Question on think-tanks and religion.

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There are millions, if not outright billions of dollars thrown to theistic education. There are thousands and thousands of people who are getting educated in an explicitly theological education by going to places such as Biola University, Wheaton, as well as various seminaries across both the nation and the world. Why is atheism gaining ground?

This question can be answered by atheists, who I think have an obvious answer, but it is really for theists. If theism is the best-marketed idea, with the most think-tanks for any idea *ever*, how come it's not winning the battle of ideas? How come within disciplines, theism has been struggling for a long time? How come within the populace, we find atheism on the rise? It seems to me that the best answer to this kind of a question is that theism *doesn't* have intellectual merit on its side, and so the movement of people is reflective of underlying intellectual conditions. After all, many of the other answers would have to involve EVERYBODY(or nearly everybody) except the theists be massively deluded and incapable of reasoning straight, while the theist can, but this isn't what appears to be the case.

So, theists, why is atheism on the rise?

Could it possibly be that theism is not a matter of persuasion?

Yes, SOME proportion of seminary studies is aimed at evangelization - apologetics - propaganda in its primary meaning.

But - well, the purpose of the university is not to persuade folks, is it?

And - THINk TANKS? Yes, there are theistic think tanks - but most seminaries ain't.

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This is me speaking now [that was too, but it was talking about the intents and purposes of seminaries as seen by the seminaries]. Just talking about how I see the facts of the efficient.

Which is - any convincing, any persuasion comes from just one source, not Biola, certainly not me.

And the battle for minds - like other battles is won. Was won when the first mark went onto the Tic Tac Toe grid. But the other guy is too dumb or stubboen to concede so it gets played out.

One what basis do you claim atheism is gaining ground relative to theism. Perhaps there are local pockets where atheism appears to be gaining, but what is the global picture like?

ruveyn

Precession of the equinoxes (Age of Pisces ---> Age of Aquarius)

Society is changing. Once upon a time, your kind were burned and tortured to death for their blasphemies. Hopefully this change is a sign of tolerance and real religious (or lack there of) freedom. Perhaps there isn't much of a rise in numbers at all, but simply it's more socially acceptable for to reveal your faithless-selves today than it was in the past..

1) The West is really all I am *that* concerned about as we have both the intellectual and cultural power, and atheism in the west is both gaining ground or in some areas, it has already taken most of the territory.
2) The rise in atheism as a public discussion topic is "gaining ground", as various "atheist" intellectual figures float around, such as Richard Dawkins and others and they get attention.
3) The increase of atheism and non-religion in the population as measured by demographic study, as well as just encountering young people such as college students. Also, the wide prevalence of these ideas in Europe, compared to the decline of it.
4) The rise in "Atheist" cultural groups, such as "atheist" book clubs, and other things, which would not exist in earlier ages.

Finally, most of the rest of the world is "theist". The only place where a person could try to make a counter-argument is if they try to argue that conversion efforts in Russia and China have been massively successful, and that's still not going to be relevant as I am focusing on the West.

In any case... why on earth do you ask this question?

Hated that song.

Probably not testable.