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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 21, No. 4. April 23, 1958

Statistics

Statistics

The Editor:

Sir,

—"Rationalism on the Decline." As this discussion turns to a certain extent, at any rate, on statistics, I think it should be pointed out that the figures of religious allegiance contained in censuses are by no means completely reliable. While I have no doubt that the rationalist, in the nineteenth century sense, with his belief in the inevitability of progress and the benevolent powers of science, is a pretty rare bird these days, I think that the number of sceptics, agnostics and persons who are indifferent about religion has increased considerably, in New Zealand as elsewhere. But for various reasons this development is not accurately revealed in the census statistics; some are vague about what constitutes religious allegiance, while others feel that somehow there is something disgraceful about admitting that one has no religion.

Thus, I think that it is generally recognised that the figures of the Church of England are grossly inflated, due to the aura of "establishment" and social prestige which it possesses. But this situation is by no means confined to New Zealand. For instance, I read in the "New Zealand Tablet" (2 April, 1958) that the total population of Brazil is 52 millions, the Catholics numbering 48 millions, while the number of persons professing no religion is 400,000. From information derived from other sources, I would say that if the Catholic figures were reduced by a third, they would be more accurate.

If these considerations are valid, then it is rather dangerous—to say nothing else—for religious groups to be made either self congratulatory or dejected by census statistics. It would be far better if we were to pay less attention to quantity (interesting though this may be) and more to the much more important matter of quality.

R. Price.