Yup! I'm 58, and my daughters have NO idea how it was for me (they are 27 and 24). Back in the day, I was completely isolated in my nonbelief. In fact, I have literally never personally known and been friends with another parent who did as I did in raising my kids from birth without religion (Deep South). The girls take nonreligiosity for granted as simple common sense and don't realize that we nonbelievers of days gone by were solitary and "shunned" individuals...and thus I suppose it feels good to connect with our likewise buds

The vast majority who use this site, live too far away from one another to be personal or impersonal friends let along a dating site!!!

Yes, I believe you are correct in surmising that it's not so uncommon for younger generations to be more secular. It's us older folk that feel a need for some validating conversation with like-minded individuals.

That is I am sure quite true, but it could also be that it is only us old ####s who have time to waste, while young people are looking for faster shallower things.

This site may not function as a dating site, but I find it valuable to talk freely about dating. There's criticism, but not religious criticism. I learn a lot about sexuality from younger people, who seem to be far less repressed.

Makes sense.

Maybe.
Or else they don't think about their beliefs much. They're irrelevant, go without saying.
Just like we don't go around asserting vehemently there is no Santa Claus; we figured that out by second grade.

I've been an atheist since 16. When you are younger it doesn't matter as much. You are right. In the 70s it was easy to find other atheists/agnostics, at least for me. We had different priorities as well. I didn't get politically involved until grad school when I worked on Teddy Kennedy's presidential campaign and then not again till my 40s. I came here as a dating site, but that isn't why I stayed. I got involved in my community again, social causes, and political action vs. this criminal Trump administration. I started 5 groups and took over another. I've made friends here. We are a community. Something we need as we get older. That is why I'm staying.

It's a plausible theory.

It could easily be used as a dating website, but I noticed that few men treat it that way. They tend to bring up far-flung philosophies and complicated rebuttals to give to Christians, ignoring the women on this website, unless the men are privately messaging them, since I can't know that.

Men here are often observed sneering, mocking, and attacking agnostic.com women who post opinions that differ from theirs. It's like they're never had a girlfriend before and don't know how to flirt, court, or ask anyone out.

Younger folks think they will live forever, and are too busy having fun to concern themselves with much else.

This gives me hope for the future!

This sounds right to me. I'm an older man who came here from another site mostly because myself and a handful of others were the only ones who posted there. I am aware that this site was called a dating site and dating is possible, but I do not look at this site that way. I'm more than happy to find others of like mind. For me, being of like mind means being able to express why you do or do not believe something. I can do it because I came out of religion. It might be possible in any group to find those who are not gerbil eaters, but if you never ate gerbils in your past it seems very hollow. Many people in life are hollow with hollow beliefs.

That would also explain the number of people from the USA

Possible

yes your right

I'm here for the community. I love the intelligent, kind, funny and wise members.

Most likely.

Yeah ,,,I believe that those statements fit ; especially in
the bible or rust belt . Those we left clinging to religion
take the abandonment personally sometimes.
The younger set may have less"attatchments or roots".
The career choice sometimes determines the location
a person lives in ,when younger. I moved a fair amount
for work in my 20s& 30s.
I like other free thinking sites; the topics not so emotionally loaded-sharing info & conversation. Chatting
and storytelling is an art; which can benifit people..✌

I agree with your sentiments about the site as far as dating is concerned, happily, I'm here for the community but I would be a bit worried if I were a member for romance! However, I do think that there is such a rich variety of wisdom and open-mindedness on our site that anything is possible!

Makes a lot of sense..

Given the length amount and intensity of earlt childhood propaganda, it takes someone just less than Einstein to figure it our after acquiring enough data! Takes time for most of us.......

I came here fer a laff!

I've been watching some Seth Andrews videos lately (an ex-evangelical Christian broadcaster) and I'm reminded that for some people, leaving the faith can be quite traumatic and causes much friction with family and community. It's one of the reasons I like that there are sites such as this that provide a welcoming place for all.

Many atheists don't see a need to make an issue about their non-belief/disbelief/unbelief collectively, but I mainly got involved with the activist end because church state separation is so important.

I've always enjoyed atheist/religionist debates, but don't need them to validate my own views. That being said, I often find the religionist arguments in these things a weird combination of vacuous and arrogant.

Atheists/agnostics choose whatever level of participation in the community at large that makes sense to them, as it should be. I'm glad we have such a large tent as it were.