Census reveals humanist belief in freefall

According to the 2021 census, only 10,000 people identify as humanists in England and Wales — a 34 per cent fall on the figure recorded in 2011.

The latest census also found there were more people calling themselves Wiccans (13,000) than humanists.

Almost half of the population — 46.2 per cent — describe themselves as Christian, which remains the most common response to the faith question despite falling from 59.3 per cent over the past decade.

‘Nones’

The second most common response to the question “What is your religion?” was from those who ticked the box “No religion” — a group commonly known as ‘Nones’.

Although 37.2 per cent of census respondents claim to have “No religion”, a survey by the think-tank Theos revealed that eight in ten ‘Nones’ believe in the supernatural, and two in ten ‘Nones’ believe in the possibility of an afterlife.

Humanists, atheists and agnostics account for just 0.1 per cent of all those who responded to the religion question in the 2021 household questionnaire.

‘Oppressive’

Responding to the data, the Institute’s Ciarán Kelly said: “Fewer people may call themselves Christians now, but it is clear that churches that remain faithful to the Bible’s teaching are generally growing.

“The notion put forward by some – including secular humanists – that Christian beliefs held by millions should be silenced or removed from the public square is an oppressive one.”