Goodness me. If my choice is becoming a Muslim nation or remaining a satellite of the mighty US of A, then Allahu Akhbar.

On the bright side, at least most of our children aren't praying. So they've learned one less pointless exercise. Now maybe if they actually DID some exercise we'd be both enlightened and slim.

Rob, London ,

What's the harm if religion is to teach to love and care and so forth? It would be great if that SAME book did not contain words that would incite violence, hatred, and discrimination. If anyone actually read the bible in its entirety, one would clearly see the many contradictions. Why can't one learn to care for others without the bible? I'll leave that up for the parents. People can change for the better. Religion does not have that flexiblity to change.

Duane, Washington, USA / DC

Religion has the unfortunate effect of halting the conversation. Religious people have this set of beliefs that you are not permitted to challenge. If I don't like your politics, I can say so. I can dare you to explain your positions in public. I can examine them and if I find flaws, I can use them as evidence against your ideas. However, religions can motivate you not have your child vaccinated or refuse her a blood transfusion, refuse to operate a light switch on a Saturday, impose laws regarding the style of dress a person may wear, circumcise your male or female child, hit your spouse, crash planes, kill doctors, fight against vaccines that can save lives, deny the rights of other people to wed because of skin color or sexual orientation, request the schools stop teaching children ideas that run counter to your faith regardless of the myriads of evidence validating them and maybe even suggest that they teach your religion to everyone. What's wrong with demanding proof?

James, Tempe, Arizona, USA

I recommend Richard Dawkins book, the God Delusion, some very good arguments. And quite frankly, relgion although wonderful in some ways - is most definitley harmful. If it were to dissapear overnight, there would be a lot less hate and cruelty in this world. Although no doubt we'd find something else to discriminate each other with....

Daniel, Shanghai, China

The reason that religion is harmful is in the way it is used. The way that people justify their actions with God can lead to disasterous results. War, violence, hatred, exclusion, all of these things can be justifyed with God. The proof of this is in history. The Crusades, the Inquisition, all of these events have religion in the reason.

Jadon Martin, Age 14, Raleigh, North Carolina

Paul from MK - lots of intelliegent people believe in a religion. There is evidence for God, but not of a kind that atheists can accept. The fact that it is now a long time since the Bible was written is one of the main reasons people doubt it.

Religion tells us to love one another, forgive and show humility. How can it be harmful?

Chris, Epsom,

The reality of asking an atheist/agnostic about Religion is like asking a labourer about Nuclear Physics. Why does everybody presume to "know" yet take NO active interest in it. No other subject man deals with gets this puerile treatment. And modern western man thinks he is intelligent??? As the Bible states their will be many in strong delusion who will believe the lie. The most evil effect in church and state in Britain today is Liberal Religion - which has zero to do with Christianity.

A G Thurant, Inverness, Scotland

By the same token, there is no such valid concept as 'moderate religion'. Religions can only encourage the bloodshed that's condoned in their scriptures.

The values of people who claim to be moderates, are values of secularists. That much at least cannot be denied: that humanism - and not religion - is the driving force behind an evolving morality. Christianity or Islam (or whatever) scriptures are nothing short of absurdly extremist moral codes, which if followed literally, cause nothing but harm.

Furthermore, to not follow them literally is disingenious, since no where in the bible does it say that one should allow for interpretation. When one does start interpreting on a personal level, the bible loses all relevance with regards to encouraging moral behaviour. That is, our capacity of rationalisation is somewhere close to infinite.

Parv, Wellington, NZ

Religion teaches us to love one another, forgive amd show humility. How can it be harmful?

Chris, Epsom,

It is certainly interesting to watch how the demographics of religious belief are changing. As the scientific method becomes more ingrained in our lives, can it be a surprise that more people are abandoning the superstition and mythology which has dominated humanity for millennium?

But all is not rosy for us atheists and agnostics, an uncertain, scary world will always be a breeding ground for religious fundamentalists. There is safety and comfort in simple, mindless religious faith, and for that reason it seems the world is destined to be further polarized between believers and non-believers.

BH, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

I,'ve aways been told that religion is a very profitable business and if you want to make money start a religion. No taxes (charitable status). Just look around you especially in USA and see all these churches asking for your money! Did I hear 10% of your income? What for ? I tell you what for : for your preacher to live the life that you would never live.

