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

[LanaPodesta]

That is they personally are trusting in Jesus to forgive them their sins and are seeking to live a life that honours God.

That's not Orthodox theology. We don't have a legalistic approach to 'sin'. The entirely Western and follows on from Roman Catholic theology.

 

[LanaPodesta]

It is only afaith in Jesus that saves.

Do you have such a faith?

That's not Orthodox theology. And what does that even mean?

 

[WIP]

No, the US is less than 65% Christian.

I was thinking about your question and did a little digging and since you seem to be focused mostly on the US here are some comparisons. As you can see from the handful of comparisons I found, it would seem that atheism is more prevalent in primarily Orthodox countries than in the US. Perhaps other surveys paint a different picture or maybe there are more up-to-date surveys that can be found. I would also suspect that there are other countries where atheism is less prevalent than in the US but these that I have referenced do not appear to be as you have asserted.

US
Percent of population identifying as Christian is 67% latest data (source: PEW Research Center)
Percent of population identifying as atheist is 4% 2023 data (source: PEW Research Center)

Russia
Percent of population identifying as Christian is 68% 2025 data (source: Russian Public Opinion Research Center)
Percent of population identifying as atheist is 14% 2021 data (source: All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion)

Greece
Christian 81%-90% 2022 (source: US Dept. of State, various polls)
Atheist 4%-15% 2022 (source: US Dept. of State, various polls)

Bulgaria
Christian 65% official 2021 census
Atheist or no religious affiliation 5%, would or could not define 7% official 2021 Census

edit: I also found this interesting. I see you're from the UK so I dug into that a little too.

Percent of UK citizens identifying as Christian according to a 2021 census was 46.2% while 45% identified as atheist or non-religious. By this report, it would appear that the UK is a world leader when it comes to atheism.

 

[hawkman]

That's not Orthodox theology. And what does that even mean?

You do have a New Testament , right ? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ .
Acts 16

29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

[LanaPodesta]

Percent of UK citizens identifying as Christian according to a 2021 census was 46.2% while 45% identified as atheist or non-religious. By this report, it would appear that the UK is a world leader when it comes to atheism.

Right. But we're not talking about the UK. I picked the US because it's the most Protestant country in the world. The UK is Protestant (no separation of Church and State like the US has either) but it is minority Christian, like I imagine most Protestant countries are with the exception of the US.

 

[LanaPodesta]

You do have a New Testament , right ?

Yes, the NT only exists because of the Orthodox Church.

 

[WIP]

Right. But we're not talking about the UK. I picked the US because it's the most Protestant country in the world. The UK is Protestant (no separation of Church and State like the US has either) but it is minority Christian, like I imagine most Protestant countries are with the exception of the US.

So what is your point in all of this? You were trying to point fingers at the US, I'm not claiming the US is somehow above reproach here, but when we look at the data, countries that have a higher percentage of Orthodox believers as a rule actually have a higher percentage of atheists than the US, which is quite the opposite of your claim made in the title of this discussion.

I only brought up the UK to point out the old adage, "When we point fingers at others, we must always remember there are three fingers pointing back to ourselves." This is what Paul talked about when he wrote, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3 NKJV)

To answer the question you presented, "Why is atheism more prevalent in the USA than in Orthodox countries?" It isn't necessarily. But, it is alarming how many atheists there are in the USA as well as other countries, particularly in Europe. I think the answer is that we are realizing what Paul wrote to Timothy 2,000 years ago.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV

 

[LanaPodesta]

countries that have a higher percentage of Orthodox believers as a rule actually have a higher percentage of atheists than the US, which is quite the opposite of your claim made in the title of this discussion.

So my claim was wrong. Orthodox countries are simultaneously more Christian and more atheist than the US.

 

[LanaPodesta]

These are MY stats which paint a different picture, however.

Russia

~15–20% atheist/non-religious

Orthodox majority; post-Soviet secularism lingers.

Greece

~3–6% atheist; ~15% non-religious

Greek Orthodoxy closely tied to national identity.

Serbia

~1–2% atheist; ~10% non-religious

Strong cultural affiliation with Orthodoxy.

Romania

~1–2% atheist; ~10–12% non-religious

Deeply religious culture.

Bulgaria

~15–20% atheist/non-religious

Former communist state; higher secularism.

Georgia

<1% atheist; ~2–3% non-religious

Among the most religious populations in Europe.

Ukraine

~5–10% atheist/non-religious

Mixed religious environment; regional variation.

USA:

• Estimated atheists (explicitly self-identified): ~4–10%
• Non-religious/agnostic/“nones”: ~25–30%
  
  • According to Pew Research (2021), around 4% of U.S. adults identify as atheist, 5% as agnostic, and 20% as “nothing in particular.”
  • However, broader definitions of “non-religious” can raise the figure closer to 30%.

 

[WIP]

These are MY stats which paint a different picture, however.

Russia

~15–20% atheist/non-religious

Orthodox majority; post-Soviet secularism lingers.

Greece

~3–6% atheist; ~15% non-religious

Greek Orthodoxy closely tied to national identity.

Serbia

~1–2% atheist; ~10% non-religious

Strong cultural affiliation with Orthodoxy.

Romania

~1–2% atheist; ~10–12% non-religious

Deeply religious culture.

Bulgaria

~15–20% atheist/non-religious

Former communist state; higher secularism.

Georgia

<1% atheist; ~2–3% non-religious

Among the most religious populations in Europe.

Ukraine

~5–10% atheist/non-religious

Mixed religious environment; regional variation.

