Is Christianity growing faster than atheism?

[Haven]

…You'll find it is [atheists] who are detached from reality in the face of this. This is why Christianity is growing faster than Atheism (sic).

Debate questions: Is Christianity growing faster than atheism? Either way, is that relevant to the truth value of either set of claims?

(Support all claims with evidence, preferably peer-reviewed).

[Haven]

The evidence seems to suggest that Christianity is not, in fact, growing faster than atheism and secularism in most places worldwide. The notable exceptions are West and Central Africa (which are uniquely religious among regions, and also have, as a whole, greater levels of poverty and less access to advanced education than other regions).

Sources:

1. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e ... Q68HVQpTsJ (Koblyński 2016) (note: Koblyński is a devout Christian and this is from a Christian theological journal).

2. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-03766-003 (Zuckerman 2007)

3. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/20 ... 2010-2050/

[Incognito]

I asked AI about Christianity within the U.S. and it said no. I then asked about all Abrahamic religions worldwide against the growth of Atheism. It appears SimpleLayman got that mixed up.

This is what AI said: Yes, the combined Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) are growing faster than atheism worldwide as of 2025. While atheism experiences negative annual growth globally (-0.2%), driven by low fertility rates (around 1.7 children per woman) and minimal conversions in most regions, Abrahamic religions collectively grow at approximately 1.3% annually, fueled by higher birth rates (2.5+ children per woman on average) and net gains from conversions and immigration. This disparity is evident in absolute numbers: Abrahamic adherents total around 4.7 billion (58% of the global population), up from about 4.0 billion in 2013, whereas atheists number roughly 132-145 million (down from 161 million in 1970), with projections showing a further decline to 133 million by 2050.

[Incognito]

In my mind this is worse. I mean, what's more detestable than old testament? I'd rather see new testament christians outpacing atheists. We could be under Sharia Law since not even Richard Dawkins will speak ill of Islam. They're outbreeding us. I hate to say it, but we may wish in hindsight we were more charitable to Christian viewpoints.

[1213]

…You'll find it is [atheists] who are detached from reality in the face of this. This is why Christianity is growing faster than Atheism (sic).

Debate questions: Is Christianity growing faster than atheism? Either way, is that relevant to the truth value of either set of claims?

When atheism was allegedly growing faster, atheists seemed to think it means atheism has more truth value. So obviously, if we go by the same standard, it means Christianity has now more truth value.

However, I don't think popularity is a good meter. Bible shows only few find the way.

Go in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are the ones who go through it. For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way that leads away into life, and few are the ones who find it.
Matt. 7:13-14
For many are called, but few chosen.
Matt. 22:14

[Incognito]

[Replying to 1213 in post #5] Yea, and we must ignore all of that. The bits that talk about God's church turning against him, about the people having a self love and delusion so deep that they think killing Christians like Charlie Kirk is doing God a favor. Anything and everything until we put God on a cold slab and dissect him and decry God by saying, you see, he was but a slab of meat, be free. There is no iniquity or sin, your minds are no longer enslaved to false concepts. This would be the ideal scenario for the Atheist, and the reason they will not accept that you can reason with God.

They've turned it all backwards, looting can be justified, murder, self mutilation, hatred can be harnessed for good, anything you can fathom being backwards, you see it's not impossible. Even responsibility is mocked, many are so far behind you must covet your neighbors possessions and your envy is the pinnacle of righteousness because you suffer and they do not. The Atheist paradigm can blind you to all, and the only thing that looks good enough to worship is self and the delusion that you can raise up high all the marginalized peoples of the earth. Worship of the anti-christ, for Christ does not free people or heal them. Christ does not exist. We lowly people do nothing but oppress, and maybe that's even true for the ones Christ turns away in the end because they never knew him. The merging of Islam and Marxism are prime conditions to set it off on a scale that'll terrify many of these former Christians that still know right from wrong.

