The 2021 census for England and Wales showed non-religion rising to 37 per cent of the population, while Christian affiliation registered under 50 per cent for the first time. A Religion Media Centre briefing heard this was a moment which crystallised a shift which had been in evidence for decades, if not centuries. A whole generation had grown up with non-religion being normal and this is now a key identity distinctive to the UK. Hosted by Ruth Peacock, the panel:
- Dr Lois Lee, senior lecturer at the University of Kent department of Religious Studies
- Dr Hannah Waite, researcher at the Theos think tank
- Dr David Robertson, senior lecturer Open University
- Dr Keith Kahn-Harris, senior lecturer Leo Baeck College
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Report: Understanding the non-religious: it’s not a tick for nothing
The rise of non-religion in the census results and the way it is interpreted has to do with perhaps an over-simplified idea of what religion is:
FULL BRIEFING YOUTUBE VIDEO
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