Tangle writes:
As an atheist, I think that this is excellent news, the fewer people wasting their time and resources worshipping non-existent gods the better.
As an atheist, I am of two minds. On the one had I have the same human bias everyone else has, so I feel "good" when there are more people who agree with my views. I also know that this doesn't make me right, but I'm human so I carry around the same illogical emotional fallacies as other humans.
I am also glad that the church still exists for those who find purpose and meaning in religion. I am also glad that western democracies have been steadfast in their support of religious rights. I have relatives who I love very much, and they derive a lot of meaning from their religious beliefs, and I it makes me happy that they have found this purpose in their life, even if I don't share their beliefs.
As to wasting time, the best parts of life are filled with pursuits that waste time. Painting, learning a musical instrument, playing a game of chess with a friend, and drinking a pint with a buddy at the pub are all wasting time, but what would life be without them? We only get one trip through this life, so do what you find enjoyable without ruining the ability for others to do the same.
Some part of this is due to a growth in other religions caused by immigration and their differential birth rates but the real cause is Christians no longer believing in Christianity.
I have long thought that a big part of religiosity in culture is historical momentum and the psychology of the masses. Mobs act very differently than individuals do, and authority also has a strong sway on us. It isn't surprising that as church membership declines that it will do so precipitously. The US may not be far behind. I can't help but think that the internet age has only hastened this process because people have much easier access to ideas that challenge their beliefs, and access to a community of non-believers who just so happen to be regular people.
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