OPINION: Good without God this Easter

FAITHLESS?: Fewer Kiwis are finding solace in the church and in traditional religious faiths.

By the time this paper hits everyone's letterboxes, Easter will be done and dusted for another year -- most of us will be back at work and, hopefully, the kids' sugar highs will have worn off.

For the church-going among us, Easter is a high point on the calendar -- the celebration of Christ's death in payment for the sins of mankind, and subsequent resurrection.

I was raised Anglican, and have barely set foot in a church in years. But this time of year still conjures up the old stories -- Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the crucifixion.

Times like that, I miss church. Then I remember it was the music and group of friends I loved. Not God, necessarily.

I'm not alone in not keeping the faith. According to the latest Census, numbers of Kiwis identifying as Christian have markedly decreased -- from almost 57 per cent of those stating religious affiliation in 2006, to 48.9 per cent in 2013. Four in 10 stated they have no religion.

In Wairarapa, 42 per cent said they had no religion, up from 33 per cent.

There are several theories. Older congregations are dying off and the church hasn't connected with youth. People are appalled by atrocities committed in the name of religion. Better education means we're putting our faith in science, rather than The Man Upstairs.

I think Rev Peter Brown from Masterton nailed it when he spoke to the Times-Age last year -- "Modern people see themselves as more self-capable and don't need something greater than themselves to fall back on".

I came across an article where atheists were asked how they found meaning in a purposeless universe. If there's no God, no afterlife, no cosmic significance, what's the point?

A biologist wrote the absence of someone "watching over us" was liberating, as it meant his choices were his to make. A journalist shared that no afterlife inspired her to "squeeze every bit happiness out of life" while she could.

A writer found purpose in contributing positively to society. A professor preferred not to puzzle over "the big questions" and find joy in small things, like walking the dog. A father said his children brought him purpose on a daily basis.

There is meaning in our mere existence.

I agree. Don't get me wrong -- there is beauty in the Christian faith. The meek shall inherit the earth. Forgive your enemies. Open your hands to the poor. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

But these are universal. To be selfless, live a life of kindness, stand up for others -- this is what we can all strive for. Basic decency transcends the box we tick on the census form.

All that said, we live in a country where we can choose our belief system -- and I'm grateful for that. However you spent Easter, I hope you had a wonderful weekend.