Mark, London, UK

Finally the UK at least looks like it's waking up to the blindingly obvious truth: religion by its very nature divides people, it makes people self-important yet slave-like, it closes down the minds we were born with to question, to reason and use logic. Christopher Hitchens got it exactly right, religion DOES poison everything.

Graham, London,

I think we are living in a golden age of enlightenment when the light of Science and Truth is slowly beginning to banish the dark and twisted shadows of religion and within 100 years I predict it's malign grip on the hearts of humanity will be gone forever.

James Roberts, Manchester, UK

In response to Maria Green's comment: the whole arguement stated in this comment is based on God actually existing. This sort of belief comes back from a time when science could not give as many answers as it can now, and religion was made to 'fill in the gaps'. This extreme form of Christianity displayed by Americans - in the Deep South in particular - is exactly the same as Islamic extremism. They don't see this, but it is the same fuel that feeds these two different fires.
It is being so close and defensive over our beliefs that causes all of the fighting and disturbance. People cannot understand that there are different takes on life. Many of the world's most violent acts have been performed in the name of God, Allah etc. Being close to a divine being only distracts people from the real issues of the world and allows organised religion to blossom into a political power. The answer, therefore, is to detatch ourselves from religion and be more open minded and accepting of others.

Richard Scotney, Peachtree City, Georgia

Religion causes harm? More like Islam causes harm. I don't hear too much about Jewish and Christian terrorists right now. But we have to be PC!!

Adam Schwartz, London, UK

A grafitto near Ground Zero after the September 11th attack put it best, I think. It read -

"God protect us from those who believe in you."

Francis, Vancouver, CANADA

Francis Wingate, Vancouver, CANADA

Now I know why the British youth are considered to be the most insecure and disillusioned in Europe.

Mel , Perth, Western Australia

Say what you will, while you still can. At the rate your country is becoming a Muslim one, you may not be able to respond in this manner soon! You will ALL be Muslim!! You will not have a choice!!!!

Jackie, Detroit area, USA

I suspect that most respondants would have said that Islam is harmful, rather than religion in general. The reason for the Israeli-Arab situation , for instance, is that Muslims don't want Jews living in the Islamic area of the global village. In the 20th Century the greatest forces of destruction were anti-religious Nazism and atheistic Communism. The only thing worse than religion is its absence.

Joseph , London, England

One of the two major religions, Islam and Christianity are not only a religion, but a way of life, a civilization, which has Political, Economic, Social and Cultural strands embedded in them.
Basically the British Society is based on the Christian Religion, but in the past decades those Christian values have been torn apart because Governments have de-emphasised it and encouraged other religious activities in order to promote fairness. Therefore everyone has the free will to choose a faith . Many people have ended up being confused, therefore remain faithless and adopt any values that take their fancy. Most schools have de-emphasised the Christian religion in bringing up children and as a result,a lot of quality values have been lost.
On the otherhand, the Islamic countries have made sure their society is influenced by the Islamic faith as their way of life and everyone including people of other faiths are subjected to their laws.
One cannot blame religion for the ills of society.

remarkable tosca, middlesex, England

It amazes me how Europe loves to generalize about America and our values and morals. You don't seem to appreciate the fact that we live togeather with all our differneces and backrounds.
One thing that most Americans do here is help each other and pray together. We appreciate the gifs that Our Creator has blessed us with. No one is perfect ! However, some in Europe seems to think they are better than all of us.
We won't survive this world without Gods' help. No matter where you live, God knows all about you and how you love one another!! He's the only one we will have to answer to. Not the BBC or any other negative propaganda that they want to hear. We're not all sex maniacs and hypocrites.
So don't try to tell us how to be more like you. Start in your own back yard.
What is harmful is a world without God and all that He represents! Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, Hope and Respect for one another can you live without that? I pray not.

candace smith, wauwatosa, WI

To Jake, in London,: So in your mind, because a person of faith sins he is a hypocrit? Seems to me he is just a sinner. Any person, who claims to belive in God is a hypocrit when they sin. That goes for me and you Jake. Seems you have a lot to learn about faith and morals. There is only one person who never sinned and his name was Jesus Christ. And for your reference, it is not just Republicans who are involved in sex scandals. There have been many Democrats and some who are still in Congress who have had affiars of all kinds. Pity, you don't seem to reference that.

