So, how's YOUR home's census going?

Galvasean

What a chore it was supervising the filling in of the census form today. When it came 'round.
Conversation with mammy:
"Religion, Roman catholic.."
"Eh, no I'm not actually Catholic."
"Yes you are."
"You do realize I don't go to mass or believe in God right?"
"But you were baptized!" (Exclamation point is not a product of exaggeration)
"That doesn't mean anything. It's not like-"
[interruption]"And after I raised ya as-"
[interruption]"Raised me as a Catholic? We never went to mass! You called the Pope a bollocks"
"That's different."
"How so?"
"They don't want to know what you believe. They want to know what you were baptised as."
"No, they need to know people's actual beliefs so that in future they can tailor the school system so that-"
"Fine! But I'm not writing it. Do it yourself"
Galvasean ticks the 'No religion' box

Later:
"What are you going to do if you want to get married?"
"Nowadays you can get married without the whole Church thing."
"But what if you're marrying a Catholic?"
"An actual Catholic or someone whose mammy ticked 'Catholic' on the census form?"
"A real Catholic".
"Oh... I suppose I could take one for the team... if she was REALLY hot. :pac:"
"So how much did your new jumper cost?" (I kid you not!)


Think I'm gonna have to look over the census later in case my choice has magically changed. I've already lost* mother and father to cultural 'Catholicism'. it might not be too late to save my sister's soul!!!!

*I say 'lost', but in reality all 4 of us were marked 'Catholic' last year so even if only I escape it's a slight improvement. Pity this cultural Catholicism is so ingrained. My dad is quite clearly a deist. As for Mam, she's the very definition of 'lapsed Catholic', the lifeblood of the Catholic census number.
Now to wait for sister to come home. she told me she's agnostic. Time to hold her to her word...

Rev Hellfire

tisk tisk, you're not meant to fill it out until the night of the 10th.

MrPudding

So I am over in the UK and we had to fill in ours as well. In the UK census it is “christianity,” there is no further breakdown. There are of course other religious options, but you can’t put down RCC or CoE or anything like that.

I filled it in and put no religion for myself, my OH and the two youngest kids. I asked the two older kids what they want to put down and they wanted atheist, so no religion for them. My mum insisted on christian, she wanted rcc even though she does not believe a fraction of it, but rcc is not an option anyway.

All in all I am pretty happy with my irreligious little house.

MrP

Galvasean

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

tisk tisk, you're not meant to fill it out until the night of the 10th.

It's not finished yet! :pac:
Now, how exactly does someone who does shift work at different times (and even different locations) every day fill in what time they start work at/how long it takes for them to get there....
Methinks more than just the Religion question is poorly phrased on this census.

WeeBushy

Thankfully I live away from home so get to fill in whatever i want

My roomate told me that when he was talking to the census person about what box to fill in for your religion, they told him that if you were baptised you should just fill in the RC option. Ridiculous.

HavingCrack

WeeBushy wrote: »

Thankfully I live away from home so get to fill in whatever i want

My roomate told me that when he was talking to the census person about what box to fill in for your religion, they told him that if you were baptised you should just fill in the RC option. Ridiculous.

Well that census enumerator is just 100% incorrect.

Zombrex

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

tisk tisk, you're not meant to fill it out until the night of the 10th.

BURN!

Galvasean

WeeBushy wrote: »

My roomate told me that when he was talking to the census person about what box to fill in for your religion, they told him that if you were baptised you should just fill in the RC option. Ridiculous.

There's a thread on here about that very. Numerous enumerators have stated that is not what they are officially meant to be saying. In fact I would consider reporting any such enumerator that said that. Sounds like at best they are ignorant of their job or at worst deliberately trying to skew the census findings.
Between incorrect/dishonest enumerators and cultural 'Catholics' I can't see a particularly big jump in the 'No religion' bracket.

Mark Hamill

My parents are fine with putting no religion for me, I just have to make sure they understand what they are. Two people who never go to the church, dislike the RCC and the pope and dont even believe that Jesus is god are barely Christians never mind RC. I'll have to explain to them about deists, pantheists and spiritualists again.

Galvasean

Mark Hamill wrote: »

My parents are fine with putting no religion for me, I just have to make sure they understand what they are. Two people who never go to the church, dislike the RCC and the pope and dont even believe that Jesus is god are barely Christians never mind RC. I'll have to explain to them about deists, pantheists and spiritualists again.

I'm in the same boat as you. Tried to explain. Not easy convincing a red blooded Irish person that they aren't Catholic.
Hope you are more successful than I.

Rev Hellfire

Wicknight wrote: »

BURN!

Perhaps the mammys should be filling it out since people can't follow the simple directions

Galvasean

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

Perhaps the mammys should be filling it out since people can't follow the simple directions

Note where I said the word 'supervising'. Guess who was filling in the form. Here's a clue, I say it in my OP,

Mammy

. Take that ya smartarse!
Just lucky I happened to be wandering by while she was filling it in, I'd probably be a 'Catholic' again.

