I suspect it's a result of liberal's habit of destroying group identities, out of the interest of protecting individuals and their feelings. I think that has led to a sense of emptiness and loss. In the 2000s and 2010s liberals tried to address this with materialism, but that has run its course. Video games, movies, tablets, smart phones, ect--they're all boring now and people are looking around and realizing that their lives are empty and meaningless. What's the point of having an amazing career? So you're a better tool for a multi-national company that had to be strong-armed into granting you time off to have a kid? So you can spend an entire life without a family? With men and women who value you less every year?
When I look back on the Atheist movement now, what once seemed like a growing ideological force has effectively died. In 2012, it was pretty much the consensus of the media and the internet at large that Christianity was a spent force gasping out its last dying breath. Now, not only is Atheism not even talked about, it was devoured by its own liberal party. Ironically, Christianity may have remained down for the count. It had been regularly humiliated and proven to be poorly adapted to the early 21st century issues. It had suffered scandals.
Then I think liberals made a mistake. Having, in their mind, broken the back of Christianity, they moved onto the last broad group identity; nationalism. Starting around 2015-2016, we saw a greater focus on racial issues, greater focus on LGBT issues, an even greater focus on gender issues (which had interestingly, wrecked Atheism), and sexual orientation (not to mention, identity). When you look at all the Hispanics, Black, and European groups that live within the United States, what do we have in common?
We aren't allowed to share a history anymore. Our history has been turned into a weapon into which to attack each other. We aren't ethnically the same, because we're a settler society with recent spikes in immigration. We aren't even allowed to enjoy our hobbies, because that needs to become political as well. From Marvel to DC to Lord of the Rings, nothing is allowed to remain free of politics. Everything has to be a commentary or rather, a condemnation of another group.
The only thing left is...religion. Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics...we are all Christians. It's a concept that surpasses nationality. Even if you disagree on specific policies, religion is a uniting idea. And where as Liberal tendencies push people towards breaking away with religious groups (as they're low in Authority, Loyalty, and Sanctity--but high in Liberty and Caring), I think you'll have weakening liberal churches replaced with conservative churches.
Which leads me to assume that liberals may try to bring back the Atheist movement. But I think they'll be met with less success. We already saw what was on the other side of secular life; lonely, empty materialism in a world with less and less wealth.
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