Despite Being the World's Largest Growing Religion, There is Hope for Irreligiosity in the Islamic World, Too
Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not, would you say you are a religious person, not a religious person, or a convinced atheist?
The results of a “Religiosity and Atheism” poll conducted by WIN-Gallup International reveals a rising tide of non-belief. The media has, quite rightly, latched on to the 9% decline worldwide and the 22% drop in Ireland, but looking into the details, one big surprise for me was that 25% of people in Saudi Arabia are not religious. (5% identified as specifically Atheist, 19% identified as not religious and 1% did not respond). In other words, 1 out of every four Saudi’s identify as not religious.
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59% of the world said that they think of themselves as religious, 23% think of themselves as not religious and 13% think of themselves as convinced atheists.
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The US now only has 60% who proclaim themselves to be religious, that’s a decline of 13% since 2005
Canada is down by 12% to 46%
Turkey was a big surprise, only 23% described themselves as religious.
As mentioned previously, Saudi Arabia also only has 75% who would acknowledge themselves as religious … wow.
Another big surprise were the Muslim numbers, only 74% identified as actually religious, 20% identified as non-religious and 3% as atheists. In other words a lot of Muslims don’t actually believe, they are simply cultural Muslims … double wow.
In Palestine only 65% identified as religious … another wow.
Why these numbers, what is happening?
I have no data, just an opinion, but I’d like to suggest that the flow of information now available has greatly increased since 2005 due to the Internet, people are now able to find out previously hidden truths and are being exposed to factually based criticism of irrational beliefs. It also allows individuals to ponder and independently think things through for themselves using logic and reason. A better richer flow of information has yielded better decisions.
Now that is indeed encouraging.
The Internet is the new Printing Revolution. Social upheavals inbound.
Welcome to the Second Renaissance.