Rita , Nashville, TN, USA

Religion is harmful because it encourages people to believe without evidence, without questioning, under pain of eternal damnation or isolation from your community, or worse. People who believe they have the one true path and believe God is on their side (and not the other side) can justify whatever they like and give themselves divine permission. This is very very dangerous. To those who think religion has been hijacked by a minority, if you sit and read one of the Holy Books you will see that the fanatics have plenty to draw on. The moderates are the ones who have cherry-picked and tried to incorporate their belief into the modern world. This is one step away from agnosticism. The Abrahamic religions are violent, misogynistic Bronze Age cults, obsessed with sacrifices, sin and war. Humanity needs to free itself from perpetual infantilism and see the world as it really is - and try to make the one short life we have better for all. We don't need a deity to do that.

Cheryl, Swindon, UK

At the very least, religion is harmful to intelligence. Believing in God is as stupid as believing in the tooth fairy. Where is the evidence for the existence of God? There is as much good evidence for the existence of Zeus as there is for Jehovah . That is: none. I'm most disappointed in Humphrys fence sitting agnosticism. He's spent too long as an interviewer. You don't need to always see both sides John! Come on jump into the atheist fold. You know you really want to - you're too intelligent not to. Or are you worried about damaging your lucrative salary by appearing biased in any way?

Paul, MK,

We have reached the point in today's world thta people can no
longer think for themselves and take time to reflect on what is going on around the world. Whether we believe or not believe is irrevelant. What one must do is filter out all the noise around us and truly listen to what our heart is telling us. The message is clear. What the world needs is LOVE SWEET LOVE as the song goes!!!!!!

G.T., Montreal, Canada

Regarding the missing 19%. I checked the website. 17% were don't knows (I would call that agnostic) and 2% refused to answer.

Steve, Darlington, Co.Durham

Is John from Salford having a sick joke wen he says he's only seen one religion cause harm? Could he explain which one this is. Is it Christians in Northern Ireland and elsewhere (I'll leave Bush out of it), Jews in the Occupied Territories or maybe Muslims or Hindu's in India and Pakistan?

Tony, Bradford, England

It could be mad mullahs and their hate-filled rhetoric that makes all religion look bad as well as unfounded hate filled rhetoric towards religious people. It’s quite the trendy thing to think that religious people are dangerously delusional people about to cause a war. “Religious people are such hypocrites.” Well there’s an over oversimplification for ya!

Mark, London, UK

Peter of Oxford,

I would call the 19% as honest thinkers. Your 79% consists of many who do not live to their ideals of religion. Also you group together all religions who believe in different Gods. Why?

Gary Simpson, Aldershot, UK

this is a tiny sample group (2 200 out of 60m people in the UK) and can hardly be considered as representative. Also, I don't know how much control John Humphries had in conducting this survey but do we know anything about the sampling techniques? factors like geography, age, wealth, etc. would have a massive influence on any such survey.

Adam , London,

I think the real confusion among the agnostics and atheists is the mistake of bringing the question of religion of whether its overall a bad or good thing. The reality is not all religions are equal, and neither are all those who claim to practice it. Believing in God is not the problem, its the man made corruption and greed in the hearts of the false worshipers that causes the most harm, and will continue to manifest itself by other means even as religion loses its impact on everyday society. I do not see much harm in a religion that preaches self control, humility, service to the community, and treating everyone as we would treat ourselves as Christianity is practiced where i grew up. Maybe if we spent more time analyzing the works of people like Jesus and mother Teresa rather than Osama bin Laden this would be much more evident.

Jimbo, San Francisco, CA, United States

I think this poll describes how true religion and belief in God is what people crave in their hearts, not corrupt, organized religion. It is sad to me how power-hungry individuals and groups instantly want to "lay claim" on religion. I personally believe the Bible, read it, and pray daily, but I also see the harm that man's organization of religion has done.

