Living, and once teaching Biology, in Northern Ireland I have the same problem with "Intelligent Design" advocates that faced the Kansas School Board.A spoof religion which matches exactly with creationism but is obviously daft is a useful debating tool.
I also have the problem that I gave up religious belief decades ago, but live in a country where you are classified by your religion.
When asked which foot I kick with, I tell them "Pastafarian", which confuses the Catholics and Protestants no end. 🤗
The Temple of the Jedi Order has tax exempt status in the USA.
In the UK, Jedi Daniel Jones was removed from a Tesco supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis. The owner justified Jones's ejection by saying, "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jediism
That makes me a Protestant, even though I gave up religion for Lent decades ago.I don't attend church, march on the 12th or believe in creationism. I regard the 1690 campaign as just another French invasion and describe myself as Pastafarian.
The census is The main one. The schools are segregated, so when potential employers see your school on a job application they can easily deduce your religion.Ditto if you teach.
Political give it away. Except for a few neutrals like myself Catholics vote for Catholics and Protestants vote for Protestants.
In practice " the dogs in the street " know which community you associate with.
Thanks. Sounds a little hard to believe it's asked on the census, at least for a western country. Even though it wasn't part of the census in the US, I guess it wasn't so unusual in, say, the '60s and earlier that people would know your religion and like mostly kept to like. Look at how big of a deal JFK's Catholicism was. Where I grew up everyone was Protestant, except my mom was Catholic, and she never really felt accepted by my dad's family, though I don't know if religion was the issue, as my dad's family wasn't religious. I think there were just not trusting.
The US census doesn't ask about religion, since we usually try to keep religion and state separate (unless it's religion trying to get closer to government). I think that's a good policy, in part because I'm not religious and also because I wouldn't want govt having anything to do with religion, even counting the religious. Why would they?
The first Europeans who came to the pre-US were trying to escape religious persecution in England and we've been sensitive about that ever since.
I wouldn't want govt having anything to do with religion, even counting the religious. Why would they?
The same reason we count any other demographic. So we can know who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed.
I still don't get the concern, but then again, our Head of State is also the Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith, so I suppose we don't have the same aversion to mixing religion and government.
All hail the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster.
ReplyDeleteLiving, and once teaching Biology, in Northern Ireland I have the same problem with "Intelligent Design" advocates that faced the Kansas School Board.A spoof religion which matches exactly with creationism but is obviously daft is a useful debating tool.
I also have the problem that I gave up religious belief decades ago, but live in a country where you are classified by your religion.
When asked which foot I kick with, I tell them "Pastafarian", which confuses the Catholics and Protestants no end. 🤗
The Temple of the Jedi Order has tax exempt status in the USA.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK, Jedi Daniel Jones was removed from a Tesco supermarket in Bangor, North Wales, for refusing to remove his hood on a religious basis. The owner justified Jones's ejection by saying, "He hasn't been banned. Jedis are very welcome to shop in our stores although we would ask them to remove their hoods. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker all appeared hoodless without ever going over to the Dark Side and we are only aware of the Emperor as one who never removed his hood." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jediism
EM: In what way does Ireland classify you by religion? On what documents or records, etc?
ReplyDeleteLayzej: the owner's response is hilarious. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDavid
ReplyDeleteI was christened Anglican, but never confirmed.
That makes me a Protestant, even though I gave up religion for Lent decades ago.I don't attend church, march on the 12th or believe in creationism. I regard the 1690 campaign as just another French invasion and describe myself as Pastafarian.
EM: So on what documents does the Irish govt require you (or your parents) to declare a religion?
ReplyDeleteThe census is The main one. The schools are segregated, so when potential employers see your school on a job application they can easily deduce your religion.Ditto if you teach.
ReplyDeletePolitical give it away. Except for a few neutrals like myself Catholics vote for Catholics and Protestants vote for Protestants.
In practice " the dogs in the street " know which community you associate with.
Thanks. Sounds a little hard to believe it's asked on the census, at least for a western country. Even though it wasn't part of the census in the US, I guess it wasn't so unusual in, say, the '60s and earlier that people would know your religion and like mostly kept to like. Look at how big of a deal JFK's Catholicism was. Where I grew up everyone was Protestant, except my mom was Catholic, and she never really felt accepted by my dad's family, though I don't know if religion was the issue, as my dad's family wasn't religious. I think there were just not trusting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response.
Canada's census asks about religion. Why is that surprising or controversial?
ReplyDeleteThe US census doesn't ask about religion, since we usually try to keep religion and state separate (unless it's religion trying to get closer to government). I think that's a good policy, in part because I'm not religious and also because I wouldn't want govt having anything to do with religion, even counting the religious. Why would they?
ReplyDeleteThe first Europeans who came to the pre-US were trying to escape religious persecution in England and we've been sensitive about that ever since.
I wouldn't want govt having anything to do with religion, even counting the religious. Why would they?
ReplyDeleteThe same reason we count any other demographic. So we can know who we are, where we came from, and where we are headed.
I still don't get the concern, but then again, our Head of State is also the Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith, so I suppose we don't have the same aversion to mixing religion and government.