One might also consider that it is a good idea to avoid certain words in describing one's self. This figure could well represent no more than half of the actual number because those closet Atheists fibbed to the pollsters. After all, they fib to their family, they fib to their friends, their neighbors, their co-workers. We need to convince our closet- bound Atheists that staying quietly in the closet is the surest way to be forced to stay locked in the closet forever. On the other hand, we who have demanded respect have found that it is freely given.
Today is the day, now is the time.
Your freedom is just a word away. That beautiful word is Atheist.