ARTICLE:In May we posted an article why, in one psychologists opinion, Atheism would replace religion. His stance stemmed from the finding that the more developed a country got the higher the rate of atheism, which anecdotally you may have noticed, as 20% of American's do not have a religious affiliation (atheist, agnostic or no preference), and among 18-29 year olds, this number is much higher, with 1 in 4 not aligning with a organized church (this is an overall increase of 15% from the last five years, for some perspective). However that may change; it seems the young up and comers are combining their desire to not be tied to a specific religion with their desire for kinship and socialization. An atheist "Mega Church" called the Sunday Assembly has cropped up in London, founded by two comedians as an alternative for those who "like church services, except for the religious bit," and it's seemed to have resonated with the zeitgeist, as services are happening everywhere from Australia to Nashville. As America (and the world, with unaffiliated being the third most popular religious persuasion globally) continues to diversify, and as we continue to accept more fluid identities of who we are, it seems very likely we will continue to expect the same from our religions as well, while still seeking the social camaraderie that defines us.
Worth noting: only a small percentage of Americans (roughly 2%) consider themselves pure atheists; much confusion comes in the definition of an atheist, as 14% of those who consider themselves "atheist" say they also believe in some higher spiritual being. It seems the term, like religion, is becoming fluid.
