Godless Americans: non-theism as an alternative American religion

Abstract

What can a study of non-theism tell us about the transformation of religious life in America? Non-theism, as an alternative religion, challenges the traditional theological and theoretical boundaries traditionally drawn between the sacred and the profane, religion and science, God and humanity. The advent of American non-theism, characterized by a worldview that does not rely on God, gods, or supernaturalism to answer humanity's "ultimate concerns," does not indicate a shift from belief to unbelief, nor religion to non-religion, but rather a shift from one form of religion to another. Once we recognize that non-theism denotes a change in the form of religion, rather than a decline in religiosity, we can forego the secularization thesis and focus instead on a crucial shift from unquestioned belief to critical inquiry. This change in religious life is not only indicative of non-theism; it is a key characteristic of the post-traditional American religious landscape.