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Friday, March 25th, 2011

Two-thirds of Britons Not Religious, Suggests Survey

Author:     JOHN MCMANUS
Source:     BBC News (U.K.)
Publication Date:     20 March 2011 | 23:59 ET
 Link: Two-thirds of Britons Not Religious, Suggests Survey
Stephan:   The trend away from religion in most of the industrialized world -- the U.S. being the notable exception, although even here religious affiliation is declining -- is a fascinating trend, particularly because concurrently there is another trend towards increasing spirituality. Spirituality arises from a personal experience of nonlocal consciousness. Religion is the dogma that arises from that experience, particularly as articulated by a powerful and charismatic figure.

Nearly two-thirds of people do not regard themselves as ‘religious’, a new survey carried out to coincide with the 2011 Census suggests.

The British Humanist Association (BHA), which commissioned the poll, said people often identified themselves as religious for cultural reasons.

The online poll asked 1,900 adults in England and Wales a question which is on this month’s census form.

The Office for National Statistics has defended the wording of the census.

While 61% of the poll’s respondents said they did belong to a religion, 65% of those surveyed answered ‘no’ to the further question: ‘Are you religious?’

Two surveys were commissioned, one covering England and Wales, and the other for Scotland. The Scottish survey was commissioned by the Humanist Society of Scotland.

South of the border, 61% of respondents said they did have a religion.

But only 29% also said they were religious, while 65% said they were not.
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This poll is further evidence… that the data produced by the census, used by local and national government as if it indicates religious belief and belonging, is in fact highly misleading

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