Although religiousness is generally declining, Northern Ireland continues to be the most religiously inclined region in the United Kingdom.

The findings will present a concerning image for churches as an increasing number of youth reject religious traditions.

The early findings of a historic global project called "Explaining Atheism," which was headed by Queen's, showed that there are currently more atheists than theists in the UK. It clarifies why atheism has increased globally and in the UK.

One of the most important members of the study team was Dr. Hugh Turpin, who is from Brunel University London but works in Dublin.

In an effort to comprehend the movement away from religious belief, he is now expanding his research to the three most religiously diverse nations in Western Europe: Poland, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

"The concern for churches will be the change in views among young people in society, even though there are fewer people who identify as atheists in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK," he stated.

"It's possible that more Catholics are sticking to their beliefs because the Catholic Church in Northern Ireland did not have the same level of institutionalised power as it did in the Republic of Ireland," he continued.

The study came to the conclusion that social expectations around believe in God and parental upbringing have the most effects on belief.