Census

parsi

KittyKat wrote:

Another stupid census question: "How many people in your family were born alive?" Haha! What has that got to do with the population in Ireland? Do the people dead really matter??

Read it again - the question is asked of women only and asks "how many children were born alive".

See here for the reasoning -> http://www.cso.ie/census/New_Questions.htm

Zombrex

The Atheist wrote:

I don't understand why people are getting so bee-in-their bonnet about people filling in atheist on the census form. If Asiaprod was in the country and wrote "Buddhist" (not a religion strictly either, I'm informed) in the box, would people be so indignant?

Its seems to me its the other way around, people seem to have a bee-in-their bonnet about people ticking "No Religion" because seemingly that means we are not counted, even though we are counted in the category that actually is being counted (what religion do you follow). Or they seem annoyed that the government isn't asking them directly "Are you an atheist", even though personal belief isn't the point of the question.

Personally I don't care if someone wants to select "other" and write Atheist, but it seems pretty pointless since it isn't a religion to be followed and it is never going to give a correct number of atheists anyway since this thread has domenstrated that a lot of atheists tick "No Religion"

So the reason to do it (that we will get an accurate count of atheists in Ireland) is invalid in the first place since, well, we won't.

But lets stop all the hussing and the fighting ... it seems silly when we have a whole bunch of young naieve gullable Christians only 2 forums down to abuse

Big "atheists-immoral-going-straight-to-hell" group hug!

Zombrex

The Atheist wrote:

People who write in atheist/agnostic, will still be counted as "no religion" when the calculations are made.

Are you sure about that. Do they not fall into the "Other Stated" category?

Scofflaw

Wicknight wrote:

Are you sure about that. Do they not fall into the "Other Stated" category?

No - surprisingly, the people at the CSO actually know that Atheist means "No Religion", and we get counted under that heading for all practical purposes. Of course, if you're a write-in Atheist, you also get broken out separately in the statistics - as seen here from the 2002 census.

regards,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

Scofflaw wrote:

No - surprisingly, the people at the CSO actually know that Atheist means "No Religion", and we get counted under that heading for all practical purposes. Of course, if you're a write-in Atheist, you also get broken out separately in the statistics - as seen here from the 2002 census.

regards,
Scofflaw

Not sure that is true, the numbers don't add if up that is the case.

If you put down "Other" and write "Athesist" you fall under the "Other" category. You are not copied into the "No Religion" category as well, you don't show up there. And in the brief summary you appear under the "Other Religion" category.

But don't know much about it, I'm just looking at the numbers.

Scofflaw

Wicknight wrote:

Not sure that is true, the numbers don't add if up that is the case.

If you put down "Other" and write "Athesist" you fall under the "Other" category. You are not copied into the "No Religion" category as well, you don't show up there. And in the brief summary you appear under the "Other Religion" category.

But don't know much about it, I'm just looking at the numbers.

Sure. That was why I said "for all practical purposes" - that is, the government looks at us as "no religion" at the moment, because there aren't enough atheists to trigger any form of "religious" requirements (not sure if there ever would be in Ireland, come to that).

I'd actually gone past the summary to the breakdown, so I'd missed that we get lumped in under "Other Religion" there - I presume that one is based on the box you ticked. From the summary stats, it certainly makes sense to put "No Religion", but that misses out an appearance in the breakdown as an atheist. Oh, well. Like I said, I'd prefer to write down that I'm an atheist, and there definitely isn't anywhere else on the form to put it.

Besides, if we can muster over 2000, I think they may have to put in a box for us. Of course, we can then complain about that, because atheism still isn't a religion...

cordially,
Scofflaw

Dades

Wicknight wrote:

Big "atheists-immoral-going-straight-to-hell" group hug!

Make it a quick one - I've got babies to eat and a town that wants pillaging.

Scofflaw

This is why we have all them swords.

cordially,
Scofflaw

robindch

> This is why we have all them swords.

Did I mention that I've one too?

Asiaprod

The Atheist wrote:

If Asiaprod was in the country and wrote "Buddhist" (not a religion strictly either, I'm informed) in the box, would people be so indignant?

