Fortunately, there is positive growth for the atheist population in first world countries. Quite simply, it is because of figureheads such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens (amongst many others) that atheists are no longer afraid. Just in matter of a few hundred years ago, those very people would be put to death, or at least punished in some way for their blasphemy. All these people are doing is putting some reason into the heads of those who have yet to do any, and that's the weapon of the militant atheist: reason.

It sounds overused, but it's truly one of the key components of an atheist's mindset and the ultimate utility. That's my extent. Eventually religion will die off as the human race advances in technology and morality (that's me implying religion is, of course, primitive and immoral).