The Sunday Times, 2nd September 2007

http://tinyurl.com/ysagh6

Religion causes harm, says poll

NEARLY half the British think that religion is harmful, according to a
poll carried out by YouGov. Yet more than half also believe in God "or
something".

The YouGov poll commissioned by John Humphrys, the broadcaster and
writer, found that 42% of the 2,200 people taking part considered
religion had a harmful effect.

"One reason might be the publicity attracted by a handful of mad
mullahs and their hate-filled rhetoric," writes Humphrys in his new
book, In God We Doubt, an extract of which appears in today's Sunday
Times News Review.

Only 16% of those polled called themselves atheists; 28% believed in
God; 26% believed in "something" but were not sure what; and 9%
regarded themselves as agnostics - like Humphrys himself, who had a
religious upbringing in Wales but calls himself a "doubter".

He writes: "Even though the dominant faith - by a massive margin – is
Christianity, only 17% thought the influence of religion was
beneficial. That is even fewer than those who claim that they believe
in a personal God. And yet when we asked which of the main religions
was `most effective' in getting its message across, most thought it
was Christianity. Only 10% cited Islam compared with 32% who said
Christianity."

In the survey 43% said they never prayed, 31% hardly prayed, and 10%
prayed every night. "More than half of those who say they believe in a
personal God cannot be bothered to pray to him every night," writes
Humphrys.

(Book extract -
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2367028.ece)


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I wonder who they surveyed and what religious organisations think of
it ;-)

Steph