Rev Hellfire

You should suggest to her that perhaps you should fill it out since she can't follow then simple instructions then

Galvasean

Rev Hellfire wrote: »

You should suggest to her that perhaps you should fill it out since she can't follow then simple instructions then

Sounds like a plan. However I'm sure she'd reject the notion for fear that I'd turn her into an atheist against her will and she would awake with a hankering for a California cheeseburger.

Galvasean

Galvasean wrote: »

Think I'm gonna have to look over the census later in case my choice has magically changed. I've already lost* mother and father to cultural 'Catholicism'. it might not be too late to save my sister's soul!!!!

At dinner today mam tried to get dad on board by saying, "sean made me put him down as no religion on the census'.
His response:
"What did you put me down as?"
"Catholic."
"I'm not bleedin' Catholic!"

Success!

robindch

Ah, but did she change it?

Galvasean

robindch wrote: »

Ah, but did she change it?

By this time tomorrow she'll be changing her own religion after we had her admit she wasn't sure God existed, didn't know if Jesus was real etc.
Poor woman looked surprised at her own revelations. It just goes to show how little most people think about such things.

So Robin, how is your little clutch of atheism going?

robindch

Quite happily. I believe there's one bona fide Vatican-affiliate in the extended family. Though I'm sure she'll sit upon one or two more and do a little bit of lying for Jesus.

Ickle Magoo

Our census form is sitting on top of the microwave as it has been since the day we got it...

We ignored it, or at least I have
my mum put some bizarre response on the form for me last time as I wasnt around or something
What concerns me more is the "when was your house built" malarky

GLaDOS

I'd say my parents will go for Catholic. Last time the topic came up, my dad insisted he was catholic, my mam was a bit more iffy but said she'd count herself as one. Though since then she's inquired about my beliefs a few times (genuine interest, not trying to tell me I'm catholic) so wonder if I've had some influence Neither go to church are religious in any way as far as I can see, but yo know how it goes...

They'll leave me to fill in my part and that's all I want really.

Byron85

I sent an email to the CSO regarding the "Jedi Campaign" that's ongoing at the moment. I asked about how such data will be interpreted and used. I got the following reply today.


"Dear ......

In 2006 responses to the religion question which contained the word 'Jedi'
were coded by CSO to 'Not stated' and appeared in this category in the
publication on religion. CSO will follow the same procedure for similar
responses in Census 2011.

People are free to write in what they wish in the religion question and
there is no penalty for any answer provided.

With regards

Census Field Management"

liamw

I discussed it with my Dad over lunch. My Mum didn't want to talk about it and kept saying to change the subject

Eventually after telling me he didn't believe in god, the afterlife, heaven and hell, he said:

'Look ye, I'm might be atheist by definition then, but I'm a Catholic. I go to mass, and I will tick the Catholic box.'

We then went to the old discussion about how I can't disprove god's existence and therefore we both have to agree to disagree, so I used an analogy of an invisible monkey on the table and he couldn't disprove it, so was it still reasonable to assert that it existed (or even 50/50). He went back to saying I can't disprove god. :pac:

It was over lunch in Dundrum, I'm guessing people at the table next to me were wondering wtf I was talking about invisible monkeys.

sionnach

liamw wrote: »

I used an analogy of an invisible monkey on the table and he couldn't disprove it, so was it still reasonable to assert that it existed (or even 50/50).

I love it when believers break out the "well logically it's a 50/50 chance" argument.

If you say there are seven invisible monkeys on the table then "logically" there's a 99% chance that at least one invisible monkey is on the table!

When I argue though my invisible monkeys are "people with numbers 1 - infinity on their jumpers" kicking god in the nuts in heaven each day. Using "50/50 chance" logic if follows that our deity is being constantly kicked in the balls, no wonder he's so angry >_<

Zombrex

I think the solution to this problem is that atheists need to stop living with their mums ... nerds :pac:

Galvasean

Wicknight wrote: »

I think the solution to this problem is that atheists need to stop living with their mums ... nerds :pac:

Once the recession ends the atheists will have money and run free!

Dave!

Think I'll just ask to fill in my own section

Or does the homeowner have to fill it in for everyone?

Galvasean

Dave! wrote: »

Think I'll just ask to fill in my own section

Or does the homeowner have to fill it in for everyone?

The homeowner is supposed to fill it in for everyone.

robindch

Galvasean wrote: »

The homeowner is supposed to fill it in for everyone.

Only if they're atheist, of course.

Doctor DooM

Galvasean wrote: »

Once the recession ends the atheists will have money and run free!

If you believed in the prosperity bible, you would already be able to. *nods*

im invisible

Wicknight wrote: »

BURN!

in hell??:pac:

c_man

Wicknight wrote: »

I think the solution to this problem is that atheists need to stop living with their mums ... nerds :pac:

We haven't gotten a census form yet. I think he may have called once or twice but we generally don't open the door at certain times as we are godless, tv licence dodging, atheists.

