy years of data isn't realy enough to extrapolate two hundered more years out into the future and get a meaningful answer, Jim.

]]> By: Jim Speiser http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-53412 Jim Speiser Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:21:34 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-53412 Any statisticians here? I would like to know, given the trends shown in the first graph, when (approximate year) (1) the non-religious line will cross the 50% mark, and (2) when the combined religious population will decrease to statistical insignificance. I predicted about 10 years ago that organized religion would collapse globally within 2 centuries. Wondering if I'm on target. Any statisticians here? I would like to know, given the trends shown in the first graph, when (approximate year) (1) the non-religious line will cross the 50% mark, and (2) when the combined religious population will decrease to statistical insignificance. I predicted about 10 years ago that organized religion would collapse globally within 2 centuries. Wondering if I'm on target.

]]> By: Andrew T. http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-53380 Andrew T. Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:56:58 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-53380 It's heartening to look over statistics like these. When I first acknowledged my atheism twelve or so years ago, I remember seeing some figures that stated that there were 19 "believers" for every one of us. 13% might not seem like much, but a 260% increase isn't exactly something to complain about. :) Although the overall trends show a decline in religious belief over the last sixty-odd years, I'm a little interested by the "Catholic" graph, since it's an arc that peaked around 1978. What might explain that? Regarding the correlation between "soft atheists" and nonchurchgoers, it's not exactly set in stone. My mother probably falls into this category: She has a reasonably-secular worldview and holds beefs against archaic doctrine and fundamentalism. At the same time, she considers herself an unapologetic Christian, participates regularly in organized church services and events (and wonders why I don't enjoy doing the same), and bends over backwards to defend her religion whenever I confront her about it. Societal pressure to conform is definitely a factor that exists, in any case. It's heartening to look over statistics like these. When I first acknowledged my atheism twelve or so years ago, I remember seeing some figures that stated that there were 19 "believers" for every one of us. 13% might not seem like much, but a 260% increase isn't exactly something to complain about. :)

Although the overall trends show a decline in religious belief over the last sixty-odd years, I'm a little interested by the "Catholic" graph, since it's an arc that peaked around 1978. What might explain that?

Regarding the correlation between "soft atheists" and nonchurchgoers, it's not exactly set in stone. My mother probably falls into this category: She has a reasonably-secular worldview and holds beefs against archaic doctrine and fundamentalism. At the same time, she considers herself an unapologetic Christian, participates regularly in organized church services and events (and wonders why I don't enjoy doing the same), and bends over backwards to defend her religion whenever I confront her about it. Societal pressure to conform is definitely a factor that exists, in any case.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Daylight Atheism > Happy Holidays! Atheism Is Growing! -- Topsy.com http://www.daylightatheism.org/2009/12/happy-holidays-atheism-is-growing.html#comment-53358 Tweets that mention Daylight Atheism > Happy Holidays! Atheism Is Growing! -- Topsy.com Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:47:11 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1239#comment-53358 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Global Atheist, Evangelical. Evangelical said: Daylight Atheism > Happy Holidays! Atheism Is Growing! http://bit.ly/52X37o #Jesus #christ #god [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Global Atheist, Evangelical. Evangelical said: Daylight Atheism > Happy Holidays! Atheism Is Growing! http://bit.ly/52X37o #Jesus #christ #god [...]

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