Viewpoints: Why is faith falling in the US

[Atheist-Lite]

Atheism is hardly showing a large increase in America. The rise can be fully explained by the internet giving American atheists a false sense of security through contact with a secular western european community where theocratic viewpoints are traditionally not taken with any great seriousness. With the coming economic malaise it may become hazardous to be openly atheist in America. At the least it will lead to denial of service from the efficient social 'foodplate' that religion often provides in hard times. At worst scapegoating and all that goes with that in a gun toting country.

The internet is certainly a huge part of both increased education and the decrease in isolation of those with atheistic leanings.

The rest of your post is simply your hobby-horse getting its nightly exercise...

I'm quite optimistic here.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Atheism is hardly showing a large increase in America. The rise can be fully explained by the internet giving American atheists a false sense of security through contact with a secular western european community where theocratic viewpoints are traditionally not taken with any great seriousness. With the coming economic malaise it may become hazardous to be openly atheist in America. At the least it will lead to denial of service from the efficient social 'foodplate' that religion often provides in hard times. At worst scapegoating and all that goes with that in a gun toting country.

The internet is certainly a huge part of both increased education and the decrease in isolation of those with atheistic leanings.

The rest of your post is simply your hobby-horse getting its nightly exercise...

I'm quite optimistic here.

Actually, I think you probably are! And a rather good poe as well, if I might add.

[Svartalf]

I think it is education.

The clue comes from the following survey results.
90% of Americans believe in a personal god.
40% of Americans with a bachelor of science degree believe in a personal god.
Under 10% of Americans with a Ph.D. in science believe in a personal god.

The road to Hell is paved by Universities!

Me wanna be Hellbound again.

[JimC]

I think it is education.

The clue comes from the following survey results.
90% of Americans believe in a personal god.
40% of Americans with a bachelor of science degree believe in a personal god.
Under 10% of Americans with a Ph.D. in science believe in a personal god.

The road to Hell is paved by Universities!

Me wanna be Hellbound again.

I bloody well enjoyed my time there as well!

Intellectual stimulation!

Women!

Drugs!

[klr]

I think it is education.

The clue comes from the following survey results.
90% of Americans believe in a personal god.
40% of Americans with a bachelor of science degree believe in a personal god.
Under 10% of Americans with a Ph.D. in science believe in a personal god.

The road to Hell is paved by Universities!

Me wanna be Hellbound again.

I bloody well enjoyed my time there as well!

Intellectual stimulation!

Women!

Drugs!

"Wine, Women & Song"

[Gawdzilla Sama]

2012 Presidential election FTW.

[Tero]

They need more gods. This monotheism just isn't working anymore.

[JimC]

They need more gods. This monotheism just isn't working anymore.

Holy Trinity, Batman!

[MrJonno]

People don't move from believing in god to being atheists, they move from believing in god as something vital in their lives to it just not being that important or to there is 'something more than this world thinking but I don't know what' type thinking

[Gawdzilla Sama]

People don't move from believing in god to being atheists, they move from believing in god as something vital in their lives to it just not being that important or to there is 'something more than this world thinking but I don't know what' type thinking

Some people do, some don't. It's hard to put a single path on people.

[MrJonno]

People don't move from believing in god to being atheists, they move from believing in god as something vital in their lives to it just not being that important or to there is 'something more than this world thinking but I don't know what' type thinking

Some people do, some don't. It's hard to put a single path on people.

Talking about entire populatoins not individuals, Europe isnt full of atheists its full of people who are simple indifferent

[Gawdzilla Sama]

People don't move from believing in god to being atheists, they move from believing in god as something vital in their lives to it just not being that important or to there is 'something more than this world thinking but I don't know what' type thinking

Some people do, some don't. It's hard to put a single path on people.

Talking about entire populatoins not individuals, Europe isnt full of atheists its full of people who are simple indifferent

Okay, then you're even more wrong. It's called a sweeping generalization.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

I am sure a minority of folk are more hardcore on religion than they ever were - but for most folks once the break from hands on involvement with Churches and Temples ends and the principle exposure is nutjobs on TV then it's a slow drift away that ends in either Atheism or Notcaringism......that's been going on for a generation or 2.

I also think the media is playing a big part - by giving the looney end of religions a platform it simply makes all of them look silly. Long may it continue!

Internet is simply icing on the cake.