[Vision2020] Startling Cultural Differences

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1978045,00.html

Religion does more harm than good - poll

Julian Glover and Alexandra Topping
Saturday December 23, 2006

Guardian

More people in Britain think religion causes harm than believe it does
good, according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. It shows that
an overwhelming majority see religion as a cause of division and
tension - greatly outnumbering the smaller majority who also believe
that it can be a force for good.
The poll also reveals that non-believers outnumber believers in
Britain by almost two to one. It paints a picture of a sceptical
nation with massive doubts about the effect religion has on society:
82% of those questioned say they see religion as a cause of division
and tension between people. Only 16% disagree. The findings are at
odds with attempts by some religious leaders to define the country as
one made up of many faith communities.

Most people have no personal faith, the poll shows, with only 33% of
those questioned describing themselves as "a religious person". A
clear majority, 63%, say that they are not religious - including more
than half of those who describe themselves as Christian.

Older people and women are the most likely to believe in a god, with
37% of women saying they are religious, compared with 29% of men.

The findings come at the end of a year in which multiculturalism and
the role of different faiths in society has been at the heart of a
divisive political debate.

But a spokesman for the Church of England denied yesterday that
mainstream religion was the source of tension. He also insisted that
the "impression of secularism in this country is overrated".

"You also have to bear in mind how society has changed. It is more
difficult to go to church now than it was. Communities are displaced,
people work longer hours - it's harder to fit it in. It doesn't alter
the fact that the Church of England will get 1 million people in
church every Sunday, which is larger than any other gathering in the
country."

The Right Rev Bishop Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, added: "The
perception that faith is a cause of division can often be because
faith is misused for other uses and other agendas."

The poll suggests, however, that in modern Britain religious
observance has become a habit reserved for special occasions. Only 13%
of those questioned claimed to visit a place of worship at least once
a week, with 43% saying they never attended religious services.

Non-Christians are the most regular attenders - 29% say they attend a
religious service at least weekly. Yet Christmas remains a religious
festival for many people, with 54% of Christians questioned saying
they intended to go to a religious service over the holiday period.

Well-off people are more likely to plan to visit a church at
Christmas: 64% of those in the highest economic categories expect to
attend, compared with 43% of those in the bottom group.

Britain's generally tolerant attitude to religion is underlined by the
small proportion who say the country is best described as a Christian
one. Only 17% think this. The clear majority, 62%, agree Britain is
better described as "a religious country of many faiths".

ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,006 adults aged 18+ by telephone
between December 12 and 13. Interviews were conducted across the
country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all
adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by
its rules.