Why do atheists...

What is the motivation? The satan answer already given is part of it. I am sure he would like to see moral decline. I think it is in human nature to want to rebel against authority. I think that is part of the motivation. We basically had a generation come through in the 1960s that, because of the war, decided that america was not "good" and that our leadership was evil and not to be trusted. I think ever since then they have sought to change the way americans live and the way americans view the world. They are certainly those who came along later that feel this way but they are following the lead of the 60s generation.

This explains why they glorify all other cultures but disdain our own. This explains why they can not see true evil for what it is. If the Sadaam Hussiens and Osama Bin Ladens are opposed to our government, especially with a traditionalist president in charge, then they can not really be evil. This explains why they want to let the UN make decisions for us. It is basically a world view that clashes with the world view of "traditionalists" who are often religious.

 

the 1960's are probably the infancy of the information age. as people become more informed, they become less religious.

 

We have seen a huge increase in information and communications in the last fifteen years due to computers and the internet. It does not seem to have had much affect on religion.

The veitnam war turned a good chunk of that generation against their country. Prehaps they were partially justified but in any case it was the spark that started the fire of the "counter culture" movement.

 

And now we are seeing the pendulum swing the other way more information leading to scientists returning to the idea of a creator.

 

Link?

Knowledege doubles every generation, which - if your theory held up - should result in a halving of the total number of religoius people.

That has not happened.

 

really? in 1990 8% of people polled (of like 120,000+) said they didn't follow any particular organized religion. in 2001 it was up to 14.1% (polling 50,000+).

plus, i'll bet the overall interest in religion is down even among those who still consider themselves to be of a particular religion (like calling themselves catholic tho they don't actually strictly adhere to the pope's declarations).

 

missing link?

 

your math is wrong. first off, i don't propose that there's a one for one exchange of religion for knowledge. secondly, double the amount of one thing does not halve it's reciprocal -- 1% doubles to 2%, 99% remaining would then fall to 98%.

 

here's a write up of the surveys from 1990 and 2001:

http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf

 

Interesting how that study ends in 2001 and therefore does not account for any changes in people's religious beliefs post 9/11. I think recent events such as Bush's re-election and the public opinions on gay marriage support the idea that religion is alive and well.