What is Atheism?
Atheism is the lack of belief in the supernatural. If someone is an atheist, they only care about things that can be observed.
If something cannot be seen, touched, or measured, to an atheist it is not worth thinking about, because it more than likely does not exist.
Atheists above all are people who are the most passionately devoted to living in the real world.
As one famous atheist saying puts it: That which is claimed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. In other words, claims of higher powers, miracles, and the afterlife that must be taken on “faith” should be ignored, because there is no reason to believe them than anything else that is imagined.
Atheists may have many diverse opinions, like anyone. However, they all share something – the focus on this life, and this universe, the things we can understand and change.
This means that Atheists are devoted to helping others, because they understand and accept, more than anyone else, that life is temporary, and therefore valuable.
AHHDC feels this way.
How common is Atheism?
As of 2024, 28% of Americans identify themselves as being part of no religion. This number has nearly doubled this century, making non-religious people the fastest growing religious group in the country.
The number of people in the United States who say that they are Atheists is much smaller, only about 5% of the population, but this makes Atheism more common in the United States than Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, and Buddhism combined.
When considering these numbers, it is also important to remember that Atheism is a world view that people can take at any time, often after thought and reflection, so anyone can become an Atheist if they decide that they value evidence over faith. The discovery of evolution by Charles Darwin, for example, has led millions of people to question the origin stories told by religions. More is being learned about the universe every day that contradicts religions teachings, therefore, the amount of Atheists has the potential for dramatic change.
For more information about Atheism:
Washington Area Secular Humanists
