Just from my personal experience, religion is sort of declining in popularity and such, but it's still more acceptable/common to believe in something than not. What I mean is, most people have faith in SOMETHING--religion, love, etc. And outright skepticism about certain beliefs such as, "everything happens for a reason" or "there's a soulmate for everyone" is usually considered negative, even though it's usually just people thinking logically. I know that got a bit off-topic, sorry. But you are right that it is becoming more socially acceptable and more popular to be atheist/agnostic.

Atheism is already quite large (it is the largest 'religion' after Christianity in the US). I would guess that soon it will rise to the top. I already wrote an argument about this.. check the link below.

I think it is becoming more and more popular. And sites like this are only going to make it more so. I've found that with just a few in-depth conversations, I can turn a devout religious person into a moderately religious person, or turn a slightly religious person into a non-believer. Since religious faith doesn't hold up to serious examination, it seems non-belief should spread virally.

I still have some doubts though. I'm here in Austin, which is a liberal urban area. I would say about 50% of the people in my social circle are non-religious. But where I grew up, in south Texas, everybody was religious. So it may be that I've just been away from a religiously inclined area for too long to judge.

I wouldn't say it's "declining," I'd say it's just the way of life for the new generation of teenagers and young adults. Most 30+ adults are probably religious, and the older you go, the greater the religious ratio. In my opinion. And it's probably this way because that's just the way modern society is growing.... 30 and younger are stopping to question things and taking a stand (not with just religion, but even homosexuality, abortion, etc). Rather 30 years ago and yonder, you were expected to adhere to what you were told within the family, period. Today, we have choices and we can decide our parents seem wacko and "out of date" if we choose to. I'd aim at believing Atheism/Agnosticism is around 20% though. In another 10-20 years, I'd double that. I truly believe America will become a religiousless country someday...in the FAR future. Religious people are going to have to move out of the country to a country with stronger cultural values. Well, not "have" to, but might seriously feel compelled to if it means a lot to them. Just my opinion though...

And I do realize it seems like that rate should be a lot higher...mainly because it seems like most people on this site are one of those. And I've thought about this...and I think it's because those of us that choose to not be religious, are automatically ingrained with a sense of curiosity beyond what religious people seem to expose. A truly religious person is content AS IS, but non-religious people are seeking contentment... and we all gather in places, like, here. Again, just my opinion... :-)

A huge reason why people have turned away from religion in the modern world is due to the fact that we all tend to look at the bad things in the world and we usually don't realize the good that is happening or don't see the good that can come out of the evil in the world. A lot of people (this is just speculation) are turning to atheism because we, as a culture, have stopped counting our blessings, but have begun listing our downfalls and curses.

For example, if you turn on the news tonight, chances are there will be multiple stories about murder, rape, kidnapping, and terrorism. People look at this as pure evil, as do I. But I can usually find some good that can come out of all of this, like social unity, the practice of telling your loved ones you love them every day, etc. I think if more people were optimistic about the world like I am, there would be more stress on religion, like there was 50 years ago, when the news wasn't reporting every murder and rape and kidnapping and when the only thing we had to worry about was an atomic bomb from the USSR- but that was easy to hide from; just "duck and cover". ;)

From my experience, Atheist or Agnostic is inaccurate. Most non-religious people I know (while this is an anecdote) are simple apathetic. Kind of like a "eh, I'm not really into that" mentality, not a "Yes, religion is illogical and irrational" mentality.

It may be my age but most people I know and have known are religious. I believe that as one grows older one gains faith and a belief system but I also believe that the younger you go, the more atheists and agnostics you'll find proclaiming their lack of a belief in God. I don't think religion is falling by the wayside any time soon.