There has been a dramatic increase in the percentage of the US population that is not
religious. However there is to date very little research on the social movement that is
organizing to serve the needs of and advocate for the nonreligious in the US. This is a book
about the rise and structure of organized secularism in the United States. By organized
secularism we mean the efforts of nonreligious individuals to build institutions networks and
ultimately a movement that serves their interests in a predominantly religious society.
Researchers from various fields address questions such as: What secularist organizations exist?
Who are the members of these organizations? What kinds of organizations do they create? What
functions do these organizations provide for their members? How do the secularist organizations
of today compare to those of the past? And what is their likely impact on the future of
secularism? For anyone trying to understand the rise of the nonreligious in the US this book
will provide valuable insights into organized efforts to normalize their worldview and advocate
for their equal treatment in society.
