ABSTRACT
‘Facts and figures’ looks at what various social sciences—in particular, demography and psychology—tell us about atheism. After considering some of the difficulties involved in the collection of accurate information about atheists, the chapter focuses on what social science tells us about atheism. After considering some of the difficulties involved in the collection of accurate information about atheists, the chapter focuses on what the social sciences tell us about a range of common stereotypes of atheists. Are atheists untrustworthy, law-breaking, immoral, nihilistic, selfish, unhappy, emotionally unstable, mentally deficient, sexually deviant, unhealthy and short-lived?
