Essay: 10 reasons why American atheism will be cut by at least 50%

From Conservapedia

The Question evolution! campaign by Creation Ministries International is a worldwide campaign which poses 15 questions that evolutionists cannot satisfactorily answer.^[1] The 15 questions posed to evolutionists can be found HERE

The popular YouTube Christian Shockofgod said he believes that American atheism, which is merely a squeak in American society, will be cut by at least 50% in terms of the percentage of its adherents.^[2]

Question: Is this a reasonable prediction or a delusional pie in the sky prediction?

Shockofgod is a big fan of the Question evolution! campaign and believes the campaign will be instrumental in reducing the amount of atheists in the United States (Please see: My challenge to atheists and evolutionists).

10 reasons why American atheism will be cut by at least 50%

1. Global atheism is shrinking and demographic changes in the United States are expected to shrink the influence of American secularism.^[3][4]

In 2011, the American Spectator declared concerning research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research:

Decline of atheism in terms of global adherents is expected to accelerate:

Eric Kaufmann, a professor at Birkbeck, University of London, using a a wealth of demographic studies argues the decline of atheism in terms of its global adherents is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate.^[6][7][8][9] In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.^[10] Kaufmann is author of the book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?.^[11][12] In the Western World due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."^[13]

In addition, currently the Western World population is aging in terms of its demographic makeup, particularly in secular Europe, and it has been found that belief in God grows as a person's death nears.^[14][15]

Demographics and the expected decline of American secularism:

See also: American atheism

The Birkbeck College, University of London professor Eric Kaufman wrote in his 2010 book Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? concerning America:

For more information please see: Atheist population

In addition, the world is a smaller place and secular Europe does influence America (Jacques Derrida, etc.). The Eurozone is increasingly showing many signs of decline (economy, rioting, etc.) and no doubt European influence on the world in terms of its secular ideology will also decline as people are less likely to admire and emulate failure.^[17] Also, amidst the many financial and natural disaster problems Japan is having, Christianity is growing in Japan.^[18]

2. In China, which is an atheistic communist state, Christianity is exploding which is bad news for global atheism (see: Global Christianity). Atheism is not a strong ideology when faced with fervent biblical Christianity competition. Although China and Asia as a whole may have short term setbacks, they are increasingly gaining influence in the world.

3. Christianity prevailed against state sponsored militant atheism in the Soviet Union.^[19] Atheistic evolution is a state sponsored enterprise via public schools. Evolutionary belief is the air supply of atheism. (see: Cutting off the air supply of atheism).

4. Some of the biggest allies of atheistic evolutionism in the United States are: public schools, academia, the liberal media, liberal Christianity, federal government funding/support for evolutionary pseudoscience

- In the Western World, the atheist community leans heavily towards the left in terms of politics (the leftist atheists community is often referred to as the secular left). ^[20][21] Currently, the governments of Europe, Japan, Britain, and the U.S. are all mired in debt and there is a sovereign debt crises in many European countries in the Eurozone. ^[22][23] The emergence of financially struggling and bankrupt liberal governments, which often promote secularism, is probably not a positive development for the future of atheism.

- American government run public schools are increasingly facing budget cuts and there is growing criticism of public schools. Vouchers for private schools (including religious schools) and charter schools are increasingly being discussed and legislators are introducing and passing school choice bills.^[24]

- there appears to be a higher education bubble that will burst.^[25] Also, college is clearly not delivering the goods in terms of intellectual development for a large percentage of its students. An American study found that forty-five percent of students achieved no significant improvement in their critical thinking, reasoning or writing skills during the first two years of college. After four years, 36 percent displayed no significant increases in these so-called "higher order" thinking skills.^[26] Students, particularly those who made poor curriculum choices, are increasingly angry that college does not adequately prepare them for the marketplace and leaves them with a pile of debt.^[27]

- the liberal media, such as the American liberal newspapers and television networks, continue to lose market share.^[28] See the video: American mainstream media - Apostles of atheism

- Liberal Christianity has been an ally of atheists in the creation vs. evolution culture war. Evolutionism is an important ideological underpinning of atheism. Due to the explosive growth of global Christianity and conservative Christians and religious conservatives having higher birth rates and greater evangelism success, liberal Christianity is expected to continue to decline in both number of adherents and influence.