[Haven]

In my mind this is worse. I mean, what's more detestable than old testament? I'd rather see new testament christians outpacing atheists. We could be under Sharia Law since not even Richard Dawkins will speak ill of Islam. They're outbreeding us. I hate to say it, but we may wish in hindsight we were more charitable to Christian viewpoints.

As a gay atheist I see no difference between living under an Islamic theocracy or a Christian one. Either I’d be thrown from a rooftop and stoned to death or I’d be burned at the stake. Either way I’m just as dead. I’ll civilly speak out against both Islam and Christianity, though, and I criticize both here.

And who is “us?” I’m part African so I’m pretty sure I’m not included.

[Haven]

[Replying to 1213 in post #5] Yea, and we must ignore all of that. The bits that talk about God's church turning against him, about the people having a self love and delusion so deep that they think killing Christians like Charlie Kirk is doing God a favor. Anything and everything until we put God on a cold slab and dissect him and decry God by saying, you see, he was but a slab of meat, be free. There is no iniquity or sin, your minds are no longer enslaved to false concepts. This would be the ideal scenario for the Atheist, and the reason they will not accept that you can reason with God.

Why is a god necessary to know killing is wrong? Anyone can see that humans are sentient and don’t want to be killed against their will. It’s pretty easy to make the move from these facts, and the motivating factor of consciousness and consent, to arrive at an anti-murder ethos.

And why should we not subject God claims to the same standard as any other claim? Epistemological authoritarianism is a path to oppression, not truth, especially in a pluralistic society (as this has always been).

Let me be perfectly clear: I’m an atheist, a strong atheist as to the Christian god, and I unequivocally condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk and hope the assassin gets the death penalty.

And selfishly, I think it’s sad that I never got a chance to debate CK in a moderated forum. His ideas needed to be discussed, not silenced with violence.

They've turned it all backwards, looting can be justified, murder, self mutilation, hatred can be harnessed for good, anything you can fathom being backwards, you see it's not impossible. Even responsibility is mocked, many are so far behind you must covet your neighbors possessions and your envy is the pinnacle of righteousness because you suffer and they do not.

We don’t disagree on these sociopolitical issues at all, even though I’m an “evil atheist.” Hatred is wrong. Murder is wrong. Adults should take responsibility. None of this requires a god.

The Atheist paradigm can blind you to all, and the only thing that looks good enough to worship is self and the delusion that you can raise up high all the marginalized peoples of the earth. Worship of the anti-christ, for Christ does not free people or heal them. Christ does not exist. We lowly people do nothing but oppress, and maybe that's even true for the ones Christ turns away in the end because they never knew him. The merging of Islam and Marxism are prime conditions to set it off on a scale that'll terrify many of these former Christians that still know right from wrong.

There’s no such thing as “the atheist paradigm.” Atheism is not Marxism, Islam (which is pretty much a sect of Christianity), leftism, antifa or worship of the Antichrist (which we don’t believe in).

It’s just the lack of belief in gods. That’s it. What you do from that point is a personal matter and comes down to your values, beliefs and ethics.

[Haven]

When atheism was allegedly growing faster, atheists seemed to think it means atheism has more truth value. So obviously, if we go by the same standard, it means Christianity has now more truth value.

I never made that claim, and I’m not aware of any serious atheists in science or philosophy who did, either. Popularity and truth are almost totally unrelated.

With that said, the data I posted showed atheism is still growing faster than Christianity in most of the world. You’ve handwaved it away without addressing it. If you’re claiming Christianity is growing faster, please be kind and support it with evidence.

However, I don't think popularity is a good meter. Bible shows only few find the way.

…

How is the Bible relevant here? The debate question is about the popularity of Christianity, which is an empirical question. Quoting ancient goat herders is a red herring.

[Haven]

[Replying to Incognito in post #3]

AI can hallucinate, especially about things such as this. Do you have any peer-reviewed sources?

(Btw, I’m a big fan of AI but worry about how the younger generation sees it as some kind of objective truth arbiter. AI can make mistakes just like a human can, and it can’t be uncertain about things [making it more likely to hallucinate answers]. This technology is still in its infancy).