The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the results of an ICM poll published today by the Guardian which demonstrates that Britain is not a religious country.
Andrew Copson, responsible for education and public affairs at the BHA, said:
‘This is the evidence for what most people are increasingly accepting as common sense. Britain is far from being a Christian country and the churches, in spite of their continuing privileges and increasingly shrill insistences to the contrary, have lost the right to speak for Britain . Nor is it possible to claim that Britain can be defined instead as “multi-faith”, when such clear majorities disown religion. The fact that the Government does not accept this fact, but continue to define the communities of Britain in faith terms, continue to promote faith schools, and to pay unjustified attention to unrepresentative religious “leaders” must be a source of increasing frustration for many.
‘Time and again religious groups get their way against overwhelmingly public opinion. They killed off the Assisted Dying Bill, which 4 out of 5 people supported; they have won wide exemptions from equality legislation so they can continue to discriminate against gay people and those who do not share their beliefs; and they will be doing their utmost to defend their 26 unelected members of Parliament when the Government tackles Lords reform this session. Instead of promoting a false image of modern Britain, Government should instead accept the real nature of contemporary society and we should move towards a secular state in this country – a state neutral on matters of religion and belief where there are no special privileges for any belief system, and public debate can be genuinely shared by citizens of whatever religion or belief.’
Britons’ worldview humanist
Today’s results come hard on the heels of an Ipsos MORI poll published four weeks ago which revealed the majority of Britons to be non-religious in their ethics and in their view of the universe.
That poll found that 62% of people believed that ‘right and wrong’ can be explained by human nature alone, and does not necessarily require religious teachings; and that 62% of people felt scientific & other evidence provides the best way to understand the universe rather than feeling that religious beliefs are needed for a ‘complete understanding’ You can read more here
Britons believe religious groups too influential
That poll also revealed dissatisfaction amongst Britons over the attention paid to religious groups by government. Asked to select who they thought Government paid too much attention to, more people chose ‘religious groups and leaders’ than chose any other domestic group. You can read more here
NOTES TO EDITORS
The British Humanist Association(BHA) is the national organisation representing and supporting the non-religious. It is also the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.
For further comment, contact Andrew Copson on 07855 380633