A question of faith

Matthew Huish
March 8, 2011

The 2011 Census arrived through my letterbox yesterday. The British Humanist Association are encouraging all non-religious people to tick the box that says "No Religion". While I find the BHA slightly aggravating, considering their aggressive attack on all forms of religion, for the sake of an honest, accurate reflection of the religious makeup of the UK, I agree that people who are not religious should say so in the questionnaire.

Then I started thinking.

Within most religious communities, there are individuals who are clearly practicing their religious teachings, but there are also individuals who don't necessarily know or practice their faith strictly but nevertheless associate themselves with the traditions and culture of their faith. I think our community is similar. There are "religious Unificationists" and "cultural Unificationists". Our community is not just built on shared faith -- a common set of beliefs that everyone agrees with -- but on lineage, a common sense of identity: We register as citizens of the heavenly kingdom; we regard each other to be part of the same extended family; there are 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation members of our community, but some of them don't believe in God and don't live religious lives, yet because of their lineage can still be regarded as Unificationists. (Which raises the question of what it means to be a Unificationist.)

But for the sake of the census, I think it's important that we tick the box we feel is true. If I see myself as a religious, practicing Unificationists, then I tick the "Other" box and state that I'm a Unificationist. (Thankfully there are enough spaces to fit that in.) If I see myself as a religious Catholic (even if I might not agree with all the dogma), then I tick the "Christian" box. If I don't believe in God and don't live a religious life, then I tick the "No Religion" box.

I guess it doesn't harm to be honest (especially to oneself).