KEY POINTS:
A British Guardian/ICM poll just before Christmas claimed 82 per cent of people in Britain thought religious faith was a cause of tension in the country and caused more harm than good.
The poll also revealed that non-believers outnumbered believers by almost two to one. What is also interesting about this poll, is that it now seems safe for members of the British public to admit that they are non-believers (over the phone, at least).
In New Zealand as well, there have been a growing number of people who feel it is okay to say they have no religious faith.
Richard Dawkins, the British author of the recently published The God Delusion, has reported he has received messages from people saying the book has made it easier for them to say that they are atheists.
Apparently a lot of these messages have come from America, where an admission that one is a non-believer would be tantamount to political suicide for anyone running for local or national public office.
The mind boggles at the bravery of people in earlier centuries who dared to question the orthodoxy of the day.
In 18th-century France, Diderot, who was assembling the first encyclopaedia, was sent to jail for a time, for perceived blasphemous references in the first draft. Diderot was an atheist and the fierce anti-clerical sentiment during the French Revolution showed that not a small number of people agreed with him and were opposed to the power of the Church.
Even in New Zealand, which has been a predominantly secular society for some time, it is still not always easy to admit to being an atheist. Eyebrows are still likely to be raised. "Really, you don't believe in God at all?"
Prime ministers and leaders of oppositions, if they are non-religious, are still apt to say they are "agnostic" - trying, I suspect, not to offend Christians.
I look forward to the time when a public figure says: "I don't believe in the existence of God - I'm an atheist."
I also look forward to the time when we no longer "default to religion" in many of our social and public ceremonies. A good start would be to remove the prayer from the opening of Parliament each day.
Starting proceedings of the House with a Christian prayer is very presumptuous - it assumes that we are a religious country and MPs and those listening are religious - and a significant number of us are not.
MPs and listeners who are religious could say a private prayer.
Our national anthem could do with some revision as well. Do we really want to continue with God Defend New Zealand?
Funerals are also the sites of much hypocrisy and presumption. Atheists and agnostics still tend to be given some kind of Christian ceremony by their grieving relatives. Maybe it is time for people to tell their next-of-kin before they die, that they don't want a religious ceremony.
People say that funerals are for the living, not the dead - but it grates when a relative or friend who was an avowed atheist, is given a Christian ceremony by a well-meaning relative.
I'm not arguing for the abolition of religion. This is not possible. Witness, for example, the fast growth of religion in China, where a state atheistic ideology prevails.
I am, however, arguing for acceptance of non-believers. A tolerant and pluralistic society allows for the expression and practice of all beliefs. What atheists object to is the assumption - by Christians especially - that most people are religiously inclined.
We atheists are due a bit of respect.
* Ernie Barrington is retired and formerly taught at the University of Auckland.
