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Atheists Becoming Majority
Atheism is growing into a majority
Date: 8/18/2011 3:59:41 PM ( 13 y ) ... viewed 78577 times Its true, like it or not - atheism is now more popular than Jesus Christ [or than John Lennon*].
Two-Thirds of British people, 50% in Canada, European nations, and about 30% of Americans are now willing to declare that they do not believe there is a God.
In fact, the rate is actually much higher that what people "admit to". There is still a huge stigma, a negative connotation, with the word "atheism".
If the question "are you atheist?" is asked on census forms etc., MOST people will shy away from their real opinions and just say "no" because they are afraid they might be identified.
They do not want to embarrass their still-religious family members, or they work for a boss who is openly religious. Some feel they would be ostracized within their community [too bad they don't know that a majority in their community are also atheists].
Here is a good one: many would-be-atheists do not allow themselves to think that thought because they actually fear being punished BY GOD!! The reasoning goes like this [and I know because I lived this way from age 8 to 14] - "just in case there really is a God I better not claim to be an atheist because I could be smitten down where I stand". Religion has instilled that much fear in people!! Is that any way to start a movement of love and peace?? Nay!!
A similar line of thought would be that "I better not go around this corner because there might be danger there". I suggest, as a remedy for this fear, to just go ahead and try it out, take the risk, and say it out loud - "I do not believe there is a God" and then take notice of any lightning bolts from the blue or whatever. Nada. Its okay. You can safely say it, millions have.
For those and other reasons, people just don't want to admit that they are truly atheist.
What recent studies have shown is that "if 10% of a population of people get behind a certain notion, then the rest of the population will also soon come to believe in that notion". I think what we have now is that 10% of people in every nation on earth are now willing to say that they are atheist, and so the other 90% knows that it is in fact SAFE TO DO SO, and they will soon follow.
------------note on Islamic nations and atheism -
Facts about atheism from Islamic nations are difficult to get because people are afraid of being arrested, beaten, or killed for expressing such thoughts.
However, in online forums - one from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - the truth gets written, and it seems that, because of the pressure to conform to Islamic religion that there is a backlash and atheism is actually close to being a majority opinion!! Who would have thought that half of those burka-covered women don't even believe in God? Appearances can be so deceiving.
I also read, in those forums, that homosexuality is very common in Saudi Arabia and other Islamic, Arab, nations. The contention that "there are no homosexuals in Iran" seems to be as wrong as the idea that there are no atheists in Iran. Or Saudi Arabia. Or Kuwait, etc..
----------------Concluding Remarks -
I have not "argued IF God exists or not" in this post, I have merely tried to show that atheism is becoming the opinion of a majority of people.
Also, I should say that I do have sympathy for Christians today. Not only is Islam [one of two religions that does not have Jesus Christ as it's core] the fastest growing religion, but now Atheism is taking over as having more adherents than all religions put together. It is never fun to be challenged from all sides, but please be confident that we Atheists will welcome you to our fold with open arms and without taunting you for past beliefs - most of us Atheists went through that ourselves. Come, talk to us, express your doubts if you have them.
With that in mind, we march forward into a brave new world without fears of being smitten down by a man in the sky. A new kind of economy, a new energy mix, and a new kind of love for all life where nature has equal rights, and a new respect for human life.
------Articles:
---1]
"Religion may become extinct in nine nations" study says
August 18, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197?postId=107506090#comme...
Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.
----2]
"Two-thirds of Britons not religious, suggests survey"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12799801
Quotes:
While 61% of the poll's respondents said they did belong to a religion, 65% of those surveyed answered "no" to the further question: "Are you religious?"
Among respondents who identified themselves as Christian, fewer than half said they believed Jesus Christ was a real person who died, came back to life and was the son of God.
Another 27% said they did not believe that at all, while 25% were unsure.
---3]
"Goodbye Religion? How Godlessness Is Increasing With Each New Generation"
http://www.alternet.org/belief/151947/goodbye_religion_how_godlessness_is_inc...
"This demographic transformation has been in progress ever since World War II, but in recent years it's begun to seriously pick up steam."
----------------------Notes:
* John Lennon once said that "the Beatles are more famous than Jesus Christ". There was an uproar from religious people, but all he was saying was that more people are fans of the Beatles than of Christ, which is simple math, add 'em up [because the population has grown so much since the time of Christ].
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