Atheists to Gather in Conn. to Promote Secularism; Around 20 Percent of Americans Are Now Faithless

About 400 people are preparing to gather for a conference in Hartford, Connecticut to promote the end of religion in the U.S. and their vision of a secular future for the country, the Worldwide Religion News website reports today (October 6, 2011).

At the meeting, members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) will hear speakers celebrate successes they have had in removing religion from U.S. public life and see awards presented to noted secularist activists.

The U.S. is becoming a more secular country, some experts say. "It has never been better to be a free-thinker or an agnostic in America," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF.

The exact number of faithless in America is unclear. One study puts them at 12 percent of the population, while another puts that figure at 20 percent.