10 signs that religious fundamentalism is going down

[SecularMotion]

Days may be dark right now—after all, as the memes proclaim, axial tilt is the reason for the season. But things are looking bright for those who would like to see humanity more grounded in science and reason. If you are a nonbeliever in the mood for a party, here are 10 reasons to celebrate.

1. Coming out atheist is up and coming. In May 2013, after a deadly tornado destroyed her home, young mother Rebecca Vitsmun gave an unexpected answer when CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked whether she thanked the Lord for her decision to flee. Vitsmun tells the story in a sometimes-tearful interview with Seth Andrews, host of the Thinking Atheist. “I had this moment in which I realized you either lie or tell the truth, and I’m not a liar.” In that moment, Vitsmun outed herself not only to a national media audience but also to her Christian parents and friends.

Vitsmun’s situation was extraordinary, but candor about nonbelief is becoming more and more commonplace. From Hollywood celebs like Cameron Diaz and Angelina Jolie to high school students, skeptics are opening up about their beliefs and values—or simply declining to lie when asked. (A quick-read book, Mom, Dad, I’m an Atheist, offers tips for those who are contemplating when, where and how best to come out.)

2. The cutting edge of freethought is less cutting and edgy. In generations past, coming out as an atheist required a devil-may-care attitude. The social and even financial costs were so high that most admitted atheists were also unflinching social activists, people who had a high degree of zeal and high tolerance for conflict. Most were also white males who were comparatively safe taking on the religious establishment. Until recently, then, atheism was virtually synonymous with anti-theism, and even today people complain that pioneers of the New Atheist movement like Dawkins, Harris, Dennett, and the late great Hitchens are unnecessarily antagonistic.

http://www.salon.com/2014/01/02/10_signs_that_religious_fundamentalism_is_going_down_partner/

[cbayer]

1. Well done and a nice synopsis of changing demographic trends.

I agree with most of the analysis as well.

2014 should be a good year for non-believers, allies of non-believers and secularists in general….

and hopefully a bad year for fundamentalists.

[rug]

2. I hope she's right but I doubt her ten signs are the reasons.

[cbayer]

3. I think it's mistitled, really.

It's not actually about the fall of fundamentalism, it's about the rise of nones, atheists, agnostics, secularists and others.

[brewens]

4. I suppose at some point if asked I would have said, "I think I'm supposed to be some

sort of a Christian I guess?" That just because at times I had gone to a Christian church with my parents on holidays. Once I was old enough to be home alone, I didn't have to go if I didn't want to. There are probably a lot of people about like that. They live almost every day of their life never thinking much about religion but if asked, they will claim one.

That doesn't exactly make me an atheist either. I just don't really feel like I need to decide just yet or maybe ever.

[cbayer]

5. Apatheist is a term I have some affinity for.

Don't know if there is a god or not and don't really care whether there is a god or not.

And, if there is or is not a god, it is unlikely to change anything about the way I live or interact with the world.

[truebluegreen]

6. Your (her) lips to Dog's ears.