Firstly I think the census should be taken seriously and we should all endeavour to write accurately and honestly. However the question 'What is your religion?' will irritate some people…
Thousands will follow facebook groups and others writing 'Jedi' 'heavy metal' etc.
In response to anything religious they will do what millions have done before them... kick back, mock and rebel.
Other questions on the census are clear to identiy and answer:
Male or female, how many rooms in your house, what is your date of birth etc... this is generally ok for us to answer but religion? Now you're getting under our skin, you are looking at the condition of persons faith, failings and frustrations. People don’t like that… It’s making them think about the questions and subsequent questions that they usually aviod like swine flue. Maybe they should have a box called ‘mind your own business peeps!’
The questions made me uncomfortable at first glance...personally I don't like to identify myself with the word religion. I have a relationship with Jesus but the word religious is loaded with things that I generally don't form to.
So what do we do with it?
My primary school teacher used to say "The key to answering any question correctly is understanding what is being asked."
What is your religion is a 'loaded question' particularly in Northern Ireland!
What is being asked?
Deputy Director of the 2011 Census, says "the question 'what is your religion?' aims to discover general affiliation not practice." In other words this question is not about belonging, it’s not about believing, it’s not about practice, or any of those things, it’s about just whether people feel they align themselves with different religious persuasions.
The question is looking to find some broad values that society shares. The key dimensions for survey and census questions about religion are affiliation, practice and belief. The Humanist society are up in arms saying that the question gives no indication of actual religious practice, involvement, belief or belonging of the population. They have a point but that is not what the census is looking for? As a Christian I could equally complain that the question does not go far enough but lets just be honest in answering it in context.
Finally remember ticking a box Christian does not make you a Christian. But neither does going to church every Sunday.
Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus, it's about discovering that Jesus is everything He claimed to be and that he alone can bring us into the peace, purpose and presence of God.
let's try and answer the question openly and honestly.
It was never the intention of the census to look at things at a deeper but maybe you and I can take a moment or two to actually stop and think...
What do I believe? and does my lifestyle back this up?