Leslie, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canad

Anything goes, diversity, acceptance, sensitivity, percentages are symbols of maturity. Advocating these symbols from an immature mind can cause more harm than good to society. They blamed society and everything for their misfortunes and create an endless task of righting something that is unrightable.
Religion is great. It guides humans to brightness from darkness and from brightness to brightness.
Those who continue rushing to darkness from darkness and from brightness to darkness have themselves to blame.
The Buddha's Teaching continues to provide the tool needed to transcend the limitation of external reliance, to liberate the mind from unskillful engagement, with shackles gradual removal the spiritual direction becomes the guiding light.

Mack, oakland, usa

Tom - are you saying religion is what is on your head but it becomes lifestyle when you put it into practice? That's a strange reading of religion I think.

I do agree "Where is the difference with any other issue of social behaviour?" - behaviour is behaviour and whether it is in the name of religion does not give it extra currency (although religious motivation isn't to be ignored in our understanding of behaviour). So a good deed is a good deed and does not become more good if we say "I did it because I'm religious".

Hamish, London,

Without the rise of Christianity you would not have, schools, hospitals, libraries, farming, Universities, and modern civilization itself! You had better think twice before throwing the babe out with the bath water! Much of what you enjoy today, even just an 8 hour work day is the result of Roman Catholic thought. Were there mistakes made, sure. But for the most part it all too bad! Christ Our King! Ave Maria! God Bless you all!

TAAD, Louisville, USA/Ohio

As a "born again" believer I would totally agree that Religion not only causes harm but is the first step to a lost eternity for those who see themselves as being of a religious disposition. It was the "Religious" people of the day who nailed Jesus to the cross and the same folk have Him nailed to the same cross today. This is particularly true of those who follow the rules and traditions of man and not the commandments of God. The so called "Christian Church" needs to receive these God given commandments as they are clearly written in the Gospel and cast aside the contrived doctrine written by Demoniational Church Pharisee's after the reformation to appease the "State" and "Monarchy". The obvious example being the Westminster Confession of Faith which outwardly appears to be a relatively harmless precis of the Gospel but completely adulterates the command to believe on Jesus, repent of sins, and then to be Baptised as believing adults, as opposed to infants, by full immersion.

Nick and June Harris, Galashiels, Scotland

So which one religion is that John?

Ania, Berkshire,

I recently failed to explain the British attitude towards the religion and the monarchy to some Americans at a dinner party in New York. Most Americans I've met don't understand our reverence for the monarchy, but most believe in God. In my view, most of us need to believe in something and it struck me that our faith in the Queen has become almost quasi-religious. Most British people will tell you that the Queen is very smart and knowledgable, although this is based on hearsay rather than anything she has written or said. Many would be happier if she, rather than Gordon Brown, was running the country. My point is that in different countries people believe in different things. The positive aspect of religion is that it usually provides a moral code which if everyone followed there would be a lot fewer problems in the world. The greatest weakness of religion is the willingness of its leaders to misrepresent and distort the message which causes a lot of friction.

mike Clark, NY, USA

Nice one Peter!

Religion is only harmful when it is taken to extremes...just like anything else. Worshipping at the God of cream cakes leaves you obese and a drain on the NHS. Religion is an easy target because most people don't want to know about anything that tugs at their conscience, they prefer to do exactly what they like. Religion involves personal discipline and people don't want that, it's too hard and they're lazy. Hence today's society.

Judy , Liverpool, england

It is sad that we as a people are trying to take GOD out of our lives at a time when we should be drawing closer. I know this article will make me bump up my prayers for the world. No wonder our children are in such a difficult position with no real direction for their lives. May GOD help us all.

Maria Green, Ruskin, Florida

Hiya :)
Religion is an element of culture
God made the World Man made religion :)

God Yes religion no thanks :)

LUV

edward, Northampton, England

Too many lazy thinker....

Mark, Brighton, England

For as long as people are getting blown up daily in God's name the answer to those questions will remain the same.

Chris Deal, Cambridge,

The survey comes as no surprise. The temples of worship on Sunday’s have long been Tesco and TK Max!
That 9% are still sitting on the fence is a surprise in our age of reason and discoveries in science and astro-physics. But anyone who knows anything about molecular biology knows that we are not descended from Adam & Eve (or Adam & Steve in these PC times) however some will always want to hedge their bets.
The same basic questions arise. They were raised by the ancient thinkers who increasingly look like our contemporaries:
1) Is God willing to prevent evil but not able – then he is not omnipotent.
2) Is he able but not willing – then he is malevolent.
3) Is God both able and willing – then whence cometh evil
4) Is he neither able nor willing – then why call him God.

