The Four Types
Zealous Atheists
Who are the Zealous Atheists?
Just one in ten Nones are Zealous Atheists, but they be the most visible type of non-religious American. They score low on both measures of religion and spirituality, but what sets them apart is their antipathy towards religion. Half of them believe that religion needs to be eradicated and 77% of them have tried to convinced someone else to leave religion behind in the prior 12 months.
Quick Stats
11% of all nones are Zealous Atheists
83% Attend religious services seldom/never
81% Pray seldom or never
4% believe in God without a doubt
76% have ried to convince someone to leave religion
Notes on Zealous Atheists
This group appears to have an outsized influence on the public’s perception of the nones. Zealous Atheists tend to be younger, have higher incomes, and view their atheist identity as a core part of who they are. These are likely the individuals who are active on platforms like Reddit or Twitter. Interestingly, our data consistently shows that Zealous Atheists tend to score lower on measures related to meaning and purpose in life.
From the Research
How Zealous Atheists self-identify
How Zealous Atheists rate religious and spiritual importance in their lives.
“Atheists are more likely than U.S. adults overall to say that science is the primary source of their moral guidance.”
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