It seems not all were agreed with my stance on the British Humanist’s call for a change in the 2011 Census where recording people’s religion is concerned. The reason given is that with 70% of people saying they identify themselves as Christian we can then call on the government to legislate with Christian values and morality in mind. It’s a Christian country after all – or so goes the argument.

Well let’s take this 70% figure as being accurate for now. To use it in support of specific Christian policies, however, means that you take it for granted that everybody – or at least a very good majority – within this Christian cohort is agreed on every aspect of policy. Could it be possible that this isn’t the case?

Fortunately we don’t have to speculate for we have the British Social Attitudes Survey conducted every year. The 2008 results are freely available online and make fascinating reading (no sniggering in the back, please – they’re more interesting than you realise!).

Here’s a flavour:

In answer to whether they approved or not of same sex couples being treated equal to married couples –

On the issue of censoring books and films that offend religious people –

Should doctors be allowed to end a patient’s life if they have an incurable disease?

On the issue of British identity –

And finally, would laws be better or worse if more elected officials were deeply religious –

The above are touchstone issues for conservative Christians – and you might say rightly so. But in all of them the figures suggest that they do not enjoy the support of the majority of British people.

Whatever happened to the 70%? It isn’t just a fig-leaf is it?