If we don't get one by April 10th I suppose I'll have to enter my details up at the family home. I ticked 'No Religion' last time (I was living at home then) as I filled out my own data. Will probably do the same.

keppler

Galvasean wrote: »

Once the recession ends the atheists will have money and run free!

Yeah sure.......keep the dream alive:pac:

ShooterSF

Had to fix one entry today! Mammys and the census eh :rolleyes:

Malari

Done. 2 x No Religions. Although my boyfriend, a definite atheist STILL has that "but if I was born a catholic do I have to say catholic?" idea. Just discovered my brother is out of the country and has his own place, therefore won't be counted anywhere, so one less NR for the census, bah...

Delirium

Done, ticked No Religion. The joys of not having parents around to "help" you fill it out

skyscraperblue

If I tick "no religion" I am 99% sure screaming, crying and possibly getting kicked out would ensue. Even though we have not gone to any religious services since Christmas 2009, and that was just to see my cousins in the nativity.

Honesty will have to wait until I turn 18. *sigh*
Still, this will be the last ever census where I am marked as Catholic... does that count for anything?

ShooterSF

If it wasn't so sad it would be pretty funny! It's as if parents think "god" can't read your mind on the issue so if they put down catholic on the census that'll fool him.

Dave!

The ma had me down as Catholic, but I rectified that...

Aldebaran

Took it upon myself to fill in the form this year, so was able to mark the No Religion box while avoiding an argument.

Risteard

Filled in my own.

Mam: You ticked the no religion box.
Me: Yeah?
Mam: But you were baptised catholic.
Me: But I don't believe in it anymore
Mam: OK

Dave!

Risteard wrote: »

Filled in my own.

Mam: You ticked the no religion box.
Me: Yeah?
Mam: But you were baptised catholic.
Me: But I don't believe in it anymore
Mam: OK

I'd re-check that form, sounds like she gave up a bit too easily...

Risteard

Dave! wrote: »

I'd re-check that form, sounds like she gave up a bit too easily...

Nah, it's not that much of a shock. I haven't been to mass in I don't know how long and my father always put down no religion in the form anyway so it's not like it's something new.

Penn

Told my mother a few weeks ago to mark me down as No Religion. She needed help today filling out employment sections, so I took a look at Religion and she hadn't marked down anything. She said she wanted to double check.

When I said No Religion, she went to mark it, the moved the pen up and said "But you're Roman Catholic really...".

A fight ensued and I smashed a chair over her head and powerbombed her through the table.

Nah, I told her that it's not what you were, it's what you are now, and I have no religion now, so she marked No Religion. Checked it a while later and she hadn't changed it so job done.

Zeouterlimits

I remember during the last census, when my parents asked me what I wanted put down (as I had recently confessed my atheism to them) with an accusatory tone and look.
"Well, what do you want me to put down on the census, Roman Catholic?!?"
"Well, .., atheist."
"Well it's not our fault if you go to hell!" *storms out of room and slams door*

Bad times for wee Zeo.
No such issues living with my wonderful girlfriend :-D

Dave!

Zeouterlimits wrote: »

I remember during the last census, when my parents asked me what I wanted put down (as I had recently confessed my atheism to them) with an accusatory tone and look.
"Well, what do you want me to put down on the census, Roman Catholic?!?"
"Well, .., atheist."
"Well it's not our fault if you go to hell!" *storms out of room and slams door*

Bad times for wee Zeo.
No such issues living with my wonderful girlfriend :-D

Hopefully ya ticked 'No religion' this time, rather than writing in 'atheist'...

Truley

Don't live at home so no problems for me Boyfriend isn't taking the census seriously at all so he's putting down all sorts of silly answers. He stated that his religion is Jedi and his middle name is 'Euthanasia' :eek:

Zeouterlimits

Dave! wrote: »

Hopefully ya ticked 'No religion' this time, rather than writing in 'atheist'...

I did (both times).

Choochtown

Ironically the next question "Can you speak Irish" is only to be filled in for people aged 3 or over yet it's ok to fill in Roman Catholic for a 1 day old!

Flesh Gorden

Galvasean wrote: »

Conversation with mammy:
"Religion, Roman catholic.."
"Eh, no I'm not actually Catholic."
"Yes you are, you were baptized!"

Exact same conversation a few mins ago,

I was tempted to tick other and in the explanation box write 'Other', that or Dudeism

delta_bravo

Choochtown wrote: »

Ironically the next question "Can you speak Irish" is only to be filled in for people aged 3 or over yet it's ok to fill in Roman Catholic for a 1 day old!

Can a 1 day old speak any language?

I would guess the reason that the religion section has no age limit is that the parents would initiate a child into a religion through baptism or other an equivalent for other religions.