Small correction, it's "eight of the best countries to be atheist in", not "the most atheist countries".

"Slowly but surely, religion’s historical monopoly on the human mind is breaking apart."

I'm currently reading a book[1] by theologian/philosopher David Bentley Hart that shames to ground sentences like this. Also the idea that modernity is somehow superior to previous ages in regard to tolerance and reason. Nothing further from the truth.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Atheist-Delusions-Christian-Revolution...

Instead of merely citing the author as an authority and stating your interpretation of his thesis, please offer some details from the source to back up your claim. Especially when asserting something that goes against prevailing wisdom, such as your statement that previous ages displayed equal or superior tolerance and reason. Dropping a link to a book doesn't make your points any more credible unless the book is free to read.

Some people buys books, you know. Unless you think that interwebz is for smart people that don't need to read books, or form comments are enough to build the 'prevailing wisdom'.

"Hart closes the book in the present, delineating the ominous consequences of the decline of Christendom in a culture that is built upon its moral and spiritual values."

It seems that he doesn't claim in this book that religions monopoly isn't diminishing but rather reaffirms this fact at the same time expressing his opinion that it's bad.

You're correct. I chose to wrong quote to point out that in fact reason is not gaining any ground as religious authority fades away.