Theists or Atheists: Which Are More in Number, and Does It Matter?

Yes, they do. However, asking whether theists or atheists are more numerous often reduces to a popularity contest, which is not the most insightful approach. Let's delve deeper into the demography of these belief systems and explore why the answer might be more complex than it seems.

Global Demographics of Atheism and Theism

Accurate demographics of atheism are challenging to obtain due to the varied conceptions of atheism across different cultures and languages. However, global studies typically show that people without a religion tend to outnumber those who believe in a deity. Atheists, those who identify as 'confirmed atheists,' make up 7 to 11 percent of the world's population according to surveys. This percentage varies widely, with the largest proportion found in Asia (68%) and the smallest in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa (1%).

Q and A with Bryan Jones

Hello Bryan!
The answer to your question is mostly 'probably yes,' but it comes with a hefty side order of 'who cares' and 'what difference does it make?'

Firstly, it's important to remember that theists do not all believe in the same god. This diversity is so vast that it includes countless supernatural and magical creatures, many of which have captivated human imagination throughout history: alicorns, androsphinxes, banshees, bugbears, centaurs, chimeras, dragons, dryads, elementals, elves, fairies, fauns, gremlins, goblins, harpies, hippogriffs, imps, incubi, jinns, kelpies, kobolds, lamias, leprechauns, manticores, minotaurs, nāgas, naiads, ogres, orks, pegasi, pixies, qliphoths, quinotaurs, revenants, rocs, satyrs, selkies, thunderbirds, trolls, unicorns, umi-nyōbō, valkyries, vampires, werewolves, and wyverns, among countless others.

Assuming you don't believe in any of these creatures, do you think the fact that people have believed in one or more of them makes it more likely that a specific supernatural creature exists? Or does it instead make you realize that people have always had a tendency to create stories and belief systems?

Secondly, and even more importantly, if every single theist on the planet believed in exactly the same god, reality is not a popularity contest.

Historical Beliefs and Reality

At one point in time, virtually everyone on Earth believed that the Earth was a stationary object with the sun, planets, and stars revolving around it. This belief was later disproven by scientific evidence. Similarly, large groups of people have held beliefs that we now know to be false, such as the idea that the universe is made of four or five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and aether), diseases are caused by an imbalance of four bodily humors, or that witches and magic spells are real. These examples illustrate that belief alone does not reflect reality.

In the case of believing in gods, the fact that many or even most people hold this belief does not make it true. The validity of such beliefs is not established by their popularity or widespread acceptance. Instead, these beliefs must be tested, validated, and supported by evidence to reflect reality accurately.

In conclusion, while we can observe trends in the number of people who believe in theism or atheism, it is crucial to consider the underlying reasons for these beliefs and the role of evidence and critical thinking in assessing their validity.