23 November 2005

Report shows increase in those with 'no religion'

A new report has revealed a significant increase in the number of people who now see themselves as having no religion.

In the report entitled 'Driven to disaffection: Religious independents in Northern Ireland', by the University of Ulster and Queen's University, it is claimed that current trends will see those with no religion forming the second or third largest group in Northern Ireland by 2011.

In the most recent Northern Ireland Life and Times survey, conducted in 2004, 11.5% described themselves as 'religious independents'.

However, the new report said that those with no religion are more likely to come from Protestant than Catholic families. But, there has also been a significant decline in church attendance among Catholics.

The report suggested that disaffection with politics was causing the growth of this secular group.

"The results indicate strong support for the view that disaffection from politics has been a motivation to reject religion," the report's author, Professor Ian McAllister, said. "However, this move towards secularisation does not suggest a reduced role in politics for religion. In particular, people who are the most religious are often the most politically active, and so exert the most influence on parties and politicians.

"If secularisation is to have any impact on the political process, those who see themselves as secular will have to re-enter politics and influence it from within."

The full report may be found online at www.ark.ac.uk/publications

(MB/SP)