# Is It Becoming Socially Acceptable To Say You Are Not Religious? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2009, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441 "2009-03-23T08:37:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/1 "2009-03-23T08:37:39Z")
In recent stories in the press, there was a new study showing more people are NOT going to churches (or other houses of worship), nor do they claim to be affiliated with any religion. In addition, many are now freely admitting they do not have any strong religious beliefs whatsoever. The fact that you were non-religious used to be a “dark secret” and few would admit the fact. Now it seems it is no longer a stigma to say you are not religious. As an ex-catholic, who long since left the flock and isn’t afraid to admit it. I was wondering if others felt the same. (Maybe this is an “ex-catholic” thing, as I don’t believe I have ever heard of an ex-Jew, an ex-Baptist or an ex-Muslim, etc.) More specifically, is it now more socially acceptable to say you have no religious affiliation whatsoever? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/2 "2009-03-23T08:40:06Z")
In light of recent economic times, stats show church attendence is rising. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/3 "2009-03-23T08:46:46Z")
Meh, who cares. I can’t think of any time anyone has ever asked me if I was religious besides a girlfriend. I have to roll my eyes at people who make a big show of pointing out unprompted just how atheistic they are. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/4 "2009-03-23T08:48:22Z")
In Australia, adherence to a particular religion is the exception to the ‘rule’. The majority of the populace are not attached to any religious doctine, and it’s safe in mixed company to assume your co-attendants are either agnostic or atheist until informed otherwise. IOW, it’s LESS acceptable to say you ARE religious rather than the other way 'round. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/5 "2009-03-23T08:52:13Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > In light of recent economic times, stats show church attendence is rising. The article I read was on MSNBC, but I found [this](http://www.kentucky.com/216/story/719582.html) on a quick Google search that seems to be from the same study that shows the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/6 "2009-03-23T08:53:14Z")
I don’t know anyone besides my grandmother who actually IS religeous. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/7 "2009-03-23T09:03:42Z")
I tend not to say anything about my lack of religious tendencies around people I don’t know, or have just met. There are a lot of religious folk in my wider circle of acquaintances. Being open as to my choice of ethical belief causes more trouble than it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/8 "2009-03-23T09:42:27Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I don’t believe I have ever heard of an ex-Jew That’s probably because there are plenty of atheist Jews. In general, to be an “ex-Jew”, you have to have converted to another region. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/9 "2009-03-23T09:49:03Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > In general, to be an “ex-Jew”, you have to have converted to another\*\* region\*\*. Like Palestine perhaps? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/10 "2009-03-23T09:50:26Z")
:smack: That’ll teach me to use the “right click to fix typo” function at six a fucking m. Yep, that should’ve read “religion”. Although converting to another region sounds cool. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/11 "2009-03-23T09:54:43Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > :smack: > > That’ll teach me to use the “right click to fix typo” function at six a fucking m. > Yep, that should’ve read “religion”. Although converting to another region sounds cool. S’right, it’s 6.00am in your world, and 9.00 pm in mine, with a couple of glasses of chardonnay under my belt. I forgive you, and Jesus does too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marienee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Marienee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marienee)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/12 "2009-03-23T10:04:32Z")
Here in the Netherlands, if you say you _are_ religious or that you believe in any higher being, they politely step back a few paces, then find something else to do. Possibly this reaction is reserved for foreign + religious. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/13 "2009-03-23T10:09:38Z")
From various reports, I assume the US is far more religious than most. Here in the UK, I have no problem being an atheist. I teach at a school founded by an Archdeacon and have given a couple of sermons\*. \*Belief and Faith: Aliens, the Loch Ness monster and God. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/14 "2009-03-23T10:21:29Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > In Australia, adherence to a particular religion is the exception to the ‘rule’. The majority of the populace are not attached to any religious doctine, and it’s safe in mixed company to assume your co-attendants are either agnostic or atheist until informed otherwise. > > IOW, it’s LESS acceptable to say you ARE religious rather than the other way 'round. Seconded for New Zealand… ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/15 "2009-03-23T11:02:02Z")
Thirded! I wonder about how things are changing though (I don’t give a fig about other’s beliefs) but I seem to be finding more Christians in my day to day life. I think the norm is agnostic/atheist here but to me there seems to be some odd christian blip in the last few years. I’m on the North Shore of Auckland and the blip seems to be coming from South African immigrants. Just from the observation of people I know. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/16 "2009-03-23T11:49:38Z")
My attitude is that if someone asks me they better be prepared for the answer. Most people wouldn’t dream of asking. This is as good a place as any to explain why I say I am atheist (a Jewish atheist, no less) and not an agnostic. In a sense I am both. I don’t of course actually “know” there is no god, but that is what I believe to be the case. So you see I have some beliefs. (My most important belief is in the consistency of mathematics.) ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/17 "2009-03-23T12:01:13Z")
Well, I grew up on Boston, where almost everybody was “Catholic”, and almost nobody was Catholic. Among my friends, it’s far more unusual to be especially religious. And it’s worth noting that almost anyone who’s ever ASKED me if I’m religious was selling something. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/18 "2009-03-23T12:03:12Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > More specifically, is it now more socially acceptable to say you have no religious affiliation whatsoever? When was it ever unacceptable to say you weren’t religious? As long as you didn’t use the atheist word, was it ever a big deal. And I still that outside of small pockets of crazy bible thumpers (who want to convert everybody) and militant atheists (who want everyone to know how much they don’t believe in god, whether anyone cares or not), “religion” is not that big a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/19 "2009-03-23T12:04:22Z")
> [@calm\_kiwi](#): > > Thirded! > > I wonder about how things are changing though (I don’t give a fig about other’s beliefs) but I seem to be finding more Christians in my day to day life. > > I think the norm is agnostic/atheist here but to me there seems to be some odd christian blip in the last few years. I’ve had the same feeling. In fact, I even ran into a “Wow, you’re an atheist? Does this mean I shouldn’t turn my back in case you steal my stuff bwahaha if I was an atheist you bet I’d be stealing things!” situation a while back which was just freaky. I’d read about it on the boards but written it off as one of those crazy American things. I blame America for the more vocal Christian presence too - all those Americans on TV freely talking about their beliefs like it’s not something to be ashamed of has emboldened the Australian contingent, IMO. I’d like to get back to the time where no one talked about religion at all here, either for or against. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441/20 "2009-03-23T12:15:30Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > In Australia, adherence to a particular religion is the exception to the ‘rule’. The majority of the populace are not attached to any religious doctine, and it’s safe in mixed company to assume your co-attendants are either agnostic or atheist until informed otherwise. > > IOW, it’s LESS acceptable to say you ARE religious rather than the other way 'round. While that has been true for as long as I can remember there are some interesting trends: 1. Large evangelical churches that appeal to young people have sprung up in Sydney. More specifically Hillsong Church - [http://www.hillsong.com/](http://www.hillsong.com/). 2. The last couple of Australian federal elections are the only one’s I can remember where religion has played a role. Family First (conservative Christians) have an established following in the electorate now, and also the Prime Minister Mr Rudd made no secret of his religious beliefs during the election campaign. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-becoming-socially-acceptable-to-say-you-are-not-religious/490441.md?page=2)