Australia is one of the more secular societies on earth, yet we are nominally Christian.
Although I have been an atheist for decades, I have never formally renounced Catholicism. That means I am still counted among the faithful.
A life observation is that most Christians, and Muslims I've known have not been very devout. Have only known a few Jews, all were 'cultural' not practising Jews.
As a broad generalisation, one's religion tends to be an accident of birth. OF course there are the exceptions of people convert to other faiths. The 'born againies' who belong to a happy clappy church seem to be everywhere. I suspect that is at least in part due to their often unwelcome zeal for converting others. I consider claiming absolute, exclusive truth stunningly arrogant. I find it very hard to remain civil to such people, when I really want to smack them.
That X millions identify as belonging to a major religion, say on a census form, is not proof of their beliefs or their behaviour.
It is my perception is that we tend to learn our religion, values, social norms and prejudices as very small children. Most people seem to never seriously question those things. If they did, I suspect the numbers who identify as atheist would be in the billions.
I am unconvinced that humans as a species are anywhere near as devout as raw stats might suggest.
I think there's a significant difference between 'religion' ,religiosity' and 'spirituality .(for want of a better word)
Although I have been an atheist for decades, I have never formally renounced Catholicism. That means I am still counted among the faithful.
A life observation is that most Christians, and Muslims I've known have not been very devout. Have only known a few Jews, all were 'cultural' not practising Jews.
As a broad generalisation, one's religion tends to be an accident of birth. OF course there are the exceptions of people convert to other faiths. The 'born againies' who belong to a happy clappy church seem to be everywhere. I suspect that is at least in part due to their often unwelcome zeal for converting others. I consider claiming absolute, exclusive truth stunningly arrogant. I find it very hard to remain civil to such people, when I really want to smack them.
That X millions identify as belonging to a major religion, say on a census form, is not proof of their beliefs or their behaviour.
It is my perception is that we tend to learn our religion, values, social norms and prejudices as very small children. Most people seem to never seriously question those things. If they did, I suspect the numbers who identify as atheist would be in the billions.
I am unconvinced that humans as a species are anywhere near as devout as raw stats might suggest.
I think there's a significant difference between 'religion' ,religiosity' and 'spirituality .(for want of a better word)