- The U.S. federal government funds evolutionary pseudoscience and the severe financial problems of Greece due to their profligate spending teaches that America cannot continue to run extremely large deficits without consequences and that cutbacks are inevitable for non-essential programs. No doubt funding for evolutionary pseudoscience will receive cutbacks and this is already happening.

For example, NASA has been obsessively and fruitlessly searching to find life on other planets and had scheduled man made exploration for Mars.^[29] In February of 2012, Barack Obama announced large cuts to the Mars exploration program. ^[30]Phil Christensen, a Mars researcher at Arizona State University declares concerning the cuts: “in essence, it is the end of the Mars program”.^[31] It is probable that other government funded organizations which advocate evolutionary pseudoscience such as the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institute will see funding cuts as well plus federal grants supporting pointless evolutionary pseudoscientific research will see cuts as well.

The notion that there is life on other planets is an unbiblical notion contrary to the Scriptures and to the current scientific evidence. Please see: Did God create life on other planets? and Alien/UFO answers and Origin of life answers and Evolution

Late in Charles Darwin's life, Darwin told the Duke of Argyll that he frequently had overwhelming thoughts that the natural world was the result of design.^[32] In a letter to Asa Gray, Darwin confided: "...I am quite conscious that my speculations run quite beyond the bounds of true science."^[33]

5. Also, belief in evolution has this Achilles' heel:

"In 2011, the results of a study was published indicating that most United States high school biology teachers are reluctant to endorse the theory of evolution in class (see: Study: Most high school biology teachers don’t endorse evolution). In 2011, eight anti-evolution bills were introduced in various states within the United States which encouraged students to employ critical thinking skills when examining the evolution issue. In 2009, there were seven states within the United States which required critical analysis skills be employed when examining evolutionary material within schools.

Imagine how timid many biology teachers will be when they are faced with the 15 questions that evolutionists cannot satisfactorily answer! Imagine how many additional states within the United States are going to adopt evolution unfriendly laws! Evolution cannot bear up under critical analysis so the effects of the Question evolution! campaign are going to be devastating to evolutionary belief and atheism."^[34]

6. In the past, Christianity has prevailed against other false ideologies such as Gnosticism. Christianity has an abundance of evidence supporting its claims (see: Evidence for Christianity).

7. Atheism has no proof and evidence supporting it plus well known atheists, such as Charles Darwin, have been plagued with doubts about the validity of atheism (see: Atheists doubting the validity of atheism).

8. Atheism is not strong in the United States and it is merely a squeak in American society plus it is frowned upon ideology with an extremely bad reputation (see: Atheist Population). Also, the New Atheism has not be successful in terms of gaining adherents to atheism. (see: New Atheism).

9. It is far easier to be a "sassy atheist" when your wallet is full. Jesus taught in a parable relating to the gospel message: "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22 NASB). A Pew Forum study found an inverse relationship between societal wealth and religiosity (Of course, if a country has a significant amount of religious freedom like the United States, it is certainly possible for a country to have significant societal wealth and religiosity). ^[35]

The economy is very fragile in the United States and it looks like it may experience significantly more pain in the future given its gigantic debt and its current political disharmony/dysfunction. The United States may eventually bounce back as its society has a history of dynamism and it has overcome previous troubles, but in the meantime there certainly may be hard times for atheism as men often turn to God in times of trouble.

