Lobster in a Bucket

Atheist Churches?

This New York magazine article argues that atheism is growing in America. It interesting as it dances around a central problem for atheism's growth: it's too individualistic to make converts. It's worth reading but the basic premise that it's anchored in is a Pew statistic. In the most recent Pew survey a quarter of people identify themselves as not belonging to a particular religion. The author classifies this as atheism, or at least a sign that atheism has to be growing. It seems like weak reasoning to me. Granted I haven't seen the methodology on the Pew study, but can't you believe in divinity and not identify with a religion?