Religion harmful, says poll

From a survey reported in the Guardian, "religion" is seen as a cause of division and tension by 82% of adult Britons. (I'm one of 'em).

Interesting contrast with the Generation Next series on the BBC World Service, where teenagers from around the world were asked a similar question. (I can't find the exact link, which is annoying; and I'm not sure which of the broadcast programs included this data). If memory serves, overall 56% reckoned religion was a good thing. Yet teenagers in an area of religious strife (Somalia?) were 92% in favour.

Yet surveys like this have to be taken with salt, blocks of. The more contentious the issue, the less reliable the response.

Sun Inc sponsored a world-wide survey a few years ago (another link I can't find ). One of the questions was "Do you deliberately lie on surveys?". 15% answered "yes". Which puts a lower bound on the practice, as we can only guess how many grinned and lied by saying "no".

From my own behaviour (I seem to attract clipboard-bearing middle-aged women...) I know that I often catch myself answering what I believe, or believe I should believe, rather than what I 'really' think (i.e. when not under social pressure) or have actually done.


Governments have recently taken to using focus groups as an aid to policy development. Those who choose the participants and set the agenda have gained immense power. Yet if they get too far out of kilter with what people 'really' think, they will lose the next election (or, in worst case scenario, prime a revolution).

Unless, as appears to be the case in British politics, the opposition is equally misled by its own research. I'm darned if I can tell the difference between the party's these days. Which, if other than a local phenomenon, may explain both voter apathy and the closeness of so many recent elections (US and Mexico presidentials, as an example).

For people to express what they really think, they have to be:

1. in an environment without pressure to conform to any specific opinion
   
2. confident that there will be no repercussions, regardless of their expressed opinion
3. confident that their opinion will be accurately recorded
   

Secret ballots have served democracy well. That piece of local privacy, bit of paper and a pencil stub, has probably done more for human well-being than all the fruits of Progress combined.

In our accelerating world, a ballot every few years is probably not adequate. But do we yet have an adequate alternative? ...