I would like to explore the nonreligious community, including those who consider themselves, atheist, agnostic, and unaffiliated. My departure from religion marked a significant change in my identity, and I am excited to explore a community defined by only an intellectual distinction.
Driving research questions:
Why do people leave religion? Does atheism change people? How do you define your a-religiosity?
I plan to find these people amongst Chapman, however currently, I do not know how I will distinguish nonreligious people, other than by simply asking. I feel that in-person interviews will be my most effective research because religion/atheism is a very conceptual and personal subject which demands specialized questions to each individual’s experience. I hope to find people who were never brought up religious, atheist from an early age, recent atheists, and even people who are currently exploring their own stance on the matter. Finding older atheists could give great perspective as well. Comparing the differences in people’s progression with their personal ideology should reveal insight to their driving motivations.
I hope to collect information on how people define their atheism. In today’s age, the term atheism comes with misguided associations and stigmas, and for the most part, the only people who know what atheism truly is, are atheists themselves. I hope to find a consistent pattern in how atheists define their ideology towards religion, to make practical claim about how people perceive it.
In addition to interviews, I plan to use online surveys and questionnaires to quickly find my group, and hopefully then be able to contact people individually for personal questions. Sample questions may include: What is your religious background (if any)? At what age did you consider yourself an atheist? How would you define your perspective on the existence of god? Does Atheism affect your life today?
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