Does ARIS data show an atheist revival?

Pastordan at the Street Prophets blog says "I sincerely doubt" the absolute number of atheists counted by the latest American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) is soaring.

We will find out when it is released on March 8. Meanwhile, although free-thinker-inclined Epiphenon uses some data that leaked out to make a different case, pastordan says:

What seems more likely is that "weak" Christians - those who are not affiliated very tightly if at all - feel more comfortable identifying as such. That's the number that's doubled since '91.

It is interesting that the rate of growth in self-disaffiliations, skeptcisim or whatever mixture of sentiments it is, has slowed. Yet the percent who self-identify as atheists or agnostics has grown dramatically.

All of which typically has no simple, synoptic demographic meaning. The data, like the human behavior it attempts to measure, is always complex, messy. But since '91 it hasn't indicated a revival, of any kind.

More like a slow falling away and acceptance of the attendant labels.

All dogs and most of the rest of us go to heaven

Denominational codifications are of little concern to most Americans. Most of us write our own theology.

Note a Barna Group survey released Jan. 12:

By a three to one margin (71% to 26%) adults noted that they are personally more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a comprehensive set of beliefs taught by a particular church. Although born again Christians were among the segments least likely to adopt the a la carte approach to beliefs, a considerable majority even of born again adults (61%) has taken that route. Leading the charge in the move to customize one’s package of beliefs are people under the age of 25, among whom more than four out of five (82%) said they develop their own combination of beliefs rather than adopt a set proposed by a church.

Heresy of some sort is a commonplace:

Among individuals who describe themselves as Christian, for instance, close to half believe that Satan does not exist, one-third contend that Jesus sinned while He was on earth, two-fifths say they do not have a responsibility to share the Christian faith with others, and one-quarter dismiss the idea that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

Religious instruction and Bible study are anachronisms, the study found:

Faith, of whatever variety, is increasingly viral rather than pedagogical. With people spending less time reading the Bible, and becoming less engaged in activities that deepen their biblical literacy, faith views are more often adopted on the basis of dialogue, self-reflection, and observation than teaching. Feelings and emotions now play a significant role in the development of people’s faith views - in many cases, much more significant than information-based exercises such as listening to preaching and participating in Bible study.

Heaven isn't denied those who fail to hew to the current Southern Baptist faith and practice, or whatever, most of us believe. A recent Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey found that a majority of Christians believe people of other religions can find salvation and eternal life. Indeed, 52% of religious Americans say atheists may find eternal life.

In rationalizing the ways of God to man, Americans increasingly opt for a broadly inclusive view, old-time visions of traveling to warm places in hand baskets notwithstanding.