The RSA would like to see the Religion question divided into two parts:
(a) Does the person currently practise a religion? Yes / no
(b) If yes, which religion? (and list the religions in order of prevalence).
Rationale
We know that most Australians who identify as religious in the census are infrequent attenders at religious institutions (churches, temples, mosques etc) and most could be reasonably labelled "culturally Christian" (or Muslim or Jewish etc) rather than practising. By "culturally Christian" we mean people who identify as Christian because their parents identified as Christian or because they correlate being a Christian with being a good person, not because they actively follow the doctrines, rites or the rituals of Christianity.
This is an important distinction because the purpose of the census statistics is to provide guidance to decision-makers about the provision of relevant services, allocation of resources etc. Because the current formatting of the Religion question fails to make this distinction, the number of practising Christians (in particular) has been inflated, including as it does those who are merely "culturally Christian" in addition to those who are actually practising their faith.
To avoid this conflation and improve the reliability of the census statistics for its stated purposes, we recommend the Religion question be divided into two parts. The first part would ask if the person practises a religion. This is the most important indicator for the purpose of allocating resources and providing services. For those who confirm they are practising their faith, the second part then allows them to have recorded which faith.
To make it clear what is meant by "practising", a brief example could be used in the introduction to the question. For example: "By "practising", we mean if the person goes to church on a regular basis, or if the person actively lives their life according to the doctrines, rites and rituals of a particular religion."
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Religion
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Assessment Criteria 1
1.
This topic is of current national importance.
National Importance
The data from the Religion question guides decision-makers on allocation of government resources, and provision of services, and the importance accorded religious groups by the general public and by governments.
Assessment Criteria 2
2.
There is a need for data from a Census of the whole population.
For whole population
Data from the Religion question is needed from all parts of Australian society. It is enhanced by combing it with other characteristics, such as demographics and location data.
Assessment Criteria 3
3.
The topic can be accurately collected in a form which the household completes themselves.
Easy to answer
Our suggested amendments to the Religion question are simple and easily understood. They do not deviate much from the existing Religion question but have the benefit of improving the accuracy of the responses by distinguishing between respondents who are simply 'culturally' religious from those who are 'actively' religious. This distinction is important for public policy decisions.
As this distinction would be novel, it would be necessary to illustrate it but this would be relatively easily achieved.
Assessment Criteria 4
4.
The topic would be acceptable to Census respondents.
Acceptable
The Religion question is not compulsory and would remain not compulsory.
Assessment Criteria 5
5.
The topic can be collected efficiently.
Collected efficiently
The suggested amendment would split the Religion question into two parts and thus marginally increase the amount of processing. However with an increasing number of citizens completing the census online, this should not have a large effect on overall cost.
Indeed, because many respondents would answer in the negative to the first part of the suggested amended Religion question - ie, Does the person practise a religion? Answer: No - the second part of the question, listing many different religions, would not arise at all in the online version, reducing complexity.
Assessment Criteria 6
6.
There is likely to be a continuing need for data on this topic in the following Census.
Continuing need
The Religion question has been an integral part of the census for decades and is likely to remain so.
Assessment Criteria 7
7.
There are no other alternative data sources or solutions that could meet the topic need.
No alternatives
There are other organisations that survey citizens' engagement with religions but none offer long time series or total coverage of the nation like the census.
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Further comments
The Rationalist Society of Australia supports a secular, pluralist form of government and nation as the best way a multicultural, multi-ethic society can achieve and maintain social cohesion. A truly secular nation allows for freedom of religion and belief, and freedom to manifest religion and belief within well known and recognised limits - eg, doing no harm. Institutionalised religions have a place within such a secular society but no more nor no less than their actual numbers within that society justify. We urge that those numbers be more accurately gathered by amending the format of the Religion question as we recomment.