Why Is Atheism More Prevalent in the USA Than in Orthodox Countries?

[LanaPodesta]

I've noticed that despite the USA having a large number of churches and a strong history of public religiosity, it also seems to have a much higher number of people identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nones" compared to many traditionally Orthodox Christian countries (like Greece, Serbia, or Russia).

In many Orthodox countries, even after years of communism or secular pressure, cultural and religious identity remains closely tied to the Church. Meanwhile, in the US, there's been a sharp rise in secularism, especially among younger generations.

Why do you think that is?
Is it something about the style of Christianity most common in the US (e.g. evangelicalism, denominational fragmentation)?
Is it linked to American individualism, consumerism, or something in the education system?
Or is it that Orthodoxy, with its deep liturgical and mystical tradition, offers something more rooted or resilient?

Would love to hear your thoughts. I'm asking in good faith and open to learning from different perspectives.

Happy to post statistics to anyone asking for them!

 

[hawkman]

I've noticed that despite the USA having a large number of churches and a strong history of public religiosity, it also seems to have a much higher number of people identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nones" compared to many traditionally Orthodox Christian countries (like Greece, Serbia, or Russia).

In many Orthodox countries, even after years of communism or secular pressure, cultural and religious identity remains closely tied to the Church. Meanwhile, in the US, there's been a sharp rise in secularism, especially among younger generations.

I do not accept your premise .

Happy to post statistics to anyone asking for them!

I feel the same way Mark Twain felt about statistics . Polls are just as bad as statistics , IMO .

 

[LanaPodesta]

I do not accept you premise

Okay. Anything in particular you object to?

 

[LanaPodesta]

I feel the same way Mark Twain felt about statistics

Okay. What would you accept?

 

[miamited]

Hi LanaPodesta

Do you know what the rate of unbelief is in Greece? Serbia? Russia?

I found one article that mentioned the youth are 'unreligious' by 42%. It also states that Islam is on the rise.

 

[LanaPodesta]

Hi LanaPodesta

Do you know what the rate of unbelief is in Greece? Serbia? Russia?

I found one article that mentioned the youth are 'unreligious' by 42%. It also states that Islam is on the rise.

Okay. Wouldn't mean atheism is more prevalent than in the US if true

 

[Hidden In Him]

I've noticed that despite the USA having a large number of churches and a strong history of public religiosity, it also seems to have a much higher number of people identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nones" compared to many traditionally Orthodox Christian countries (like Greece, Serbia, or Russia).

Ok, now before I answer that, why are we picking on the United States again? LoL. Every country in Western Europe has higher numbers of non-religious people than the US does.

 

[onlysaved]

I've noticed that despite the USA having a large number of churches and a strong history of public religiosity, it also seems to have a much higher number of people identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nones" compared to many traditionally Orthodox Christian countries (like Greece, Serbia, or Russia).

In many Orthodox countries, even after years of communism or secular pressure, cultural and religious identity remains closely tied to the Church. Meanwhile, in the US, there's been a sharp rise in secularism, especially among younger generations.

Why do you think that is?
Is it something about the style of Christianity most common in the US (e.g. evangelicalism, denominational fragmentation)?
Is it linked to American individualism, consumerism, or something in the education system?
Or is it that Orthodoxy, with its deep liturgical and mystical tradition, offers something more rooted or resilient?

Would love to hear your thoughts. I'm asking in good faith and open to learning from different perspectives.

Happy to post statistics to anyone asking for them!

Easier to hide and justify your sin because society is more fractured.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Maybe ….

The USA tends to value independence and freedom etc…

And it’s also more religious than other comparably developed affluent nations. So…

Officially identifying as atheist or agnostic is probably more acceptable here than in some other nations because we as a society tend to believe that each person should make their own decisions and be independent etc…

I dunno honestly? It’s kind of becoming less of an issue as secularization progresses…

 

[LanaPodesta]

Every country in Western Europe has higher numbers of non-religious people than the US does.

Not true. Italy and Portugal are 80% Christian at least.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Not true. Italy and Portugal

Ok. Then almost every country in Western Europe. Again, why the focus on America?

 

[hawkman]

Regions Of Europe

The UN Geoscheme divides Europe into four different subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe.

www.worldatlas.com

Southern Europe .

