Aetheism

Introduction: Exploring Atheism and Non-Religion

In the chapter Non-Religion and Atheism, Caleb Scha ner and Ryan T. Cragun examine the lives
of people who have left religion behind, particularly focusing on atheists. The chapter delves into
why people stop believing in religion, how certain they are about their atheism, and whether they
ever think about returning to religion. The authors argue that atheism is not a single, uniform belief
and that people's experiences with it are in uenced by their backgrounds, upbringing, and
personal experiences.
Key Question: What is Atheism?
Atheism can mean di erent things to di erent people. For some, atheism simply means not
believing in God. This is called "negative atheism." For others, atheism means being absolutely
sure that no gods exist, which is called "positive atheism." The chapter discusses these
di erences and how they shape people's understanding of atheism.
Some people who leave religion may feel very certain about their disbelief, while others may still
have some doubts. Some atheists may even be open to changing their beliefs in the future. To
explore these di erences, the authors conducted surveys and interviews with atheists who had
once been religious. This research provides valuable insights into how atheists feel about their
past religious experiences and their current beliefs.

Previous Research: Understanding Atheism and Religion

Before diving into their ndings, Scha ner and Cragun refer to previous research on religion and
atheism. Some studies show that people's beliefs (whether religious or not) are tied closely to
their identity. For many, belief in God or the rejection of God gives them a sense of emotional
certainty and stability. A 1935 study suggested that people are often more con dent in their belief
or disbelief in God than in everyday matters.
However, the de nition of atheism itself is complicated. Some people de ne atheism simply as the
absence of belief in God (negative atheism), while others, like Richard Dawkins, are almost certain
that no gods exist but stop short of claiming absolute certainty. On the other hand, gures like
Madalyn Murray O'Hair take a more rm stance, arguing that atheism means being absolutely
sure that no gods exist (positive atheism).

What We Know About Atheism and Leaving Religion

The chapter highlights that leaving religion is a complex and personal process. It’s not a one-size-
ts-all experience. People may leave religion in di erent ways and for di erent reasons. Some
people become atheists immediately, while others explore other belief systems before rejecting all
gods. Even within atheism, people can have di erent views and levels of certainty.
The authors found that atheists can be grouped into four main categories based on their certainty
about the existence of gods:
1. Positive Atheists: These individuals are completely certain that no gods exist. They are rm in
their disbelief. This was the largest group in the study.
2. Hard Agnostics: These individuals believe it’s impossible to know whether or not a god
exists. They are uncertain and open to the idea that they might be wrong.
3. Soft Agnostics: These individuals are uncertain about the existence of a god but don’t claim
to know for sure. They might be unsure, but they don't actively search for proof.
4. Apathetic Atheists: These people don’t really care whether or not a god exists. They live their
lives as if there is no god, but they are not particularly concerned about the issue.
Through interviews, the authors learned that people’s views on atheism can vary greatly. Some
interviewees, like Regina, argued that atheism is like a belief system in itself, since it involves
believing that there is no god, even if that belief cannot be proven. Others, like Trent, argued that
atheism doesn't involve faith in the same way that religion does. He compared atheism to a
scienti c stance: just because we cannot prove something doesn't mean it’s true. Trent felt that
some gods, like the Christian God, could be disproven using historical evidence.

Factors That In uence Atheism

Scha ner and Cragun explore the role of childhood experiences in shaping people’s atheism. For
many, the way they were raised—particularly if they grew up in a strict religious environment—
a ects how certain they are about their atheism as adults. Some people raised in very dogmatic
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 religious settings carry over that rigid mindset into their atheism, rejecting religion with the same
level of certainty they once applied to their faith. This is called the "hangover e ect."
However, not everyone who grows up in a strict religious environment becomes a rigid atheist.
Some people who were raised in religious homes with more open-minded attitudes are less
certain in their atheism and more open to changing their beliefs in the future. These individuals
might view their atheism as the best choice for now, but they are not fully convinced that they will
never change their beliefs.

