Divided We Stand: The Politics of the Atheist Movement in the United States

Abstract

The United States is one of the most religious countries in the Western world. Yet a notable feature of the past decade has been the growth of a self-conscious, politically active atheist movement. Academic analysis of this topic, however, remains limited. This article addresses this lacuna by examining the political dimension of the US atheist movement across a number of themes, including its organisational structure and composition, as well as its goals, strategies, and direction. Deploying insights drawn from Social Movement Theory, it shows that the development of the movement has been shaped by a number of factors which have facilitated growth, but which have also led to a series of internal tensions and schisms that could threaten its ability to exert political influence.

Notes

1. A study by Christopher Silver found that more than three quarters of self-identified atheists fell into categories that were classed as people who were involved in some form of activism. For more details, see http://www.atheismresearch.com/, access date: 25 December 2012.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Steven Kettell

Steven Kettell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick, UK. His main research interests are centred on the relationship between politics and religion. He is currently engaged in research projects analysing the politics of atheism and the politics of Christianity in the UK. He is also a co-founder and executive editor of British Politics. CORRESPONDENCE: Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.