Are atheists, anti-theists, free thinkers and non-believers really such a tiny minority as some surveys would lead people to believe or are there many more of us and we just aren't being counted properly? The attached article indicates that we may make up almost a third of the population, depending upon how we are counted.
[fivethirtyeight.com]
I think the percentage of "nones" is higher than most surveys suggest. Many probably people don't want to admit to their nonbelief (even to themselves) out of fear. Some probably fear being ostracized by friends, family, etc. if people in their life were to find out. Some may even be afraid to actually admit to themselves that they no longer believe. Being religious is a huge part of who some people are.
I think that many "religious" persons are actually mor eaganstic in their hearts.
The problem is that humans are animals, which are "herd" orientated. We feel a need to belogn to groups. As we evolved as animals this was a strategy for safety, and so many peopel feel safer as a part of a group. So many doubters keep goign to church, nto because they really believe, but because their animal instincts make them feel safer by being a part of a group and havign a place in that group.
In Europe, atheism is much higher than in the U.S. However, todays youth in the U.S. are not identifying with any religious beliefs, so atheism is growing int he U.S.
I think people lean on religion because they are sheep. They are afraid of the consequences of saying or even thinking there is no god. It's like "I am an American" without every having a definition of what that is. People, in general, lack courage to be themselves.
I think we are approaching if we did not already exceed 20% in the US.
id say just, by the way, people on this site talk we are a minority as are hardcore religious people. id say the majority say there religious but don't do anything about it really.
I think many people just don't care to think of the reasons for their beliefs. I think there are way more than suspected, they just haven't got here yet.
Dennett addresses that exact topic.
In Canada the generally accepted average is 25% atheist, ranging from 35% in the Yukon and British Columbia down to 5% in the Prairies and the Maritimes. Ontario is 25% because it tends to drive the average. Québec is really interesting (c'est comme d'ordinaire, n'est-c pas) with 95% declaring that they are Roman Catholic, but with the lowest birth rate, lowest church attendance, and highest divorce rate in the country. I guess they are cultural Catholics. Je ne sais quoi.
In Australia's 2016 census 30.1% put no religion, in Tasmania it was more like 46%.
You just gotta love Taz.
I think that a lot of people are doubters, but they don't want to admit it.
True, many people define themselves by a religious faith even though they haven't been back to that church since they were children.
It's a growing movement that's picking up momentum. The more voices for atheism, the faster the truth will prevail against all myths and legends.
And yet we get surprisingly little positive press, old biases remain long after they have been proven to be without merit.