Don’t believe? Don’t tick!

Don’t Believe It? – Don’t Tick It! – download trifold leaflet || download plain text version

Have you ever had a form to fill in, part of which asks “What is your religion?” Then, as a result of being asked that question, you tick the box marked “Christian” or “Church of England” or whatever, simply because you were once christened, or think that is simply what you should put, even if you don’t believe a word of it?

Many people have and still do.

In March 2011 the Census forms will be sent around to all addresses in the UK to gather information on the population and once again one of the questions will be “What is your religion?”

Here at Atheism we want to get a true picture of non-belief in the UK and we are encouraging people who do not follow any religion or believe in a god to say so and tick the box marked “No religion”. Nobody should owe allegiance to a religion simply because the society in which they live claims it is part of the culture, as is the case with Christianity in the UK. Every one of us who was christened as a child was too young to understand or object when their parents took them into a church and had water splashed over their heads. We want people to be true to themselves and not to inflate the numbers of religious people who claim irrational faith and beliefs, and demand undeserved privileges because of it.

So here at Atheism we say “Don’t Believe It? – Don’t Tick It!” and when asked your religion, tick the “No religion” box.

Please note: this may be the last census commissioned by the Government.

The more that atheists stand together to be counted, the greater influence we will have to combat the false claims and undeserved privileges of the religious institutions.

So what can you do to help?

1. Tick the “No religion” box yourself when your census form arrives and don’t let anyone else complete it for you.
2. Talk to your friends and family about it, they may listen to you, and if they are non-believers who used to tick the Religion box they may change their minds, too.
3. Write to your local newspaper or radio station and tell them of your intentions and why. This will spread the word that it is acceptable not to put down a religion you do not believe in.
4. Blog about it. The Internet is a powerful tool in spreading messages such as ours. Entries on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter stating your intentions will encourage others to do the same.
5. Respond to criticism of religious people who complain about this, after all, what have they got to hide? Why do they want to inflate their numbers?
6. Come out as an atheist; be proud and be public that you embrace critical and rational thinking.
7. Join Atheism and make a stand to help all atheists have their voices heard.

And…

If you are an Irish national, please see Atheist Ireland’s own campaign on the census that will happen in April 2011.