 

[Hidden In Him]

Regions Of Europe

The UN Geoscheme divides Europe into four different subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe.

www.worldatlas.com

See, that's the problem with these discussions. You start talking about regions and... confusion reins, LoL.

 

[LanaPodesta]

Regions Of Europe

The UN Geoscheme divides Europe into four different subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe.

www.worldatlas.com

Southern Europe .
View attachment 21771

Croatia is Southern but Bulgaria isn't? Also are Portugal and Italy not Western? Where would the UK be according to this?

 

[LanaPodesta]

Ok, now before I answer that, why are we picking on the United States again? LoL. Every country in Western Europe has higher numbers of non-religious people than the US does.

But that's my point?

 

[hawkman]

Where would the UK be according to this?

I present Northern Europe according to the U.N.

 

[Milk-Drops]

Not true. Italy and Portugal are 80% Christian at least.

So is the US. The US does have a rising rate of bones, but Atheism has not grown very significantly. None is a catch all term for people who just consider themselves highly religous but can consider themselves spiritual.

Its a complex topic in general. The US goes through cycles of revival and decline but Christianity is still very much baked into the cultural zeitgeist.

If anything Orthodoxy has increased in the US.

 

[Hidden In Him]

But that's my point?

Why are you singling out the United States in particular?

 

[Who Me]

I've noticed that despite the USA having a large number of churches and a strong history of public religiosity, it also seems to have a much higher number of people identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nones" compared to many traditionally Orthodox Christian countries (like Greece, Serbia, or Russia).

In many Orthodox countries, even after years of communism or secular pressure, cultural and religious identity remains closely tied to the Church. Meanwhile, in the US, there's been a sharp rise in secularism, especially among younger generations.

Why do you think that is?
Is it something about the style of Christianity most common in the US (e.g. evangelicalism, denominational fragmentation)?
Is it linked to American individualism, consumerism, or something in the education system?
Or is it that Orthodoxy, with its deep liturgical and mystical tradition, offers something more rooted or resilient?

Would love to hear your thoughts. I'm asking in good faith and open to learning from different perspectives.

Happy to post statistics to anyone asking for them!

May I ask. Are your views based on research or just personal opinion?
As according to Pewresearch they suggest :-

"Around the world, different ways of being religious
Believing. Behaving. Belonging.

Three words, three distinct ways in which people connect (or don’t) to religion: Do they believe in a higher power? Do they pray and perform rituals? Do they feel part of a congregation, spiritual community or religious group?

Research suggests that many people around the world engage with religion in at least one of these ways, but not necessarily all three.

Christians in Western Europe, for example, have been described as “believing without belonging,” a phrase coined by sociologist Grace Davie in her 1994 religious profile of Great Britain, where, she noted, widespread belief in God coexists with largely empty churches and low participation in religious institutions.1

In East Asia, there is a different paradigm, one that might be called “behaving without believing or belonging.” According to a major ethnography conducted last decade, for example, many people in China neither believe in a higher power nor identify with any particular religious faith, yet nevertheless go to Buddhist or Confucian temples to make offerings and partake in religious rituals.2

Many Central and Eastern Europeans, on the other hand, might be described as “believing and belonging, without behaving.” While Pew Research Center’s survey shows that majorities of adults across the region believe in God and identify with Orthodox Christianity, conventional measures of Christian religious behavior – such as levels of daily prayer and weekly worship attendance – are relatively low."

from:-https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/05/10/religious-belief-and-national-belonging-in-central-and-eastern-europe/

This is interesting but what is important, vitally important is that people actually are Christian.
That is they personally are trusting in Jesus to forgive them their sins and are seeking to live a life that honours God.
Whether one is a baptist, methodist, orthodox etc is irrelevant these organisations do not save people. It is only afaith in Jesus that saves.

Do you have such a faith?

 

[LanaPodesta]

So is the US. The US does have a rising rate of bones, but Atheism has not grown very significantly. None is a catch all term for people who just consider themselves highly religous but can consider themselves spiritual.

Its a complex topic in general. The US goes through cycles of revival and decline but Christianity is still very much baked into the cultural zeitgeist.

If anything Orthodoxy has increased in the US.

No, the US is less than 65% Christian.