BBC Comres Poll on religion

[ChrisCuba]

You have to ask who at the BBC agreed the questions. (I cant post the link but its on the BBC site)

"Our laws should respect and be influenced by UK religious values"
Agree or Disagree

How about a better question.

"UK laws and values should respect and be influenced by unelected non democratic groups that use power structures and outdated laws created by people 1200 - 6000 Years ago who claim they are backed by an imaginary super being with absolute authority." Agree or Disagree

I haven't been anywhere near a school in recent years but I assume religious indoctrination still takes place. I am pretty sure that nobody is allowed to stand up and teach that God does not exist. There are very few atheist good guys in the movies and few world leaders who will admit they are atheist.

Given the pro God education, media, and authority bias the fact that at least 30% of people don't believe religion to be important seems a clear sign god is on the way out.

[farmersboy]

Religion is still on the books, but it is dressed up in different clothes - at my eldest's secondary school it isn't called RE, it's called Philosophy. Atheism isn't on the curriculum...

[Tony Williams]

It's certainly a wording which could be interpreted in different ways.

A benign interpretation might be along the lines of accepting the general moral position of the CofE which is hard to disagree with as a basis for a moral (and by implication legal) code, whether you are a Christian or atheist.

A not so benign interpretation which may well have occured to some is the reference to "UK religious values" - which implies Christianity as opposed to Islam perhaps?

[Trinoc]

It's a classic spin doctor's question ... put the issue of "respect" in the same question as "influence", so that the people who answer "yes" because they are in favour of respect get counted as if they were in favour of influence.

[Tim the Mage]

BBC Report,,,

http://tinyurl.com/c292zh

...and the research tables...

http://tinyurl.com/c5rz6o

I suspected that the reason for the wording was that it reflected the wording in an earlier poll - consistency usually trumps internal coherence in these cases - but can't find such a poll from ComRes.

On the general discussion about the question, it is a little sloppy but I think it is pretty clear in its intent - that our institutions and law-making should recognise religion. In fact were I being hypercritical I would suggest that the phrase "UK religious values" is essentially code for Christianity. I do not think that a differently worded question would have resulted in a much different response.

All this of course fails to reflect the fact that the question is utter rubbish in polling terms - it does not relate to a possible action or a current event (unless people polled saw themselves as law-makers). Which means the answer - interesting though it is, is also rubbish.

Better questions:

"Some people argue that religious values should be considered when making laws"

or

"Some people propose that religious values should not be considered when making laws"

Finally, the BBC (useless organisation that it is) keeps chopping and changing its pollsters - earlier research on faith matters was done by ICM on a very different basis and it is impossible to make comparisons.

[Tony Williams]

Or even:

"Do you believe that our laws should be based on religious doctrine?"

This would be more informative, I think, because "religious values" is too vague - I share quite a few values with Christians even though I have no religious beliefs.

[Tim the Mage]

Or even:

"Do you believe that our laws should be based on religious doctrine?"

This would be more informative, I think, because "religious values" is too vague - I share quite a few values with Christians even though I have no religious beliefs.

...but that would be to change the nature of our laws? In the main they are not based on doctrine but are (we're told) informed by values. This is where it gets tricky since many of what we characterise as "religious values" are nothing of the sort.

Indeed the more I think about it the more it seems that this approach to questioning is truly (in a different sense) without value. What is being explored - rather badly - is whether we should continue to give a privileged voice to those speaking on behalf of religions. At every level in our polity this is the case - 'faith groups' are accorded particular status, Local Councils promote - and fund - faith forums, leaders from religious groups receive particular (positive) attention in the media and many of those same religious leaders are granted a place in our legislature merely becuase of their status as religious leaders.

[Tony Williams]

Indeed the more I think about it the more it seems that this approach to questioning is truly (in a different sense) without value.

I agree with you. It doesn't tell us anything useful at all.

What is being explored - rather badly - is whether we should continue to give a privileged voice to those speaking on behalf of religions.

I would prefer not. I have no argument with defending people's right to believe whatever they want - as long as it doesn't do any harm, and provided they are not protected from critical questioning of those beliefs (which sadly seems to be happening in some cases).

I agree with the US theory that religion and the state should be kept separate (a pity that they don't actually apply it in practice).

[Mulder]

One of the religious values most distinctively Christian is 'turning the other cheek'. I've never noticed this trait as particularly prominent among Christians.

[Dubious Dick]

One of the religious values most distinctively Christian is 'turning the other cheek'. I've never noticed this trait as particularly prominent among Christians.

Seems to have been a not unknown practice amongst priests of various persuasions and denominations, particularly when in the presence of choirboys!

[Tony Williams]

There was a young curate named Bings,
Who talked about women and things.
But his secret desire,
Was a boy in the choir,
With a bottom like jelly on springs...