I needed some hopeful news today. This is from the Tribune-Herald coverage of Baylor University’s new study on religion in America:
Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. Not enough for the President or the gov’t. to actually acknowledge us, but still, more than I’d thought. Don’t feel quite so alone tonight.
You’ve always got all of us… 
Hmm, none of my friends are very religious, so that skews my perception, but I figured it’d be higher than that. I’d say around 50% of the people I generally talk to are agnostic if not athiest.
Every other poll I have seen has put American admitted atheists at 1-2%. This is a good thing indeed.
I’m always surprised by this, too, since my immediate group of peers probably runs at least 40 or 50%. Of course my peer group also probably suggests that 45% of the population is gay and 65% have PhDs or whatever, but the few atheists in the country always gobsmacks me.
I definitely feel the sense of minority. Everyone always has some level or form of “spirituality” they feel they have to cling tenaciously to.
Ive started reading “End of Faith” and its been both depressing and inspiring. At least theres an author with the guts to, as it says in an endorsement " say what we’re all thinking".
That doesn’t surprise me. Actually, where I work is heavily skewed with religious folks and that surprises me more.
It’s Clinton’s fault.
Polls always understate the percentage of atheists in the US population.
Reason: many Americans were raised to believe that answering such questions honestly is akin to telling a stranger, “Yes, I like to strangle puppies and fuck my mother”.
I go to lots of events where a silent prayer is conducted, and it always gives me a warm feeling to note how many people raise their heads, make eye contact and nod cordially.
Any believers who can offer counter examples – how did you do that?!
Hear recalling George Bernard Shaw’s aphorism, “Why would anyone trust a preist’s advice on sex – if he knows anything, he shouldn’t.”
Is that all? Come to Australia, 15.5% at last count.
2.7% in Northern Ireland, probably less than 1% down south. I am a freak.
Apparently 0.7% of the English population is jedi.
We even have a jedi member of parliament. 
Never! As a true atheist, I want to strangle my mother and fuck puppies. 
Personally I blame gay marrige.
I was about to say that >:[
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat!”
Finally, I know I am not alone in the world! Hail, brother!
The tweed jacket brigade has long referred to the Victorian era as “a time of transition,” and part of the transition to which they referred was the movement away from religious faith and toward reason and logic. It seemed that the transition was stalled, but maybe not. Still, at this rate, it’s taking about 200 years for each 5% increment of reason and logic; my math skills tell me it’s gonna’ take about 2,000 more years just to hit something over 50%. 'Tis truly taking longer than Cecil expected!
I’d bet you it’s more than that down south. Things have really changed there. Though the number of people who tick the ‘Catholic’ box may still be high, the number of practicing Catholics is shrinking by the day. I believe of all the people I knew when I lived in Dublin, only one attended mass outside of Christmas, weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs… er, what?