Religious institutions are extremely organized. They have regular donations and enthusiastic adherents who travel the world looking for converts. Well-funded organizations fill our highways and streets with their slogans.

Nonbelievers have a history of going undetected. But the times are changing. In an effort to finally represent ourselves, we are starting to organize and even advertise.

Aggravated by evangelical advertisements in Britain, the British Humanist Association decided to launch an atheist bus campaign. Hoping to raise about $8,000 in donations to run the campaign, it raised $150,000 in four days. It has since collected more than $200,000. This enabled signs to be posted on 800 buses across Britain stating, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Similar signs have been posted in Spain. Attempts were made in Australia as well, but the bus company would not allow it. And of course, in Olympia we had our own fiasco during the recent holiday season. Because a nativity scene was displayed near the Olympia Legislative Building, atheists also wanted to be represented.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation posted a sign that said “Religion is but superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.” Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, thought the sign was important to validate another view point. Shortly after being posted, the sign was stolen and later found in a ditch. Thou shalt not steal?

I will be the first to admit the sign was distasteful for a holiday display. I am sure most religious people were offended, which is understandable. We nonbelievers also find it offensive when confronted with signs threatening eternal damnation to anyone who does not worship Jesus or some particular Western faith. Luckily, in a land guaranteeing free speech, we all get to annoy each other publicly.

Many people must feel nonbelievers are suddenly coming out of the woodwork. However, disbelief outside of America is extremely common, especially in Europe. Statistics compiled by adherents.com show that the 1.1 billion “Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist” group is the third most populous group in the world, following the 2.1 billion Christians and 1.5 billion Muslims.

Seriously nonbelievers, we’re No. 3. I advocate we all wear No. 3 jerseys. Any color you want too. It could really catch on. Sorry Hindus and Chinese traditionalists, you will have to sport No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. There is always next year.

Apparently, all the heathens are hiding outside of America. The most irreligious country in the world is Sweden. Statistics show disbelief ranging from 46 to 85 percent of the population. Surprisingly, Vietnam is second with 81 percent. Next comes Denmark, with disbelief ranging from 43 to 80 percent. Near majorities also are represented in Norway, Japan, Czech Republic, Finland, France, South Korea, Estonia and the rest of Western Europe. The exceptions are Catholic Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Basically, outside of the U.S., disbelief is densely concentrated in the rich, industrialized world.

In America, according to data compiled by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in 2007, Catholics represent 23.9 percent of the population. Protestants represent 51 percent, but are broken out in so many competing denominations that the largest group is the Baptists with 17.2 percent.

While the nonreligious are grossly outnumbered, the breakdown of religious denominations in the U.S makes the 16.1 percent nonreligious group the third most populous. That’s right, we are No. 3 even in America. Think about that jersey thing. It could be big.

Nonreligious America, we are many. It is time we start to have a conversation with the rest of the nation.