Existential security, secular institutions, and group norms: Explaining the rise of non-theism

The central question of the proposed project is whether increased existential security causes non-theism. Using a combination of longitudinal panel data and randomised controlled experiments, we will compare three competing explanations (Hout & Fischer, 2014; Inglehart, 2020; Norenzayan, 2013) of the causal chain underlying the relationship between security and non-theism. By combining the investigation of individual-level motivations with group dynamics under insecurity, this project will provide significant insights into the complex social processes underlying the rise of non-theism in Western societies.