It’s March, 2011, and it is a decade since the last UK census. The census forms have been sent through the post and have landed on the doormats of houses, bungalows, mansions and flats across the country. The census is very important in determining things such as future budgets, council spending, and crucially, funding for sectarian schools (aka faith schools).
The nature of the question about religion in the 2011 UK census has been raised by the British Humanist Association (http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/771). This is just the latest in a series of articles highlighting concerns about how the religion question is phrased.
In its latest survey the BHA claim to have published “fresh evidence that the census question is fatally flawed for its intended purpose of planning public services.” I agree.
In England and Wales, when asked the question ‘What is your religion?’ 39% ticked ‘no religion’. When asked ‘Are you religious?’ 65% said ‘No’. This is very revealing. It really does illustrate how differences in which a question is asked can give very different results. More worryingly perhaps, it demonstrates how many people are unable to distinguish between religion and cultural background. How many people tick the religious box just because they were baptised? How many tick the religious box because their parents did the same? How many tick the religious box because they have attended a funeral, wedding, baptism, etc. How many tick the religious box because they have a Christmas dinner?
It is this distinction that inflates the value of religiosity in the UK beyond its true figure. Perhaps a more accurate indicator of the popularity of religion in the UK is to look at church attendance figures, which, for Christians at least, is dismal.
So, may this serve as a reminder. If you tick the religion box, think about it, are you actually a practicing member of that faith? Do you believe that snakes can talk, people can rise from the dead, water can be turned into wine, etc.? If not, can you really say you are religious? At the most, you could be a Deist if you didn't believe all that. Stating this would be more honest that saying you are a Christian.
If you are thinking of writing ‘Jedi’ as your religion – think about it. Think carefully about how census data is used to uphold the notion that religions dominate the social makeup of the UK. Do we really want any justification for the funding and spread of sectarian schools. No!
It’s time for the census to reflect the real secular makeup of the UK.
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