How many of us are there?

[phrog]

Sam Harris quotes a Gallup Poll in Letter to a Christian Nation as 12% of Americans Agnostic/Atheist. Articles in Time and Newsweek last year quoted their own polls as 9% and 11%. Several videos I've watched recently puts it at 14%. Even though Utah is a conservative state, a census in 2004 put non-religious at 17% of the state. Atheist/Agnostic wasn't an option on the questionnaire. Another 3% said other and 4% refused to answer. Atheists of Utah, of which I am director, hands out a pamphlet suggesting Utah may at the lower of the polls, 9%. It's not hard to imagine of those three categories which make up 24% of Utah's population, Atheists/Agnostics answered using these categories. At 9% that would make 265,000 fellow infidels right here in the land of Zion.

What's the consensus here? What sources might you site to account for the lot? How many do you believe there to be?

[psychomonkey62]

All I know is that there are too few.

[Aspirin99]

That's a very interesting poll, especially the data on Utah. I think that corroborates my theory that the religious groups with the most outlandish ideas are the leading source of new atheists.

For example, I've about decided to stop trying to convince young-earth creationists that they are wrong. I mean, they lay a foundation that says if the outlandish crazy stuff is wrong, then all of it is wrong. Since you don't have to look very far to figure out that the earth really is older than 6K years, "Poof!" a new atheist is conceived and we help him or her to be born.

In the case of the Mormons in Utah, once you learn something like - Before Joseph Smith founded Mormonism, he was arrested for fraud because he told people he could use magic stones in his hat to find gold. Then, he founded a religion based on gold tablets that he translated using - you guessed it, magic stones in his hat. Of course, the mysterious gold tablets were whisked away so no one could examine them.

So, my point is. As irritating as it is to hear the spouting of ignorance, it has its place in our social evolution. Natural selection of ideas will eventually weed them out.

[deltagear]

That's a very interesting poll, especially the data on Utah. I think that corroborates my theory that the religious groups with the most outlandish ideas are the leading source of new atheists.


*cough* Sceintology *cough*

[phrog]

A99 has a good point, with a follow-up by deltagear. As outlandish religions start up around it does tend to make some sit up and examine the absurdities of their own beliefs. Heaven's Gate comes to mind. Daniel Dennet in his book Breaking the Spell mentions the demise of vast numbers of minor religions while the big ones seem to hang on. Some countries won't allow some past their borders like Germany keeping out Scientology and many Soviet Block nations keeping Mormon missionaries out. Do the odd balls threaten the mainstream belief systems as A99 mention?

The thing about Atheists and polls, even if they are anonymous and private, many Atheists still tend to shy away from proclaiming their own non-belief. No doubt the social pressures have them intimidated to the point of keeping it under their proverbial hats. I'm really thinking we may be pushing 20% in this country if you take in all the factions of non-believers and godless belief systems. Ah, maybe I'm just dreaming....

[Bunterx]

In Northern Ireland generally Atheism isn't an option. You are either Protestant or Catholic >_>. When I was applying for jobs as part of the Equal Oppertunities thing, I had to state if I was a member of the Protestant community or the Catholic Community (or had the option to not declare). If someone asked me I would be Protestant, but I consider myself to be Agnostic. I have never been to church with my family (I went with Scouts after parading and I also went to my friends baptism, but that's the closest I have ever got to religion really =/).

As has been mentioned, a lot of people wouldn't be willing to delcare themselves to be Atheist/Agnostic. In school there are a lot of pretty strong Christians and I have had many arguements with them (in chemisty and maths >_>) mainly about the origins of the universe. For an easier life many people would just say they believe.

[Unbeliever]

I suspect there are very many more than any of the polls account for. I think many people only claim to believe, for job, family, friends, community, etc., but who do not actually believe at all. Obviously, I can't prove this, it's just a suspicion I have.