The Process of Leaving Religion

Leaving religion is not a simple or uniform process. Some people might go through a period of
exploring di erent religions before deciding that none of them is true. Others may feel a strong
break from religion right away, becoming rm in their atheism or agnosticism.
The authors discuss how people who leave religion often go through a variety of emotional and
psychological stages. For some, leaving religion is a di cult and painful process. It might involve
struggling with guilt, fear of condemnation, or even social alienation from religious communities.
For others, the process is liberating, and they feel a sense of freedom from religious rules and
constraints.
The way people leave religion can also be in uenced by their social environment. For example,
people who live in more religious societies might feel more pressure to stay within religious
beliefs. In contrast, those in more secular societies might feel less pressure to conform to religious
norms. Social networks—such as friends, family, and online communities—also play a signi cant
role in how people navigate their departure from religion.

The Link Between Religious Upbringing and Atheism

One of the central ndings of the chapter is that people’s childhood religious experiences have a
big impact on how they approach atheism. People who were raised in very strict religious
households often become more dogmatic in their atheism as adults, rejecting religion with the
same level of certainty that was instilled in them during their upbringing. On the other hand, those
raised in more exible or liberal religious environments tend to be less certain in their atheism and
are more open to the idea that their beliefs could change over time.
Some people raised in religious environments, especially those with intense religious experiences,
may nd it di cult to fully embrace atheism. They may still feel a connection to their former faith
or feel guilty about abandoning their religion. This can create a sense of inner con ict, where they
may reject religious beliefs but still struggle emotionally with the change.

The Future of Atheism and Non-Religion

The chapter concludes by discussing the future of atheism and non-religion. In some parts of the
world, atheism is growing, especially in more developed countries. However, in other areas,
especially where religion plays a major role in society, atheism is still relatively rare. Some studies
predict that atheists might become a smaller percentage of the world’s population in the future
due to higher birth rates in religious countries.
Despite these predictions, the chapter highlights the increasing number of people who identify as
atheists or non-religious in developed nations. Scha ner and Cragun argue that more research is
needed to understand the factors that contribute to people leaving religion and how atheism will
evolve in the future. They suggest that future studies should take into account the social and
cultural contexts in which people leave religion, as well as factors such as race, gender,
education, and socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: Atheism is Diverse

In conclusion, the chapter emphasizes that atheism is not a single, uniform belief. There are
di erent types of atheists, ranging from those who are absolutely certain that no gods exist to
those who are uncertain or apathetic about the issue. People’s childhood religious experiences,
their social environment, and their personal beliefs all play a role in shaping their atheism. While
most atheists are unlikely to return to religion, it is not impossible, and the process of leaving
religion is still not fully understood.
Scha ner and Cragun suggest that future research should focus on better understanding the
di erent ways people experience atheism, taking into account the complex factors that in uence
people’s decisions to leave religion. They also stress the importance of considering the social,
cultural, and personal factors that shape people's beliefs, as well as the ongoing evolution of non-
religion in the world.
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 In Summary:
1. Atheism and Non-Religion: Atheism is not a one-size- ts-all belief. It varies from person to
person depending on their certainty about the existence of gods.
2. Religious Upbringing: A person's childhood religious experience a ects how they approach
atheism. Those raised in strict religious environments may be more dogmatic in their atheism,
while those from more exible religious backgrounds tend to be less certain.
3. Personal Experiences: People leave religion for various reasons, and the way they do so can
be in uenced by their social environment, family, and personal struggles with faith.
4. The Future of Atheism: While atheism is growing in some areas, it may not increase in all
parts of the world, particularly in religiously conservative regions. Future research should
consider the complex factors in uencing atheism and non-religion.
5. Ongoing Exploration: The process of leaving religion and embracing atheism is still not fully
understood. More research is needed to explore these transitions and the factors that
in uence them.
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