Posted: Jul 28, 2011 1:50 am
Here's a link to past census information:
http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/home/census+data
I had a quick look at my locality and the "religion, by sex" tag, and came up with the interesting fact that 356 people in town (about 400 people here) were listed as some religion...mainly catholic, presbyterian, and uniting...but our town doesn't even have a church, and no one know goes to church. In fact, by the way people speak out here, I'd say we're a pretty normal bunch of heathens who have absolutely no time for god-botherers. In fact, some Seventh day Adventists came around one day door knocking early one sunday...that went down well in a town made up completely of shift workers who work seven days a week and 365 days a year...
I suspect greatly that people have indeed just "marked down whatever religion they grew up with, whether they follow it or not"...
Most interestingly, I do notice that there's a tag for "athiesm"...funny, but I don't remember that being an option when I filled it in last time...I'll take a closer look this time. But I believe it's a loaded question...they say "what religion are you", and most people wouldn't think that "athiest" is an option for "religion". Perhaps a second question saying "are you an athiest or have no belief" would be interesting...
http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/home/census+data
I had a quick look at my locality and the "religion, by sex" tag, and came up with the interesting fact that 356 people in town (about 400 people here) were listed as some religion...mainly catholic, presbyterian, and uniting...but our town doesn't even have a church, and no one know goes to church. In fact, by the way people speak out here, I'd say we're a pretty normal bunch of heathens who have absolutely no time for god-botherers. In fact, some Seventh day Adventists came around one day door knocking early one sunday...that went down well in a town made up completely of shift workers who work seven days a week and 365 days a year...
I suspect greatly that people have indeed just "marked down whatever religion they grew up with, whether they follow it or not"...
Most interestingly, I do notice that there's a tag for "athiesm"...funny, but I don't remember that being an option when I filled it in last time...I'll take a closer look this time. But I believe it's a loaded question...they say "what religion are you", and most people wouldn't think that "athiest" is an option for "religion". Perhaps a second question saying "are you an athiest or have no belief" would be interesting...