Here in Denmark, one is born into church membership unless the parents request otherwise. At any time, one may leave the church on request. It may be that the CoE works the same way, thus giving the illusion that tithing is a requirement, but it actually speaks more to the laxiness of the citizens for never getting round to leaving a church they don’t believe in if that’s the case. The “opt-out” policy may seem a bit shady, but you’re still allowing yourself to be taken advantage of if you never exercise your right to leave.

And just to be clear, I’m not bashing UK citizens as being particularly lazy or apathetic. I doubt anyone could be more apathetic than the Danes, as we have the second highest church membership percentage in Europe but the lowest church attendance.

BTW, Ronald Reagan may have been a nutball but have you seen his son?

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/150/story_15028_1.html

Jacob, if you could get an interview with Ron, that would be the coolest. Love to hear the dynamic of him growing up with his old man.

Kyle from Alabama

Sorry - we may have to pay taxes in the UK but we don’t do that much direct support to the Church of England.

Most of the Church of England’s funding comes from it’s property and stock portfolio - they are the second largest landowner in the country second only to the Crown - in other words the Goverment. We do have to pay something for those deadbeat Bishops (the “Lords Spiritual’) who sit in the House of Lords.

As tp the ’security’ cameras most of the time you just down thing about them. We got used to them from the 70’s when we had to put up with the IRA’s terrorist campaign - massively funded from North America by the way.

Still keep up the good work.

Elliott - Hammersmith, West London, UK

Where is your email address?

I am missing your podcast. Maybe you don’t have a topic.

Okay, here is a thought that may not be altogether new.

I looked at the Canadian census data. In 1991, 12.3% of Canadians describe themselves as having no religion. In 2001, that number rose to 16.2%. Since Dawkins and Hitchens and other books have come out, I believe that number will rise in the next census.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Canada

In the last census, I may have listed myself as protestant since that is my heritage, but I surely didn’t attend church and my doubts were not top of mind as they are today. I wonder if others who have previously listed their religious heritage but are really unaware atheists will put down ‘no religion’ in the next census.

Those living at home and who are atheists may have their census data filled out by their parents who would list them as conforming to a religion.

This number, if it grows significantly, will give the rational movement momentum in the decades to come and drive Canada to be a secular nation on the basis of this metric.

Jacob, I know you have a life, but say something. Blog or podcast, who cares.