Faith to Faithless

Saturday 14^th October 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Co-founder of Faith to Faithless Imtiaz Shams

Although non-religious people account for around one-fifth of the world’s population, those of us who do not believe are treated poorly in many communities. Discrimination and ill treatment can occur in many areas of life including within families, institutions, societies, and states. For those who are minorities within minorities, such as apostates or those having different faiths within majority faith communities, such discrimination is often much worse and can include rejection, victimisation and even violence. ‘Faith to faithless’ was founded in 2015 by Aliyah Saleem and Imtiaz Shams to support people facing religious discrimination and to draw attention in particular to the discrimination faced by minorities within minorities. It also offers a platform to the faithless to come out in public and speak out against this discrimination. Faith to Faithless is now a part of Humanists UK (formerly the British Humanist Association).

“Join us for a review of the activities of ‘faith to faithless’, and an insider’s view of life as an apostate within a religious community”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome! 

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Religion in Schools?

Wednesday 22^nd February 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

Whether religion has any place in schools is a controversial question engendering strong feelings both from those who see it as a good thing and those who do not.

For this evening’s event, we have assembled a panel of current and former school workers with a vested interest in this topic to present us with their differing views on the various forms of religious involvement in schools. Our panel members will be Hilary Bond who is a Schools and Children's worker for the Parish of Wareham, Cathy Silman who is a retired teacher and current member of Dorset Humanists Education Group, and Dave Pegg who is a Christian schools worker. Together they will discuss the controversial and contested domains of religious education, worship in schools, and faith schools.

Is there scope for Humanists, Christians, and people of other faiths to find common ground on the place of religion in our children’s education? Come along and join this lively discussion.

“Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the place of religion in our children’s education”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Understanding Islam

Wednesday 27^th July 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden

David will be explaining why he believes a Humanist approach to Islam requires a different emphasis from our more combative approach to Christianity. This is not about giving privileged treatment to Islamic beliefs but about recognising there is an overriding need for ordinary Muslims to feel part of British society rather than a marginalized minority. It is therefore essential that we avoid misunderstanding, stereotyping and oversimplification based on ignorance.

David will explore Islam’s history with a special focus on how extremism has developed over the last century. He will also highlight moderate voices within Islam and assess the likelihood of reform.

David Warden is a former business trainer with a degree in theology and a continuing passion for studying religious beliefs. He has been Chair of Dorset Humanists for seven years.

“A thought-provoking examination of our relationship with Muslims and the religion of Islam”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

The God Confusion

Saturday 11^th June 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Philosopher Dr Gary Cox

What is God? Does he exist? Can we know?

How we answer these questions has enormous implications for our understanding of the universe, our purpose in life, and our morality, but throughout history our best philosophers have failed to reach agreement.

In this presentation, Gary Cox will be exploring various conceptions of God, and the arguments for and against their existence, in an entertaining yet objective manner, and he will demonstrate why he believes it is logically impossible for us to move beyond speculation to proof.

If we must reject the idea of inner religious certainty, can living as though a moral God exists still be a worthwhile enterprise? You may be surprised by Gary’s answer!

Gary Cox is a philosopher and the author of several books on general philosophy, Sartre, and existentialism including ‘The God Confusion: Why Nobody Knows the Answer to the Ultimate Question’, and ‘The Existentialist’s Guide to Death, the Universe and Nothingness’. He is an honorary research fellow of The University of Birmingham, UK.

“Join us for an entertaining examination of the God Confusion”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Understanding Islam: The Qur’an

Wednesday 24^th June 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Jonathan MS Pearce and David Warden.

In the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks, President George W. Bush characterised Islam as a religion of peace, and politicians have continued to publicly maintain the benign nature of the religion following other more recent atrocities by Islamists. Many people agree with this belief, noting that the vast majority of Muslims live peaceful lives, but others counter that the roots of Islam include violent leaders, teachings and scripture.

So what is ‘the real Islam’? Is true Islam a force for good, and if so, how did it give rise to the revolutionary ideology of Islamism?

Author and blogger Jonathan MS Pearce and Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden will each present a paper exploring ‘the real Islam’ and consider the prospects for more liberal interpretations of the religion with particular reference to the text of the Quran.

“A thought-provoking examination of the nature of Islam”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Jonathan M.S. Pearce is a teacher from South Hampshire, UK, who has dedicated many years to studying all manner of things philosophical and theological. With a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Wales, Trinity St David, he also holds a degree from the University of Leeds, and a PGCE from Southampton. His published books include ‘Free Will?’ and ‘The Little Book of Unholy Questions’, ‘Twins: A Survival Guide for Dads’ and ‘The Nativity: A Critical Examination’.

