If you've visited a church in the last few years, you'll have likely noticed a decline in attendance. Throughout Canada, churches are being closed down and sold off as lots for fancy new condo communities.

It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that religion is in decline, but a group of mathematicians have put some census data together and determined that organized religion is indeed on the decline in nine western civilizations. According to the American Physical Society, religion is heading towards extinction.

One of these nine western societies heading towards the disappearance of religion is Canada.  Not so slowly, more and more Canadians are checking the box that says they identify themselves as "non-affiliated" when filling out the census.

According to the study released last week, the number of Canadians who are not affiliated with a religious institution is predicted to rise to 61% by 2050.

What a relief. Here I was, all along, terrified to admit publicly that I don't believe in God.

There I said it. I'm out. I toiled with whether or not to write this piece and not comment on my own "affiliation,"  but the thought of it was so disingenuous, it made me sick to my stomach.

The reason that the news of religious extinction is beyond fantastic is that more atheists need to feel comfortable to come out and speak up about not being religious. Admitting that you're an atheist or non affiliated is the equivalent to coming out of the closet in the 1950s. Heck, it's probably worse.

What I always find interesting when declaring my atheism to believers is how intolerant they generally are. I'd bet all my money that the first piece of hate mail I get is from a deeply religious person. I should be clear that I'm not talking about faith. Faith exists and is evident in everyday life. I'm talking about the good ol' God and the organizations that for centuries have repressed civilization (with the 3000 plus forms that deities take across the over 20 major religions of the world).

I could take pages and pages to argue my point but why go there when someone has already done it so brilliantly. I don't have quite the sass and wit that Ricky Gervais does, but I do 100% agree with his well-thought-out and perfectly argued essay in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Why I'm an Atheist."

When I'm not stressed out about going to "hell" I comfort myself with knowing that Ricky and I are in good company. Many of the smartest, most successful, interesting minds, past and present have come out publicly as atheists. Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, Richard Branson, Salmon Rushdie, Marlene Dietrich, Gore Vidal, Bill Maher, Katherine Hepburn, George Carlin, to name only a few.

An estimated 12% of the world's population are athiests, and if the mathematicians have it right, over half of Canada is headed in that direction.

Today, it feels great to say it loud and proud: religion is going extinct.  Thank goodness.