Buddhist would most certainly have been written down
And you are well informed, it is not a religion, no God(s), never:)

<Swords, you want swords, I live in the land of 'The Sword'>

Raphael

I put down Other>Atheist on mine, because I viewed no religion as being no beliefes whatsoever, wheras the way I look at it atheism is just not believeing in god. After all, that's what the word means. I don;t believe in god, but I beleive in an afterlife and karma, so I wouldn't feel right putting down no religion

hairyheretic

Asiaprod wrote:

<Swords, you want swords, I live in the land of 'The Sword'>

I have a katana myself (amongst a few other weapons) from when I was training in ju jitsu. Its fun, but I prefer the staff.

rainbow kirby

I'm quite proud of my mum, she entered in No Religion for me before I had the chance to remind her

Dades

rainbow kirby wrote:

I'm quite proud of my mum, she entered in No Religion for me before I had the chance to remind her

There's hope for free-thought yet.

And I'm really thinking it's time for a study into the correlation between lack of faith, and sword ownership...

syklops

I was going to put down aetheist, but instead put jedi. As the jedi faith is closer to my own ideas.

Zombrex

syklops wrote:

As the jedi faith is closer to my own ideas.

No sex and dodgy hair?

Valmont

Wicknight wrote:

No sex and dodgy hair?

lol, good one

My parents ticked the Roman Catholic box too, I changed it and they didn't mind.

Methinks the results of the religion section in the census will be slightly inaccurate this year...:rolleyes:

Scofflaw

Methinks the results of the religion section in the census will be slightly inaccurate this year...

They're pretty much bound to be for the under-25's.


cordially,
Scofflaw

robindch

> My parents ticked the Roman Catholic box too, I changed it and they
> didn't mind.

Er, am I understanding it right that your catholic parents "didn't mind" that you told the truth?

> the results of the religion section in the census will be slightly
> inaccurate this year...

I'm interested to see the results of the "did you do charitable work?" question, so that we'll have some stats to judge whether or not religions contribute to society as much as they continuously say they do. I've a bet on with myself as to the answer to that, but I'll hold off until the results come out...

Asiaprod

The Atheist wrote:

And I'm really thinking it's time for a study into the correlation between lack of faith, and sword ownership...

Protection from conversion?:) or more deeper?

Scofflaw

Asiaprod wrote:

Protection from conversion?:) or more deeper?

Ha! Sword is representing the indomitable will, of course. Also possibly split personalities, in my case.


cordially,
Scofflaw

monkeyfudge

Could be on to something here... I do own a sword as well.. it's under my bed somewhere...

Fine Toledo steel.

hairyheretic

Since I have a sword (and a handfull of other weapons) and believe in many gods, do I screw up your hypothesis?

Scofflaw

hairyheretic wrote:

Since I have a sword (and a handfull of other weapons) and believe in many gods, do I screw up your hypothesis?

No. It appears, however, from your evidence, that sword ownership is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for atheism! Alternatively, your ownership of diverse weapons might relect your polytheism...

cordially,
Scofflaw

Zombrex

hairyheretic wrote:

Since I have a sword (and a handfull of other weapons) and believe in many gods, do I screw up your hypothesis?

No, it is just a reminder not to piss you off

hairyheretic

Scofflaw wrote:

Alternatively, your ownership of diverse weapons might relect your polytheism...

I actually was planning to get a ritual hammer but unfortunately the person who was going to do it got knocked down, and won't be near her forge for quite a while now.

Wicknight wrote:

No, it is just a reminder not to piss you off

Heh. Anyone who knows me will tell you that thats unlikely to be a problem. Any appearance to the contrary, I'm not a violent person (except as a last resort).

Scofflaw

hairyheretic wrote:

Any appearance to the contrary, I'm not a violent person (except as a last resort).

On the other hand, if it is last resort, why be unarmed?

cordially,
Scofflaw

hairyheretic

The Guards tend to frown on you walking down the street carrying a sword :)Besides, I did far more unarmed than armed training, and would remember those techniques better.

HealingBlight

lostexpectation wrote:

went to check the form and my Dad put me in as Roman Catholic Aaargh, I actually thought he knew where I was at. I changed it no religion.

Got into the same situation, my dad tried the reasoning 'You were raised catholic so you are catholic' But I was pritty clear on my position, thankfuly when I checked it was marked 'no religion'.
Atheisim isint a religion, I cant see how it can be, and I don't know how exactly the state would use census results when it came to the religion secion, anyone care to enlighten me?