Splendid topic, Ben. I want to contribute to this thread after work as my PhD is on this very topic and themes relating to the dwindling of (certain) religious ideologies and beliefs in the UK.
For me, the OP brings up the heart of the discussion succinctly; that of nominal beliefs, or rather, the adherence to a religious sect based purely on historic values and/or social norms.
The BSA I think is great, much better than the official ONS census because it doesn't have the same air of authority or the perspective that it is 'official', hence the discrepancy between the 50% with no religious beliefs in the BSA survey to the 25% in the census.
But consider that 'no'religion/non-belief' was only 14% in 2001, and that sects like Methodism in the UK are predicted to be extinct in the next 20 years.
For me, the OP brings up the heart of the discussion succinctly; that of nominal beliefs, or rather, the adherence to a religious sect based purely on historic values and/or social norms.
The BSA I think is great, much better than the official ONS census because it doesn't have the same air of authority or the perspective that it is 'official', hence the discrepancy between the 50% with no religious beliefs in the BSA survey to the 25% in the census.
But consider that 'no'religion/non-belief' was only 14% in 2001, and that sects like Methodism in the UK are predicted to be extinct in the next 20 years.
![[Image: 146748944129044_zpsomrzyn3d.gif]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i629.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu13%2FRXM843%2F146748944129044_zpsomrzyn3d.gif)