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Islam, Islamism and Islamophobia

Wednesday 27^th November 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

by Martin Holst

Islam, the world’s second largest religion, is often seen as posing a threat to western democracy and values, but most Muslims claim its teachings are peaceful.

In this presentation, Martin explores what is known about Muhammad and how the religion of Islam developed, and considers its impact on the modern world. He embraces a critical approach to Islam/Islamism without being offensive or hostile to Muslims, and suggests how we can engage with them in different contexts.  Martin believes we need to improve our understanding of Islam and appreciate its internal driving forces because this affects how we seek to establish good relations with Muslims.

A former maths lecturer, Martin Holst is a Methodist preacher, and a member of the National Executive of the Christian Socialist Movement. He regards improving community cohesion as a key issue in the pursuit of peace.

Join us for a respectful analysis of the religion of Islam

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed from Gervis Road, which is better lit and has roadside parking).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

In 10 years 'No Religion' population increases from 15% to 25% in England & Wales

The British Humanist Association and National Secular Society comment on the data in England & Wales.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) comments on the Census 2011 data here & here with a 5 minute summary video here.

Other Census 2011 info from Dorset Humanists here.

Christians have declined in numbers across all age groups below 60 since 2011

Numbers of Non-Religious & Religious in Dorset (by Age, Ethnic Group, Country Group & Occupation)

Census 2011: The 16th May 2013 release of census data drills down to numbers of religious & non-religious in local authority regions of Bournemouth, Poole and county of Dorset (comprising Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland) - see map left.

I have compiled the new religious data into four sections with  examples from the town I was born in, Bournemouth (click image for larger image). Each of my Excel summaries has details of the above 8 Local Authorities in Dorset County.

NB. Sections on National Identity by Religion and  Economic Activity by Religion are not included in my compilation.

1) DC2107EW - Age by Religion in Dorset County (source | download Excel summary by Chris Street)

Note: In Bournemouth, parents state that 29% Primary age children (age 5-9) and 30-36% of Secondary children (age 10-17) have no religion. 50% age 20-24 have no religion.

Census 2011: Was the 'What is your Religion?' question fatally flawed?

Was the 'What is your Religion?' question fatally flawed?
Yes! Say British Humanist Association.
No! Say Office of National Statistics.

Is 'What is your Religion?' a loaded question?

... the data on religion produced by the 2011 Census gives a misleading picture of the religiosity of the UK, despite the rise in the percentage of non-religious. This is because of the flawed nature of the Census question on religion. ‘What is your religion?’, the question which was used in England and Wales in the 2001 and 2011 Censuses, is a loaded question, because it assumes that the respondent has a religion. In addition, many respondents who answer this question by ticking a religion only do so because their family brought them up in that faith, not because they still believe in it or actively practice it. The data on religious belief in the Census should therefore be viewed as indicative of culture rather than of religion. 

The figures were probably also distorted by the fact that the question on religion appeared immediately after a series of questions on ethnicity, which may well have encouraged people to respond more on the basis of culture than actual beliefs or religious affiliation.

... Someone who loosely identifies themselves as Christian in a cultural sense might not necessarily agree with the idea of Christian organisations taking over public services in their area. Read more.

The British Social Attitudes, 2011 asked whether they regarded themselves as belonging to any particular religion, 44% of adults replied in the negative. This was a lower proportion than in 2010 (50%) but much higher than when the question had first been put in 1983 (31%).

However ONS argue (see below) that the word 'belonging' is also a loaded question. 'Belonging' implies a strong affiliation to a religion (ie signing up for a religion or going to church regularly).

Andrew Copson, CEO BHA called the Census 2011 figures 'astounding'. ‘This is a really significant cultural shift. In spite of a biased question that positively encourages religious responses, to see such an increase in the non-religious and such a decrease in those reporting themselves as Christian is astounding. Of course these figures still exaggerate the number of Christians overall – the number of believing, practicing Christians is much lower than this and the number of those leading their lives with no reference to religion much higher. Religious practice, identity, belonging and belief are all in decline in this country, and non-religious identities are on the rise. It is time that public policy caught up with this mass turning away from religious identities and stopped privileging religious bodies with ever increasing numbers of state-funded religious schools and other faith-based initiatives. They are decreasingly relevant to British life and identity and governments should catch up and accept that fact.’

The British Social Attitudes Survey 2010 

Religion - page 173 asked "Do you consider yourself as belonging to a particular religion"

One in three (31%) in 1983 did not belong to a religion, compared with one in two (50%) now.

The largest decline has been in affiliation with the Church of England, which has halved since

1983 (from 40% to 20%). This change – which is likely to continue – can be explained by generational replacement, with older, more religious, generations dying out and being replaced by less religious generations. There is little evidence that substantial numbers find religion as they get older. (source: BSAS 2010)

Why are we less religious than we used to be? 

