Census 2011 - Religion

[Dandyman]

As people will probably be aware the 2011 Census contains a voluntary question on religion. Those that wish to answer need however to be aware of some potential pitfalls:

The Census Campaign

The views of the NSC congregation are invited...

 

[DTES]

Not sure why, but I predict a few people slagging this campaign off. I fully support it, though, and will be ticking "No Religion"...

 

[severnside gull]

Spam

 

[bhaexpress]

When it comes to things I could donate to that comes last eveytime, how bloody pointless.

 

[Napper]

Says on the front you can get fined ? surely can't do this

Have ripped mine up and put in the bin. Will just deny ever getting it unless they start sending recorded

 

[Djmiles]

£1,000 fine for anyone who doesn't comply.

 

[Napper]

£1,000 fine for anyone who doesn't comply.

Apparently only 38 fined last time round though

 

[Djmiles]

Apparently only 38 fined last time round though

Probably because you get hassled by people at your front door if you refuse to do it! That or most sensible people fill it in because it's the law.

 

[Dandyman]

Not sure why, but I predict a few people slagging this campaign off. I fully support it, though, and will be ticking "No Religion"...

Good man.

I'm not sure people fully appreciate the effect on our pockets and on public policy by the overstatement of religious belief and underestimate of atheists, agnostics and humanists in our country. The evidence from Scotland where the question was asked differently to England & Wales in 2001 tends to prove the point.

 

[sten_super]

Says on the front you can get fined ? surely can't do this

Have ripped mine up and put in the bin. Will just deny ever getting it unless they start sending recorded

Why? The census is a useful tool to inform policy, and it's not exactly a massive burden being asked to do it once every ten years, is it?

I think it's a bit sad that a campaign is required to convince people to admit their true (lack of) religion. Why on earth are people not 'fessing up to it? I certainly will be when it comes to filling in the form.

 

[Castello]

Good man.

I'm not sure people fully appreciate the effect on our pockets and on public policy by the overstatement of religious belief and underestimate of atheists, agnostics and humanists in our country. The evidence from Scotland where the question was asked differently to England & Wales in 2001 tends to prove the point.

Im with you Dandyman, although I suspect we'll be in a minority .

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Got mine this morning and had already done 'no religion' before hearing about campaign. Why wouldn't you just say no religion if that's the case?

 

[Sausage]

I worship My Lord Gus Poyet.

 

[Dandyman]

Im with you Dandyman, although I suspect we'll be in a minority .

Not too much of a minority I hope. I strongly suspect there are more non-religious people than members of non-C of E religions for example. I just hope that anyone who puts Atheist or Humanist does not get sneaked into the "other religion" category.

 

[Notters]

Got mine this morning and had already done 'no religion' before hearing about campaign. Why wouldn't you just say no religion if that's the case?

Because thousands of morons put "Jedi" or whatever.

 

[Arthur]

£1,000 fine for anyone who doesn't comply.

How can they enforce that?

Mine wasn't even addressed to me personally, it just said To The Occupier.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

I got this from the Nomad-Forum

Got the 2011 census form today.
None of the options in the religion question appeal to me.
If anyone here feels the same, please tick 'other' and write football in the box provided.
Pass on in any other forums you are a member of. With any luck we can outstrip the Jedi!

 

[Dandyman]

This is the ONS commentary on the 2001 Census:

There are 37.3 million people in England and Wales who state their religion as Christian. The percentage of Christians is similar between the two countries but the proportion of people who follow other religions is 6.0 per cent in England compared with 1.5 per cent in Wales.

In England, 3.1 per cent of the population state their religion as Muslim (0.7 per cent in Wales), making this the most common religion after Christianity.

For other religions, 1.1 per cent in England and 0.2 per cent in Wales are Hindu, 0.7 per cent in England and 0.1 per cent in Wales are Sikh, 0.5 per cent in England and 0.1 per cent in Wales are Jewish and 0.3 per cent in England and 0.2 per cent in Wales are Buddhist.

In England and Wales 7.7 million people state they have no religion (14.6 per cent in England and 18.5 per cent in Wales).

The English region with the highest proportion of Christians is the North East (80.1 per cent). London has the highest proportion of Muslims (8.5 per cent), Hindus (4.1 per cent) Jews (2.1 per cent) Buddhists (0.8 per cent) and people of other religions (0.5 per cent).

Fifty-eight per cent of people in London gave their religion as Christian, with the highest proportion in the borough of Havering (76 per cent). Thirty-six per cent of the population of Tower Hamlets and 24 per cent in Newham are Muslim. Over one per cent of the population of Westminster are Buddhist, while Harrow has the highest proportion of Hindus (19.6 per cent) and Barnet the highest proportion of Jewish people (14.8 per cent). Over eight per cent of the populations of Hounslow and Ealing are Sikh.

Sixteen per cent of the population of London say they have no religion, including 25 per cent in the City of London.

Outside London, the counties with the highest proportion of Christians are Durham, Merseyside and Cumbria, each with 82 per cent or more. The districts with the highest proportions of Christians are all in the North West: St Helens, Wigan and Copeland (Cumbria) each have 86 per cent or more.

The district with the highest proportion of Sikhs is Slough. One person in seven of the population of Leicester is Hindu. One person in nine of the population of Hertsmere in Hertfordshire, is Jewish. Over one per cent of the population of Cambridge are Buddhist. Brighton and Hove has most people stating other religions (0.8 per cent).

The districts with the highest proportions of people with no religion are Norwich, Brighton and Hove and Cambridge, all with over one-quarter.

In Wales, the highest proportion of Christians is found on the Isle of Anglesey (79 per cent) and the fewest in Blaenau Gwent (64 per cent). Rhonnda, Cynon, Taff has the highest proportion with no religion (25 per cent). Cardiff has the highest proportion of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews. Ceredigion has the highest proportions of Buddhists and people of other religions.

At the time the Census was carried out, there was an internet campaign that encouraged people to answer the religion question "Jedi Knight". The number of people who stated Jedi was 390,000 (0.7 per cent of the population).

The religion question was voluntary, and 4,011,000 people chose not answer it (7.7 per cent).

 

[beorhthelm]

How can they enforce that?

you pay council tax? so know who to start with then. if they address to the concil tax payer and they arent the occupier, they could say it wasnt addressed to them so didnt open it.

really, i dont know why anyone doesnt want to fill it in, can only help if government know the demogrpahic makup of the population.

thi s campaign would be very usful if it shows, as many anecdotelly assume, the majority of people are non-religious.

 

[Pavilionaire]

How does "No religion" stack up with the giving and receiving of Christmas cards, presents, Easter Eggs, the attendance of the odd Midnight Mass, baptisms, marriages, funerals at churches, a piss-up on St. Patrick's Day?