USA:

• Estimated atheists (explicitly self-identified): ~4–10%
• Non-religious/agnostic/“nones”: ~25–30%
  • According to Pew Research (2021), around 4% of U.S. adults identify as atheist, 5% as agnostic, and 20% as “nothing in particular.”
  • However, broader definitions of “non-religious” can raise the figure closer to 30%.

We can debate statistics all day but that doesn't solve anything. I gave you the answer to your original question in my post #27.

The world is corrupt. Of this there is no doubt. The real question is what should be done about it? I believe Scripture gives us the answer.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by [g]my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:14-20 NKJV

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35-36 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;"
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

I think you have your answers. As Jesus said to the Lawyer that questioned Him about what to do to have eternal life as He shared the good Samaritan story in Luke 10, "Go, and do likewise."

 

[Milk-Drops]

No, the US is less than 65% Christian.

May I ask where you got those numbers?

 

[evenifigoalone]

I do wonder if it's an eventual result of the Protestant Reformation. When you have a gazillion denominations that all disagree wildly with each other, that be confusing. Catholicism and Orthodoxy are a split along some point, yes, but my understanding is they are far more similar to each other than Protestants are.

I dunno. I'm not a historian. I'm spitballing. Also here to learn.

Could also be a result of being culturally Christian but not practicing Christian...

 

[jasonc]

I do wonder if it's an eventual result of the Protestant Reformation. When you have a gazillion denominations that all disagree wildly with each other, that be confusing. Catholicism and Orthodoxy are a split along some point, yes, but my understanding is they are far more similar to each other than Protestants are.

I dunno. I'm not a historian. I'm spitballing. Also here to learn.

Could also be a result of being culturally Christian but not practicing Christian...

I hate that term used in a broad brush but being that I have gone to churches outside of my county to visit .

recently a civil war era congregation in pavo . the church itself was founded in 1869 under a canopy in a cemetery close by ,it is Methodist .I'm not .I found commonality there .they use the doxology as my church does and hymnals

basic theology was the same .on the rcc.lovallu st Helens uses the more traditional Catholic stuff where as St John of the cross doesn't . both in the same diocese.

 

[Who Me]

That's not Orthodox theology. And what does that even mean?

So verses like John3:16 mean nothing to you.

The site I quoted research indicated that many people who say they are orthodox do not attend church services.
I would ask then are those who identify as Orthodox, been baptised etc into the orthodox church but only attend church for weddings, christenings a d funerals, are they Christian.

 

[LanaPodesta]

So verses like John3:16 mean nothing to you.

It does

The site I quoted research indicated that many people who say they are orthodox do not attend church services.
I would ask then are those who identify as Orthodox, been baptised etc into the orthodox church but only attend church for weddings, christenings a d funerals, are they Christian.

Not for me to say

 

[Who Me]

It does

Not for me to say

As you are comparing western countries with orthodox countries and I've shown you what research into beliefs and practices in orthodox communities it is something you can comment on.
Another verse to think about.
Jesus said, in John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Read the whole passage in John 4:1-24.
Because Jesus is saying that he is only interested in those who worship him because they know he is the the true, the life and the way. That just belonging to a church does not count for anything.

 

[LanaPodesta]

Because Jesus is saying that he is only interested in those who worship him because they know he is the the true, the life and the way.

Please capitalise His pronouns

That just belonging to a church does not count for anything.

Baptism absolutely does. I'm guessing you don't believe in the mystical nature of the sacraments so it's a moot point

 

[Who Me]

Baptism absolutely does. I'm guessing you don't believe in the mystical nature of the sacraments so it's a moot point

I believe that a Christia is someone who seeks to honour God in their daily life as well as in their willingness to meet regularly to worship.

Someone who only attends church for marriages, christenings fu era.s and other social services is not a Christian.
Which if the server I quoted is correct, then out people who identify as orthodox are not hristian, merely members of club called orthodox.

 

[GaryMac]

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!

The term Christian is so abused by all these different belief systems called denominations.

Hypothetically speaking lest say an atheist's entered one of these churches and they say this is the truth about God. Then that atheists goes to the church across the street and tells them what that format one said and likely the will say no that isnt the truth this is the truth. Then that atheists gos to the church down the street and likely they will tall him No, they both are wrong, this is the truth.

What is ironic in all of these different beliefs and man made laws to govern a belief, this atheists can see through their desire to control their gods and make laws to control them, the atheists can see right through them and they cant even see in themselves their own errors themselves. And that atheists wants no part of this fickle christianity.

They do not preach what Jesus preached as in Be as I am in the Father, He in you and you in Him as one as Jesus prayed to his God for you to be in John 17, which simply is Love for God is Love and man is His kingdom in which He lives. Luke 17:20-21.

As for me when someone asks if I am a christian, I always reply I am a son of God if that is what you mean, for the term Christianity has a bitter taste and been given a vey bad image because of all these different belief systems where there is no unity in a God that simply is Love and man is the recipient of Him to be in His same image of. And most of these are using Christianity as a means for enterprise instead.

The atheists hears that a man is a god and they know better, sadly these who preach man is a god cant see the truth themselves. And even though I follow Jesus in who he said he was in the Father and that I would be and have the same from the same God he was of Who came to him and opened in him who He and all of His heaven in Jesus in Matt 3:16, God would do the same in me, and He did. SO I no longer identify myself as a christian, but as a son of God that I am. I myself do not want to be identified with all these different beliefs who has made their own gods in they own image.

How do I know what an atheists thinks? Because I was once that atheist until one day the God who is Love came and opened in me who He is Himself just as He did in Jesus in Matt 3:16, Adam in Gen 3;22, Abraham, Moses, Mary, 120 in an upper room, all of these were skeptical as well until God came to them and made them in His same image. That of Love and changes their whole demeanor about it.