As much as US atheist and secularists have been dismissed as whiners, the reality remains that we are an unpopular minority, ignored (and sometimes thrown under the bus) by politicians, even those we are most likely to support.
How can that change?
A new study on religiosity helps put the problem in perspective, and it may also offer some solutions.
The study corroborates recent findings that about 20% of US population are religiously unaffiliated, a number that rises to a third among the millennial generation. The youngest Americans are not just most likely to be unaffiliated; among the unaffiliated youth, the highest percentage are likely to identify themselves as atheists/agnostics. In other words, atheists and agnostics make up more than 10% of the millennials. Add to this the numbers from another recent survey indicating a steep decline in religiosity among the youth, and you will see why the potential for rise of secularism in the future looks so astounding.
Another amazing fact from the survey is that, among supporters of Obama, the religiously unaffiliated are the largest group. In other words, if he wins, he owes us more than everyone!
But here is the catch. The study also finds that the religiously unaffiliated are less likely to vote, than their religious counterparts. This really should not be a surprise, given that we don’t have the organization, or financial might (due to tax exempt status) of churches. Yet it could be an important part of why politicians ignore us.
That is why I think getting organized and joining freethought organizations is so vital for our future, and why I think this is a goal that should take precedence over the overrated “pragmatical” approach of trying to work together with the faithful for common goals. Even if you prefer that approach you have to admit that they are unlikely to want to work with us if our numbers are unimpressive.
Consider this. Five percent of a population of 300 million is 15 million people. That is 15 million atheists and agnostics. Yet the combined membership of freethought organizations is not even1% of that! That is why we need more books, more publicity campaigns and Reason Rallies, to make people realize they are not alone, and that together, we can have a voice.
(Via Hemant Mehta)