BSAS 2010 says 'How can we explain this decline in religiosity? Here, we focus on the decline in religious affiliation, which we have seen is strongly influenced by being brought up in a religion, and links to levels of religious attendance. Does the decline in religious affiliation result from a lifecycle effect (with each individual generation’s attitudes following a particular pattern throughout their lifecycle), a period effect (with a particular event or way of thinking affecting all or some of society at a particular point in time) or a generation or cohort effect (with more religious generations dying and being replaced by less religious ones)? source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

To explore these possibilities, we grouped respondents into nine ‘generations’ and considered their levels of religious affiliation at four points in time. This analysis is presented in Table 12.7. source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

The first point to note is that there is no evidence of a lifecycle effect – that is, as people grow older they become more or less religious. Non-affiliation remains relatively stable as each generation ages; for example, 30 per cent of those born between 1936–1945 did not follow a religion in 1983 (when they were aged 38–47 years), compared with 31 per cent in 2010 (when they were 65–74 years). source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

Could the decline in religious affiliation be attributed to a period effect? At a time of plummeting trust in politicians and banks, might public cynicism have extended to religious bodies, perhaps spurred on by scandals within the church, such as the sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland? There is some evidence of a decline in religious affiliation between 2000 and 2010, particularly for those generations currently aged in their mid-30s to mid-60s. This trend is likely to be very recent, as it has not been identified in previous work on this topic, and therefore merits further investigation. source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

However, by far the most marked differences occur between cohorts – indicating that the decline in religious affiliation in Britain has primarily been brought about by generational replacement. In 1983, for example, 55 per cent of those born between 1956 and 1965 (then aged 18–27) did not belong to a religion, compared with 12 per cent of those born before 1915 (then aged 68+). By 2010, 65 per cent of the youngest generation (born between 1986 and 1992 and then aged 18–24) did not belong to a religion, compared with 24 per cent of the oldest generation (born between 1926 and 1935 and then aged 75+6). The result of continual generational replacement is that, overall, the proportion of the population who does not belong to a religion continues to rise. source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

Graph by Chris Street

What do our findings mean for the future? We cannot, of course, rule out the possibility that a major event might affect people’s relationship with religion. But on the basis of our findings it seems likely that the ongoing decline in religious affiliation (and consequently religious attendance) will continue. This reflects the fact that each generation is less likely than its predecessor to be born into religious families, and that this lack of religiosity tends to remain with an individual as they get older. source: BSAS 2010, pg 181

Census 2001/2011 v British Social Attitudes - What is the difference in questions?

BSAS says in Note 1 'What is the difference between the proportions of the population identified as belonging to a religion by the 2001 census and British Social Attitudes can be partly explained by question wording: the census asks respondents “What is your religion?” – implying that the respondent has one – while the British Social Attitudes survey asks “Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?” The difference may also be due to the response options offered; with the census listing the major world religions, and British Social Attitudes listing specific denominations; respondents answering the former would be most likely to see this as a question concerned with ‘cultural classification’ rather than religion (Voas and Bruce, 2004). 

Finally, the context of the questions is significant, with the census question following one on ethnicity, arguably causing ‘contamination’ of responses (ibid.).' (source: BSAS 2010, note 1, pg 183)

Census 2011

NoelPlum99 

explains results of the Census 2011 and BSAS 2010 in his Youtube video (13m) which I recommend as a summary of Census 2011 and why the Census 2001 and 2011 question 'What is your religion', only looks at Religious Affiliation and NOT whether people believe in God.

I posted this in reply to his video:-

'@ 4.47
- Census 2011 'What is your religion?".What is it trying to find out? 59% Christians does NOT mean they believe in God!
@ 5.11
ONS say in their Youtube video 0-18secs "This is a short video looking at religion in England and Wales. Using these people we will look at the breakdown of Religious Affiliation; how we connect or identify with a religion, irrespective of actual practise or belief". On the ONS site they also say "Religion is a many sided concept and there are other aspects of religion such as religious belief, religious practice or belonging which are not covered in this analysis" (source: ONS)

Social connection is what interests them NOT whether you believe in god(s), or not.

@6.44
BNAS 2010 Religious Affiliation table 12.1 "Do you regard yourself as belonging to a particular religion? Result: 50% Irreligiosity.
@10.55s
Table 12.7 explains cohort reason. viz. as new generations come along, fewer of the cohort believe in God'

What options for the Religion question did ONS consider?

ONS published a 'Final recommended questions 2011 - Religion' a comprehensive 57 page pdf listed here.

