What is atheism?

I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology.
-Thomas Jefferson

From Merriam-Webster:
Definition of ATHEISM

1

archaic : ungodliness, wickedness

2

a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity

Origin of ATHEISM

Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god

First Known Use: 1546

Well I can see where some of the misconceptions come from.  Please note that the first definition is labeled as archaic, though that doesn't seem to have completely faded away.  The second definition, being the current definition should really be listed first, but who am I to argue with Merriam Webster.  

The next entry in Merriam-Webster:

Definition of ATHEIST

: one who believes that there is no deity

Well that's better, and that is simply what I believe.  When I first told someone close to me that I was an atheist, the response I received was: "Doesn't that mean you hate God?".  I had to explain that no, not at all.  I do not believe that God exists, therefore it would be impossible for me to hate God.  There are some prominent atheists who come down pretty hard on religion, and that may be partly where people get this idea.  The whole idea of religion is something that I expect to write quite a bit about in future blogs.  

So how many atheists are there?  Let's take a look at the US, state by state:

Americans with ‘No Religion ’(Highest to Lowest)
Oregon 28%
Washington 27%
Vermont 24%
Colorado 23%
California 21%
Idaho 21%
Nevada 21%
Wyoming 21%
Delaware 20%
Arizona 19%
Montana 19%
New Hampshire 19%
Massachusetts 18%
New Mexico 18%
Utah 18%
Indiana 17%
Kansas 17%
Maine 17%
Michigan 17%
Missouri 17%
Ohio 17%
Rhode Island 17%
Illinois 16%
New Jersey 16%
Kentucky 15%
Maryland 15%
Minnesota 15%
New York 15%
Oklahoma 15%
West Virginia 15%
Wisconsin 15%
Arkansas 14%
Connecticut 14%
Florida 14%
Iowa 14%
Georgia 13%
Pennsylvania 13%
Virginia 13%
Texas 12%
North Carolina 11%
Louisiana 10%
Nebraska 10%
Tennessee 9%
South Carolina 8%
South Dakota 8%
Alabama 7%
Mississippi 7%
North Dakota 4%

(Alphabetically)
Alabama 7%
Arkansas 14%
Arizona 19%
California 21%
Colorado 23%
Connecticut 14%
Delaware 20%
Florida 14%
Georgia 13%
Idaho 21%
Illinois 16%
Indiana 17%
Iowa 14%
Kansas 17%
Kentucky 15%
Louisiana 10%
Maine 17%
Maryland 15%
Massachusetts 18%
Michigan 17%
Minnesota 15%
Mississippi 7%
Missouri 17%
Montana 19%
Nebraska 10%
Nevada 21%
New Hampshire 19%
New Jersey 16%
New Mexico 18%
New York 15%
North Carolina 11%
North Dakota 4%
Ohio 17%
Oklahoma 15%
Oregon 28%
Pennsylvania 13%
Rhode Island 17%
South Carolina 8%
South Dakota 8%
Tennessee 9%
Texas 12%
Utah 18%
Vermont 24%
Virginia 13%
Washington 27%
West Virginia 15%
Wisconsin 15%
Wyoming 21%

CUNY ‘American Religious Identification Survey, 2000’ (weighted data)

Now true, most of those who are non-religious may not consider themselves atheists.  Many call themselves agnostics, and others don't seem to pay much attention to religion at all, but in the end it is mostly a matter of semantics.  None of them believe in God.  For me, this data just gives me one more reason not to move to North Dakota!

Let's take a look at the worldwide figures:

1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
   
2. Islam: 1.5 billion
   
3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
   
4. Hinduism: 900 million
   
5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
   
6. Buddhism: 376 million
   
7. primal-indigenous: 300 million
   
8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
   
9. Sikhism: 23 million
   
10. Juche: 19 million
    
11. Spiritism: 15 million
    
12. Judaism: 14 million
    
13. Baha'i: 7 million
    
14. Jainism: 4.2 million
    
15. Shinto: 4 million
    
16. Cao Dai: 4 million
    
17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
    
18. Tenrikyo: 2 million
    
19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
    
20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
    
21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
    
22. Scientology: 500 thousand

 Source: adherents.com

So there are a lot of non-believers out there.  You probably know a lot more of us than you think.  Many non-believers do fear that they will be persecuted for their lack of beliefs.  People worry that admitting they do not believe will have negative impacts on their work and or social lives.  I have enough faith in my friends, family, and employer that I don't fear any major negative repercussions from blogging about my beliefs.

In my next blog I will write about how I got to where I am now.