Comments on: Ireland’s Non-Believers (and other stuff) http://conorpendergrast.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/irelands-non-believers-and-other-stuff/ Now with added child-like awe Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:28:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Nugent http://conorpendergrast.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/irelands-non-believers-and-other-stuff/#comment-123 Michael Nugent Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:42:39 +0000 http://conorpendergrast.wordpress.com/?p=289#comment-123 The 250,000 people estimate is based on combining the people who ticked the "no religion" box and the people who did not tick any of the boxes when asked their religion. It is probably a low estimate, for a number of reasons, including that most census forms are filled in by a parent who might automatically fill in the religion box on behalf of their children irrespective of what the children actually believe. As an aside, I personally dislike the label "non-believer". It wrongly implies that atheists do not believe anything. The 250,000 people estimate is based on combining the people who ticked the “no religion” box and the people who did not tick any of the boxes when asked their religion.

It is probably a low estimate, for a number of reasons, including that most census forms are filled in by a parent who might automatically fill in the religion box on behalf of their children irrespective of what the children actually believe.

As an aside, I personally dislike the label “non-believer”. It wrongly implies that atheists do not believe anything.

]]> By: arbitron http://conorpendergrast.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/irelands-non-believers-and-other-stuff/#comment-122 arbitron Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:56:39 +0000 http://conorpendergrast.wordpress.com/?p=289#comment-122 Complete separation of church and state would be better for everyone. Complete separation of church and state would be better for everyone.

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