IRRELIGIOUS SCOTS - A HALF OF SCOTS NOT RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL - 26% SAY THERE IS NO GOD

                                                                    

John Knox would be dismayed

Findings from a recent social survey emphasise the great diminution in the influence of religion in contemporary Scottish life

A half of Scots say they are not spiritual or religious 

Only 35% Scots say that they are now influenced by Christianity 
while 62% say they were influenced by Christianity when they were a child or a young person.

Just over a half of Scots (53%) say they are not currently influenced by religious or spiritual attitudes 

11% say that they are influenced by other religions

21% of Scots prayed in the previous month; 8% read a holy scripture in the last month

82% of Scots do not attend religious or spiritual events with other people

BELIEF IN GOD
27% believe that there definitely is a god or higher power; 21% say there probably is

16% say there is probably NOT a god or higher power; 26% say there definitely is NOT a god or higher power.

11% don't know

Data source

62 years ago today - Queen Elizabeth's oath to maintain and preserve the 'True Protestant Religion'

On 8 February 1952 (62 years ago today) Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom swore the following oath, required by the Acts of Union of 1707, at the Accession Council, two days after the death of her father, George VI

‘I, Elizabeth the Second (sic) by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British dominions beyond the seas, Queen, Defender of the Faith, do faithfully promise and swear that I shall inviolably maintain and preserve the Settlement of the True Protestant Religion as established by the laws of Scotland in prosecution of the Claim of Right and particularly an Act entituled an Act for the Securing the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Government and by the Acts passed in both Kingdoms for the Union of the two Kingdoms, together with the Government, Worship, Discipline, Rights and Privileges of the Church of Scotland’.

(National Archives of Scotland 1952 37(3) 496/4 Scottish Home Department 11 February. Certified copy).

The Scottish Government in its independence plan ‘Scotland’s Future’ pledges not to change the legal status of any church or religion in Scotland (Q590) even though the Scottish Parliament has more than once passed a motion urging the repeal of the Act of Settlement of 1701 which excludes Roman Catholics from succession to the throne.

This topic is explored in much greater depth in ‘Monarchy, religion and the state’ by Norman Bonney. Details at; http://www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9780719089879