Vol.8 No.2

ATHEISM AMONG SCIENTISTS NOT INCREASING

The percentage of scientists in the United States who profess not to believe in a god–roughly 60%– has remained unchanged for the last eighty years, researchers reported April 2.

According to a Reuter news service report, out of 1,000 scientists chosen at random from the book American Men and Women of Science, mathematicians were most inclined to believe in a god–44.6 percent–while physicists and astronomers were the least inclined. National Catholic Register, April 20-26, 1997.

Vol.10 No.2

RELIGIONS IN AMERICA

Religion has always played a significant role in America’s history, but many Americans may be unaware of the growing shift from traditional to non-traditional religions. A recent report shows that four million Muslims now live in the United States—five times as many as there were in 1970. Nearly half of these are African-Americans, and the numbers are increasing. By the year 2000, Islam could be more prevalent in the United States than Judaism. Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs are also increasing in astonishing numbers.

This nation’s Christian population (85%) is changing, as well. Only half of Americans now die in the denomination into which they were born. What are the fastest growing denominations in the last 25 years? Pentecostal, Mormon, and Jehovah’s Witness. And while Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and United Methodists continue to decline in numbers, the Catholic Church remains in the lead with the most American members, 60 million.

Atheism is also thriving. Currently, there are one million Americans who call themselves atheists, five times the number 30 years ago. Many of these self-reported atheists, however, are perhaps better described as “agnostic.” National Catholic Register, July 5-11, 1998.