Life Examined
What’s driving the rise in atheism?
Many people yearn to feel connected to something larger than life. For some that’s a belief in God and religion, but that number is starting to dramatically decline.
By Jonathan Bastian • • 51m ListenMany people yearn to feel connected to something larger than life. For some that’s a belief in God and religion, but that number is starting to dramatically decline. According to a 2019 Pew Research survey, a quarter of the US population today say they have no religious affiliation. Secularism has skyrocketed over the last three decades in America and added to that equation, there’s also an increase in self-described atheists, those who completely reject any form of supernatural deity. So why are Americans turning away from God and what does it mean to be an atheist in today’s America?
In this episode
2 storiesWhat does it mean to be an atheist in today’s America?
For some, it is part of the human condition to believe in something other than ourselves — something larger than life and larger than ourselves. But does that need to be supernatural or religious?
Read the story21 minIs America losing its religion? Diana Nyad and Derek Thompson on non-belief
For many atheists the connection to the outside world; to nature, wildlife and humanity provides comfort and wonder. Sometimes that means pursuing an impossible dream regardless of the destination.
Read the story31 min
