Churches oppose ABS Religion Question reforms; He's not the Messiah (just a naughty boy!)

Published: Mon, 05/27/24

RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Rationale, the magazine of the Rationalist Society of Australia

Good morning ,

The Religion Question in the census has been biased towards institutionalised religion for decades. How? Because the question assumed the respondent had a religion. It asked, "What is the person's religion?" and then listed a number of religions and an option to tick "No Religion" at the bottom of the list.

In the 2021 census, this bias was partially addressed by placing "No Religion" at the top of the list - because the ABS always places the group recording the highest number of respondents at the top:

Image shows extract of the 2021 Census Household Paper
Form question 23. Question "What is the person's religion?" appears on the left with supporting text "Answering this question in Optional." and examples of how to complete "Examples of 'Other': LUTHERAN, SALVATION ARMY, JUDAISM, TAOIHISM, ATHEISM" and "Mark one box, like this" with example image of black dash through questionnaire mark box. On the left is a list of mark box options followed by a free text box.

Now, after exhaustive consultation, the ABS is proposing a further improvement by asking first, "Does the person have a religion?" and then, if the answser is Yes, letting respondents say what their religion is:

Image shows extract of the 2024 test Census Household Paper Form question 24. Question "Does the person have a religion?" appears on the left with supporting text "Answering this question in Optional." and examples of how to complete "For example:
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM, CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA, HINDUISM, SUNNI, JUDAISM, SIKHISM, ABORIGINAL TRADITIONAL BELIEFS". Mark boxes and free text fields appear on the right, including "No' and "Yes (specify religion)".

However, as our Lead Story explains, powerful figures in the churches are marshalling their opposition to these necessary and sensible changes. Why? Because they know they're losing bums on seats and that means they don't deserve the public resources they've long enjoyed, that's why.

Read here for a clarification by the ABS itself!

Lead stories

'Religious privilege': Showdown looming between atheists and church groups over census question

In Crikey, Amy Fallon writes that "a battle is brewing between Catholic Church leaders and secular groups over the religion question in the Australian census." So yet again, we have behind-the-scenes lobbying by powerful church figures.

Why it this important? Because census data leads to allocation of government resources, that's why!

He's not the Messiah * Inside Story

A former prime minister ponders providence

In a review of Scott Morrison's book, Plans For Your Good: A Prime Minister’s Testimony of God’s Faithfulness", a professor of English from Flinders Uni writes, "It is easy (indeed, supremely tempting) to be flippant .. but the fact that we had a leader with an apocalyptic view of how God’s revelation from the Bible worked its way in the world is a serious worry."

Other stories of interest

Faith advisory body commits to "secular democracy" with space for "all faiths and none" | Rationalist Society of Australia

Catholic Church facing lawsuit over historic sex abuse allegations at West Australian school

Time to take religion out of Anzac Day services - Rationale Magazine

What is a secular state? How South Africa has tried to separate religion and politics

Religion was influential in South African apartheid - for good and for ill. Religious affiliation in South Africa, unlike many other countries, is on the rise ...

Got a comment on any of these stories?

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au