ONS say there are a number of dimensions to the concept of religion, the key ones for survey and census questions being affiliation, practice and belief. Based on the evidence of a lengthy programme of research and consultation, ONS believes that the most appropriate question for the 2011 Census, that best meets user needs, is one that asks about religious affiliation.

Several different question wordings have been tested, including:
• What is your religion?
• What is your religion or belief?
• What is your religion, even if not currently practising?
• Do you regard yourself as belonging to a religion?
• Which of these best describes you?

Testing found that the question ‘what is your religion?’ best meets the requirement of collecting good quality data on religious affiliation within the space constraints of the census questionnaire. The question will also provide comparability between the 2001 and 2011 Censuses.

The question did not attempt to collect detailed information about the nature of their belief or the extent to which people practice their religion. Although questions on belief are asked in the British Social Attitudes Survey and the British Household Panel Survey, they are not seen as appropriate or acceptable for a census and nor would they meet the needs of most users of census data. (source: 'Final recommended questions 2011 - Religion', pg 9)

Do you regard yourself as belonging to a religion?

ONS chose not to use the BSAS question ('Final recommended questions 2011 - Religion', pg 25-27):- Do you regard yourself as belonging to a religion? The term ‘belonging’ is used in the literature to refer to both strong affiliation and regular churchgoing. It may be that this conflation occurs in the minds of respondents too. Differences in the proportion of religious affiliates between the census (‘what is your religion?’) and the BSA (‘Do you regard yourself as belonging to a particular religion?’) may be partly explained if people are more likely to understand the latter in terms of active belonging – that is, as requiring membership of a church or other practising religious group, reducing the number identifying as such (Voas and Bruce 2004).

What do BHA think about the 'What is your religion' question?

BHA - New survey evidence: census religion question ‘fatally flawed’.

click for large image

2011 Census Results: Dramatic Rise in Dorset’s Non-religious

According to results from the 2011 Census released today there was a big fall in those self-identifying as ‘Christian’ across England and Wales, and the proportion of people who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.

Figures for our region are split by local authority and are as follows:
Bournemouth: 71% ‘Christian’ in 2001 dropped to 57% ‘Christian’ in 2011, and 18% ‘No Religion’ in 2001 rose to 30% No Religion’ in 2011.
Poole: 74% ‘Christian’ in 2001 dropped to 60% ‘Christian’ in 2011, and 16% ‘No Religion’ in 2001 rose to 30% No Religion’ in 2011.
Dorset (includes Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland): 78% ‘Christian’ in 2001 dropped to 65% ‘Christian’ in 2011, and 14% ‘No Religion’ in 2001 rose to 25% No Religion’ in 2011.
Detailed ONS 2011 Census religion statistics can be downloaded from: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-qs210ew.xls

It’s worth noting once again that the optional religion question in the 2011 Census was framed to identify religious affiliation which doesn’t necessarily indicate belief or practice. For comparison, the results of the 29th British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA), published in September 2012, found 45.7 per cent of respondents claimed not to belong to a religion.

The British Humanist Association’s CEO Andrew Copson had this to say about the results:
‘This is a really significant cultural shift. In spite of a biased question that positively encourages religious responses, to see such an increase in the non-religious and such a decrease in those reporting themselves as Christian is astounding. Of course these figures still exaggerate the number of Christians overall – the number of believing, practicing Christians is much lower than this and the number of those leading their lives with no reference to religion much higher.
 ‘Religious practice, identity, belonging and belief are all in decline in this country, and non-religious identities are on the rise. It is time that public policy caught up with this mass turning away from religious identities and stopped privileging religious bodies with ever increasing numbers of state-funded religious schools and other faith-based initiatives. They are decreasingly relevant to British life and identity and governments should catch up and accept that fact.’ (Read more here).

The ONS has a useful summary page on the religion results, including an animated video, here:
The 2011 Census results are summarised below (Other religions and ‘not stated’ not shown).

Area name	Local Authority	Area	Christian	Christian	No religion	No religion
			Percentage	Percentage	Percentage	Percentage
			2001	2011	2001	2011
ENGLAND AND WALES			71.75	59.3	14.81	25.1
ENGLAND			71.74	59.4	14.59	24.7
SOUTH WEST			73.99	60.4	16.75	29.3
	Bournemouth UA		70.91	57.1	17.94	30.5
	Poole UA		74.34	60.4	16.23	29.7
	Dorset		77.88	65.3	13.74	25.2
		Christchurch	79.06	67.1	13.18	23.6
		East Dorset	79.90	66.8	12.61	24.2
		North Dorset	77.75	66.5	13.61	23.8
		Purbeck	78.36	65.0	13.81	25.9
		West Dorset	77.55	65.3	13.61	25.0
		Weymouth & Portland	74.67	61.0	15.89	29.3