Landmark new report on religion and belief in Britain

[mr blur]

Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association:

When people talk of growing 'diversity' in the context of religion or belief in Britain, they're usually speaking in a sort of code. For many, recognising diversity is a byword for widening participation and representation among non-Christian religions and - most often - Muslims. All too often such initiatives and conversations overlook the biggest and most important shift in the religion or belief landscape of our country: the rise of the non-religious. And this has had a profound, stymying effect on the way we approach the shared project that is improving our society.

Monday's report from the Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life is a watershed moment for recognition of the non-religious and the significant role that they play in the community. While the report gives due attention to the 8% of Britons of non-Christian religions and what their increase means for our public life, it is unique in giving fair recognition to the 50% of us in Britain who say we have no religion: the fastest growing group in this country.

Understanding this change is crucial to any government wanting to achieve peace in a plural society, ensuring freedom of thought, conscience, and freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens. Ignoring this huge social change is one of the factors that has meant that public policymaking around religion or belief until now has been piecemeal and haphazard. It has ignored the fact that between 1983 and the present, the number of Britons who identify themselves as having no religion has increased from 30% to 50%. It has ignored the fact that we have gone from a nation of churchgoers to one where 95% do not attend church on a weekly basis.
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We must be doing something right over here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/andrew-copson/britain-christian-country_b_8739258.html