In addition, atheism is more often found in younger people in the United States due to a boom in American secularism in the 1990s which is waning (see: Decline of American 1990s secularism).^[36] Also, indicated above, due to demographic factors, there is expected to a trend in the decline in American secularism and 2020 is expected to be a tipping point in favor of religious conservatism (Demographics and the expected decline of American secularism). In 2012, the Press Herald reported that only 55% of Americans age 16-29 were employed in 2010. In addition, in 2012 the New York Times dubbed the young generation the "go nowhere generation".^[37] Also, a 2012 article entitled Teen Unemployment: A Western Epidemic (Spain, Greece, France and … USA) declared: "But the story in the US that was ignored for the most part was teen unemployment which stands at Euro Zone-like 25%."^[38] Currently, youth employment is at a 60 year low.^[39]

Since it is very helpful for an ideology gaining new adherents among the young, the recent economic problems which disproportionately is negatively affecting young people does not bode well for atheism converts among young people given the aforementioned inverse relationship between wealth and religiosity found in many societies. Furthermore, a more sluggish labor market that in years past in terms of labor market recovery after a recession, a poor American public education system in terms of grammar school/high school level compared to many developed nations, increased global economic competition and many unemployed young workers not having marketing job skills could cause youth unemployment to persist for a significant period.^[40][41]

10. Atheism is increasingly exhibiting a bunker mentality in terms of prominent atheists refusing to accept debate challenges and its leadership is facing growing criticism of being cowardly (see: Atheism and cowardice and Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates). In addition, there is a lot of disharmony in the atheist movement (see: Atheist factions and Atheism: A house divided and in global decline). Wired magazine made the observation that atheists tend to be quarrelsome, socially challenged men.

So many of the pillars supporting atheism are clearly showing cracks plus the general environment is increasingly disfavoring atheism. And again, atheism is not a strong ideology when faced with increased competition from fervent biblical Christianity.

Other important considerations

Dr. Carl Wieland is the Managing Director of Creation Ministries International

1. There has never been a worldwide grassroots campaign by a creationist organization which can be implemented easily on the local level and on the internet. The Question evolution! campaign is such a campaign.

2. The Question evolution! campaign, which will be a game changer, has started the process of gaining zealous advocates (see: Enthusiastic responses to the Question evolution! campaign). Grassroots movements are increasingly making a difference in various societies.

3. Creation Ministries International takes a two prong approach as far as attacking atheist ideology.

It's website not only has articles/campaigns defending biblical creation and attacking evolutionary ideology, but it has a comprehensive article refuting atheism plus a collection of other articles refuting atheism as can be seen below:

Creation Ministries International articles on atheism:

• Atheism - comprehensive article

• Atheism, godless religions, humananism - large collection of articles

Expansion of creation evangelism outreach

In addition, some recent organizational changes within the creation movement appear to be causing significant growth in terms of creation evangelism outreach.

For more information please see:

• Expansion of creation evangelism outreach
• Essay: Misfortune sparks the turbocharging of creation evangelism

A proponent of the Question evolution! campaign declared that "Evolution is the air supply of atheism. ..to truly prevail against atheism, cutting off the air supply of atheism is crucial."^[42]

Biblical Christianity vs. evangelical atheism

See also: Cutting off the air supply of atheism

A proponent of the anti-evolution Question evolution! campaign by Creation Ministries International wrote:

Summary

The Question evolution! campaign as it heats looks very promising in terms of aiding the cutting the weak and soft ideology of atheism by at least 50% in the United States in terms of the percentage of its adherents. Atheists, get ready for the hot knife of the Question evolution! campaign to cut through the soft ideologies of atheism and evolution like a hot knife cutting through butter.

External links

• Question Evolution! by Creation Ministries International
• 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot satisfactorily answer
• 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot satisfactorily answer PDF version
• Question Evolution! Campaign webpage for Traditional Values Coalition

Videos:

• Question Evolution! - YouTube video

• 15 Questions Evolutionists STILL can't answer!

• Question evolution! campaign - Come see!

• 15 Questions for Evolutionists

• My challenge to evolutionists and atheists

• Atheism a house divided & in global decline - YouTube video

Tract:

• 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot answer tract - USA
• 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot answer - PDF facsimile

Notes