Is America losing faith? Atheism on the rise but still in the shadows

[JRLeft]

American Way: Atheist activists' numbers are growing in the US as they take on Big Religion, but many keep quiet for fear of alienation in one Bible-minded Virginia town

At first glance, the group of scruffy-looking students could be attending a meeting of any old debating club, but as they begin to speak it soon becomes clear that they all share the same secret.

A shy young woman is among the first. She admits she is still a long way from telling her parents the truth about herself. “My closest friends know,” she says, “but where I come from, I only know one other person like me, who was a teacher. I will tell my parents in the end, I can’t now; at least, not until I am financially independent.” Going around the circle, each member shares their story and says whether or not they are “out” of the closet. But while they use the lexicon of the gay and lesbian movement they are not speaking of their sexuality: they are not gay or lesbian, but atheist and agnostic.

A decade ago, a group non-believers meeting publicly on a university campus like this one at Virgina Tech would have been rare, but over the last five years the number of student “freethinker” groups in the US, has begun to snowball: from 100 in 2007 their number has leapt to more than 350 today, according to the nationwide Secular Student Alliance.

Video and full article at the link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10626076/Is-America-losing-faith-Atheism-on-the-rise-but-still-in-the-shadows.html

[trotsky]

1. Much ado has been made about the "Nones," this magical generation of Millennials...

who MOST DEFINITELY ARE NOT ATHEISTS SO STOP SAYING THAT, yet who have rejected religion and, for the most part, any kind of active belief in gods. Those who want religion to be special and precious and necessary cling to the hope that the Nones really are religious after all, and will mold existing religious institutions into something new. (I.e., the happy rainbow sunshine religion that they wish existed everywhere.)

[cleanhippie]

2. I think that as the Millennials come of age, we will finally see religion relegated

To the back of the room where adults are having serious discussions about our world and the future. Not that many of them will lack any religious belief, but it will not be front and center, providing the lens through which they view the world. And that is a good thing.

Liberal believers see this happening but don't want to admit it. Why else is there this full court press for interfaith dialogue and quickly evolving positions on interpretation of scripture to meet today's realities?

We will likely see the downfall of organized religion as a political force in our lifetime. And that gives me hope and makes me happy.

[skepticscott]

3. But...but...

Coalitions!! Building bridges! Common goals! Interfaithy hugs!! All of those are impossible without religion!

[defacto7]

7. I most certainly hope you're right. n/t

[Leontius]

4. Wow Three for Three.

[cleanhippie]

5. Three strikes and you're out.

This is a safe haven, friend. Tread carefully.

[skepticscott]

6. Three strikes?

In a safe haven, one should be enough to send you to the showers. Especially from someone who contributes nothing positive, and by their own admission only pops up now and then to taunt.