Humanists push for drop in census religious numbers

[Abyssinia]

Humanists, eager to see a reduction in the number of people that identify with Christianity, are launching a poster campaign next week ahead of the upcoming census.

During the last census in 2001, 42 million people chose to identify themselves as Christians – almost 72 per cent of the population.

christian.org.uk/news/humanists-push-for-drop-in-census-religious-numbers/

 

[Flame4]

This is ridiculous. Why is important to them for less people to be religious? I don’t get it. Do they think this will crumble the Church? Right…

 

[Alexander_Smith]

Let them. Who gives a … anyway? Real Catholics and Christians will continue to identify themselves as such. Others may fold and choose otherwise.

Bunch of friggin morons.

 

[Dale_M]

This is ridiculous. Why is important to them for less people to be religious? I don’t get it. .

This is purely a guess on my part, but perhaps it is a Culture Wars sort of thing? Tradition prizes religious affiliation. The British Humanist Association may be saying that people shouldn’t be ashamed to non-religious. Out with the old, in the new (from their point of view.)

On the other hand, is there money or other influence attached to the census numbers regarding religious affiliation? Perhaps our members from the UK could let us know. It might shed some light on the motives of this organization.

 

[Vincent1984]

On the other hand, is there money or other influence attached to the census numbers regarding religious affiliation? Perhaps our members from the UK could let us know. It might shed some light on the motives of this organization.

There is no money directly attached to census results. However, they are sure to be an important propaganda tool in the years ahead. You can imagine the sort of thing: “We shouldn’t make any allowances for only x% of the population!” … “xx% of us believe this, we have our rights too!” et cetera.

I would like to draw attention to the fact that being in a minority – as practising Christians are in most of the West – does not necessarily mean that the majority mean us great harm; hopefully there are many who are happy for us to excercise our freedom of worship and practice. What the humanist and secularist organisations are promoting is the view of rights as a sort of zero-sum game; they try to promote enmity between religious people by tempting the majority into seeing us as an enemy within.

 

[Flavius_Aetius]

This is why I see militant atheists as bigger hypocrites than anyone else. They work to chip away those weak in faith and then hide behind the statement that atheism isn’t a religion or even a belief system.

 

[Cyclophile]

upcoming…? Wasn’t the census already completed?

 

[Augusta_Sans]

Why is important to them for less people to be religious? I don’t get it.

You might benefit from actually reading the article.
The article:

The BHA’s head of public affairs Naomi Phillips said the census results on religion are used to “justify maintaining faith schools”.

She added: “It means more budgets go to Christian groups and the needs of non-religious groups are not taken into account.”

 

[MSSheBear]

Hmm. This is interesting. I guess the British Atheists want to look more powerful or numerous. I have trouble convincing my sisters who aren’t baptized and never attend church and don’t believe in God, that they really shouldn’t call themselves Christians. They ignore me for the most part. Maybe we should examine our beliefs and actions before we label ourselves.

 

[Dale_M]

You might benefit from actually reading the article.
the article:

The BHA’s head of public affairs Naomi Phillips said the census results on religion are used to “justify maintaining faith schools”.

She added: “It means more budgets go to Christian groups and the needs of non-religious groups are not taken into account.”

Good catch.

Here is the expanded list of reasons, from the British Humanist Association website:

After the 2001 Census, the figures collected were used to justify the following policies:

* Increase in the number of faith schools
* The continuation of collective worship in schools
* The public funding and support of ‘interfaith’ and faith-based organisations above the support offered to secular organisations
* Suggestions of an increase in the role of faith in Britain under the coalition government
* The appointments of government advisors on faith
* Contracting out public services to religious organisations
* Keeping the 26 Bishops in the House of Lords as of right
* Continued high number of hours dedicated to religious broadcasting
* Specific consultation at government and local level with ‘faith communities’ over and above other groups within society
* Continued privileges for religious groups in equality law and other legislation

The Census gives the official figures about various aspects of the population. Data is used by government both locally and centrally as evidence to back up their policy decisions. If the number of people who appear to be religious is inflated, policies regarding service delivery, equality work and many other areas will be affected.

census-campaign.org.uk/what-is-happening/why-does-it-matter/

upcoming…? Wasn’t the census already completed?

I don’t think so. According to a BBC article dated 21 February, the census will start at the end of March/beginning of April.
bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12507319

 

[Cyclophile]

Oh… the UK! (nevermind)