Thoughts on the 2022 census and Christmas feature in the first East London Humanist opinion column for the East London and Docklands Advertiser published 8.12.22
The 2021 census figures published last week show a surge in the number of non-religious. A timely backdrop to my first Humanist column for this paper.
The changes in Tower Hamlets since the 2011 census are startling. The number ticking ‘Christian’ has dropped from 30% to 22%. Those ticking ‘Muslim’ is barely changed, rising from 38% to 40%. Other faiths hardly register. The biggest jump is in those with no religion, rising from 21% to 27%, making it the second largest belief group in the Borough, and outnumbering Christians. Humanists are simply people who believe they can lead a good and meaningful life without religion.
It’s also timely to recall what PM Richie Sunak said in a BBC interview last year about how, as a Hindu, he and his family ‘enjoyed tucking into their Christmas dinner.’ He remarked that everyone now takes part in these seasonal festivities, whatever their beliefs. He called this ‘a secular country’, apparently the first PM ever to have done so.
A senior minister acknowledging how our religion and belief landscape has changed is a breath of fresh air. We are, in truth, ‘a country with Christians’ rather than ‘a Christian country.’ But secularism isn’t just for Christmas! Separation of religion from the state, so no religion or belief gets special treatment, is always the best way to ensure freedom and equality for all beliefs.
If this Government really wants a level playing field that reflects modern Britain then a good start would be to reform the law requiring children in state schools to undergo a collective act of Christian worship each day – more suited to a monolithic theocracy like Iran than a modern democracy. Other welcome reforms would include reversing the proliferation of state-funded religious schools, removing the automatic right of 26 unelected Bishops to sit in the Lords, and legalising Humanist marriages in England and Wales.
This Winter will be grim for many who will have little if any Christmas dinner to tuck into. But that shouldn’t detract from the nugget of truth in Sunak’s remarks. In an increasingly diverse nation, Christmas remains a special time of year for all to pause and appreciate life, kindness, family and fellowship, and remember those less fortunate. Sharing such positive values, whatever our religion or belief, is itself something to celebrate.
Paul Kaufman
Chairperson, East London Humanists
8.12.22
