Christopher Hitchens - The Rise of Atheism - ABC

A large convention of atheists gathered in Virginia, where men, women and children eagerly proclaimed their belief God does not exist.

While their views still may be the minority in the country, atheists have become more vocal and visible in recent years.

T-shirts, bumper stickers and even rap songs proclaim atheists' beliefs. Atheist summer camps now exist for children.

"Over the last 20 years," said Alan Wolfe of Boston College, "the number of people willing to tell people in surveys that they don't believe in God have pretty much doubled."

Books denying God's existence have topped bestseller lists, and Congress has its first self-proclaimed atheist, Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif.

"A lot of respectable people are coming out and saying they are very happy to dispel the myths of the Bible," said Margaret Downey of Atheist Alliance International.

Some atheists said their profile has increased because of a rise in religious extremism, like the Islamic fundamentalism behind the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the rise of the Christian right in the United States.

Gathering of the Godless

Meanwhile, the Internet has helped unite non-believers. In fact, this weekend's convention sold out, and had a waiting list of 600 people.

Besides listening to speakers, convention attendees can buy merchandise like a born-again-atheist hat, atheist-on-board signs for those with kids, or after-the-rapture mints.

They also had the opportunity to mingle with celebrity atheists like authors Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.

On "Good Morning America Weekend Edition," Hitchens said American believers should recognize they live in a secular state.

"It would be better for them if they didn't give themselves false conciliation," he said. "My challenge is really to say, 'Can you name me a moral action or a statement that has been made by a believer that couldn't have been made by a non-believer?'"

And while the stigma associated with atheism may be diminishing, the majority of Americans say they would not vote for an atheist for president.

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[bary1234]

Religion is poison. Creationism is the pinnacle of human stupidity. We have to end these disgusting superstitions before they end us.

[bary1234]

@utubepredator : Right you are, sir.

All humans should make it a priority to end superstition. Critique and rejection of religious opinions and actions is vital. We should broadcast this message constantly, through all medias. Untill we end all religions and superstitions.

[marcohorowitz8]

Americans HAVE voted for an atheist as president: Obama!  brilliant!!

[zzyzx0788]

@Psychonaut1992 That's the only thing I can come up with too. Or maybe cities just tend to have a better diversity of people of races, ethnicity, religions, etc, but for whatever reason more populated areas encourage more critical thinking.

[Psychonaut1992]

@zzyzx0788 Yeah, it's interesting just how much the "guns 'n' bibles" cliché lives up to itself, of the country folk. Also in Canada, someone I spoke to said the likes of Toronto are highly atheistic while the "prairie people" are essentially all Bible-bashing types. Even here in relatively faithless Scotland the village I grew up in had a good number of churchgoers. My idea is that the close proximity of people in cities promotes more critical thinking.

[zzyzx0788]

@Psychonaut1992 I actually think it's completely dependent on where you are and who you're around in the US. If you go to rural areas yea pretty much everyone is a Christian, however in my age group and area I live in (Chicago area) it's really rare to find that someone is deeply or even moderately religious and it usually comes as a suprise.

[zzyzx0788]

Just wait for the baby boomers to die off. Then we're good

[Psychonaut1992]

@strkszone Fair enough, then. I could not imagine living in the Deep South or much of Africa where the rates of religiosity is staggering. I suppose I take it for granted here in Europe that a preacher on the streets is a rare sight and that I can down-talk the idea of God without being beset upon by zealots foaming at the mouth.

[strkszone]

@Psychonaut1992 If you live in America, especially in the south, you can't find any atheists around. There is no more social aspect to discuss things like religion and have actual intellectual conversation. It's good to be around like-minded people, especially for those who need community and consolation from people who understand. That is why there are atheist conventions, for the same reason there are conventions/club for anything.

[ChibiRoy]

*Thwack* Hitchslap at the end

[taffysaur]

the final quip makes the interview.

*mwah!*

[Psychonaut1992]

It makes me honestly so concerned and ashamed to see Americans considering atheists as the least "favourable" politicians/congressmen. That said, I find it strange that a very commercial convention needs to take place. Public figures speaking is one thing, but even as a staunch atheist it just seems a little... odd. Maybe because I'm not American, though.