China’s atheism boom was mostly a statistical reclassification of folk religionists

Evidence

It is interesting to note that these three factors are likely to operate in tandem and could be mutually reinforcing. As societies increasingly rely on secular institutions to enforce cooperation, religiosity declines, and so does distrust of atheists. With more secularization and greater acceptance of atheists, atheism spreads, and as atheists become more prevalent and visible, distrust of atheists declines further, which in turn contributes to more secularization. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 315 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Post-Soviet Russians under 25 converted from atheism to belief in large numbers; Chinese civilization may have scaled up through secular alternatives to religion; Secular institutions, atheist prevalence, and religiosity decline reinforce each other in a self-amplifying loop — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 315 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Secular institutions, atheist prevalence, and religiosity decline reinforce each other in a self-amplifying loop #complicates (0.77) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 315