Are 85% of you really Christians?

nobodythere · 10-12-2008 05:53AM #1

So according to the census 85% of Irish people are Christians. I call bull****, there's no way that that many people in Ireland call themselves Christian.

There's all the people that don't go to church, don't pray, don't know much about that Jesus, don't take gareth37 very seriously (:p entertaining innit?) and aren't sure about the whole God thing. Yet they put it down when the census man comes knocking...... why?

Kazuma · 10-12-2008 05:55AM

More like 85% enter Christian into the census, for lack of a better idea.
Doesn't necessarily mean that they're even slightly practicing, just seems to be tradition, writing it down.

nobodythere · 10-12-2008 06:00AM

That's what I said

I was wondering why

hussey · 10-12-2008 06:18AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqOG8p0Lkc

The first lines are pretty much what sums up that survey

jill_valentine · 10-12-2008 06:32AM

Wonder how many parents stick "Christian" down for their dependants...

smellslikeshoes · 10-12-2008 06:41AM

Most people in Ireland were brought up as Christian by their parents and even if they don't practice or think about it much they would still consider themselves Christians.

nobodythere · 10-12-2008 06:43AM

Was looking at the Census religion by age and it seems to pretty consistent across the board, even in the 18-25 group.

Dean820 · 10-12-2008 06:51AM

I tell people I'm catholic. I haven't been to mass in years.

nkay1985 · 10-12-2008 06:51AM

Well 0% of me is Christian...

Das Kitty · 10-12-2008 09:47AM

It depends who you ask OP...

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp

Canis Lupus · 10-12-2008 10:17AM

Sheep...

MysticalSoul · 10-12-2008 10:34AM

I am not Christian, am more spiritual (tend to follow a lot of new age/wicca philosophies), however there isn't a suitable option just to say spiritual. On the census, my understanding, is what Church were you baptised under, assuming someone hasn't decided to change from one to another for whatever reason.

Dave! · 10-12-2008 10:39AM

My dad filled out the census and I'm down as a christian.

Cianos · 10-12-2008 10:51AM

I know a couple of real Christians but I usually just call them Chris. :pac:

connundrum · 10-12-2008 10:52AM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Sheep...

...where exactly would I find these sheep?

This beef and ham nonsense has me up the walls

Oh yeah and Christian. I'm Christian for about 0.54% of the year. The rest of the time I abide by loose morals.

philologos · 10-12-2008 11:09AM

I'm a practising Christian in the 18-25 bracket (I'm 19), but I also have a feeling about the figures being inaccurate in this respect.

Kashkai · 10-12-2008 11:11AM

I'm not christian in that I don't believe in a christ, or an allah or a buddha or the magic monkey. But I put down catholic on the census form as I was baptised as one and brought up as one, at least until I was 13 or so and stopped going to mass. However, what the hell difference does it make if you do or don't put christian/catholic down on the census. People who give out about this and have to proudly proclaim how unchristian/uncatholic they are are as bad as the religious zealots of whatever religion who shove their faith in your face. There are more things in life worth worrying/complaining about than if you are being asked if you are christian. If it means so much to you, then state 'no religion' on the next census and those like me who have no qualms either way can put catholic/christian to keep the wife happy.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 10-12-2008 11:13AM

grasshopa wrote: »

Are 85% of you really Christians?

Absolutely not, I'm 100% Christian.

Mr. Presentable · 10-12-2008 11:13AM

If 85% of me is christian, it'll be the part below the neck.

tony1kenobi · 10-12-2008 11:24AM

85% Christian 15% Ninja Badass.

Zebra3 · 10-12-2008 11:29AM

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

I'm not christian in that I don't believe in a christ, or an allah or a buddha or the magic monkey. But I put down catholic on the census form as I was baptised as one and brought up as one, at least until I was 13 or so and stopped going to mass. However, what the hell difference does it make if you do or don't put christian/catholic down on the census. People who give out about this and have to proudly proclaim how unchristian/uncatholic they are are as bad as the religious zealots of whatever religion who shove their faith in your face. There are more things in life worth worrying/complaining about than if you are being asked if you are christian. If it means so much to you, then state 'no religion' on the next census and those like me who have no qualms either way can put catholic/christian to keep the wife happy.

It's a criminal offence to lie on a census form.

I am not a Christian and I answered the question regarding religion on the census correctly.

It's idiots who answer that they are catholic when they are not that allow the papists to control too much of education.

cornbb · 10-12-2008 11:51AM

If the government can point to the census and claim that 85% of people in Ireland are catholic then they think it effectively lets them off the hook when it comes to allowing the church to run the schools. A figure of 85% basically gives them a mandate to run the country like its still the 1950s and is still joined at the hip with the catholic church. There's more of a point to answering that question accurately than just getting you "off the hook with the wife" - if you are not a christian, then why on earth would you tick "christian"!

There's no way 85% is accurate, I think the real figure would be more like half of that.

Dord · 10-12-2008 11:59AM

I was raised catholic but certainly haven't considered myself one for a long time. In the last census I made sure I was down as having no religion.

I think a lot of people who have chosen catholic or christian or whatever the hell they're calling it this week don't actually follow the religion.

Ro: maaan! · 10-12-2008 12:43PM

It's the equivilant of an atari jaguar option. I wouldn't call myself christian. But don't really know what else I'd call myself either. This thread goes to show that if I do put down christian then most people won't believe it anyway, but if I go out of my way to label exactly what I am people will take note. I don't need that ****.

Although I do agree with the church's ego point. Maybe if we stopped putting it down the government would cut them out of the picture a bit more.

Dyr · 10-12-2008 12:45PM

We're probably christian in terms of our values more so than going to church and that.

Canis Lupus · 10-12-2008 12:53PM

Bambi wrote: »

We're probably christian in terms of our values more so than going to church and that.

Nothing to do with values. You're either a practising catholic or not.

I just wish the world could be secular when it came to government etc.

getz · 10-12-2008 12:54PM

i am a christian ,i believe in christ but i do not believe that the way to god is by going to any church [the early christians never had a church]

BaconZombie · 10-12-2008 12:54PM

I thought the last census say that over 30% of people put down Jedi?

Also I think this is as accurate as the amount of people who tick the box for speak Irish, but have not said a full sentence since school.

Edit:

Anybody know that percent the "Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" is at in Ireland?

Dyr · 10-12-2008 12:57PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Nothing to do with values. You're either a practising catholic or not.

I just wish the world could be secular when it came to government etc.

You have to be a practising catholic to be christian? :eek:

ejmaztec · 10-12-2008 01:18PM

I think that 97% of the people here are still pagan, but they're just pretending to be Christian to avoid being burned at the stake.

ShooterSF · 10-12-2008 01:33PM

On the Jedi thing some were threatened with religious persecution for admitting their beliefs in Australia!
Link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon

Are 85% of you really Christians?

Comments