Epicurus 341-271 BC.

Thomas Betham, London, UK

It was about time he came off the fence but he has only gone half way. After he gets used to the idea he will go completely anti-theist as he is intelligent and knows that relgion is harmful and completely false.

m wilson, bidache, france

As a general concept I'd religion causes a great deal of harm, from denying the use of condoms (even as a protection against aids) to the supression of women and the bigoted attitude to homosexuals. Despite these and other failings people curiously attribute religion with morality.

Of course it should be acknowledged that many religious people try to do good but then again so do atheists.

Tony Youens, Ripley, Derbyshire

Actually the missing or those who believe in whatever they are told are 21%. I am personally a non-believer Iatheist if you like) from Uganda.

H.G.K Nyakoojo, KAMPALA, Uganda

Lets be honest. Before 9/11, 7/7 and the endless coverage of the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Abu Hamza et al, the overwhelming view of religion would have been benign.

Its Islam that has poisoned peoples views and its Islam that has to be tackled head on and not pandered to as that only emboldens the Islamists.

Geoff Miller, Bromsgrove, England

It is no wonder we have lost it in this country and we see the crime and lack of respect for others, we see the Rys and Bulger cases and keepasking our selves why. If you take away religion from people, then you are left with a totally materialistic society where what's in it form me is the norm. If you rmove the teaching of Christ the central theme of which is love and respect thy neibhbour, then only God can help us.

Antony Papantoniou, Birmingham, UK

Good question... I do like the statistics given here and it definitely captures the religious state of the society, which , if i can say affirmatively, has a lot to tell about its ethos and practises. I for one believe that the true measure of a people is what they believe in, and i can only but lament the apparent appalling apostasy that Britain has now fallen into. for me as a Christian it is all but bewildering that a country whose nooks and corners was once filled with the blazing fire of the Holy Ghost and people going to church in their masses, is now the same with the statistics displayed above. and i dare say, little wonder there are so many ills in the society we now have to deal with. I am not here advocating for Christianity but its a bewildering fact of history and if any lessons could be learnt for history, such statistical figures have a lot to say about the future of the society

AABBis, Nottingham,

There is a God-shaped hole in all of us. When our current affluence fails (believe me, it will, suddenly and sharply), our current complacency will die with it, and we will look into this hole to find what is important to us. Our need for friends and support as institutions fail will bring us out of our hobbit holes to seek our neighbours - those we can trust. How can we distinguish friend from foe. One thing is for certain - Muslims will know. If we don't, we shall be at a serious disadvantage. Take a pew, folks.

Richard, Preston, UK

Does atheism cause harm? - the history of the 20th century (Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot) certainly suggests so.

Philip Humphrey, Wellingborough,

I think the other 21% must have been unsure whether they were agnostic or not.

julian, london,

Peter, it adds up to 63%, not 79%, as you have said in your second paragrapg of the above comments.

Also how could you combine 26% who beleive in SOMETHING with 28% who beleive in God? The term SOMETHING could be anything.

Tahir Shan, London, UK

I've only seen one religion causing harm so perhaps I've missed something

John, Salford, England

One has only to look at our own history to see clearly just how destructive religion truly is and that this so called power for good is really no more than an excuse for evil. If the devil does in deed exist then he has played a very crafty game and completely fooled us all.

d case, newquay,

It seems to me that we are being confused by religion and lifestyle. For example, the current terrorist turmoil is probably caused more by differences in approaches as to how one worships God/Allah/Supreme Being.... That is lifestyle, not religion, which is a personal matter. So, the lifestyle of a minority of fanatics spills over to impact the majority. Where is the difference with any other issue of social behaviour? You can'r blame religion for being hi-jacked.

These statistics seem to me to add to the sense of confusion, and exemplify the lack of real willingness at all levels to get to grips with a wide range of social issues affecting our lifestyle in the UK.

Tom, Bedfordshire,

Religious people are such hypocrites. When they have an audience, they're so pious and perfect. But in their minds and when they're out of site of others they like everyone else. Just look at the numerous Republicans involved in sex scandals.

Jake, London, UK

"Only 16% of those polled called themselves atheists; 28% believed in God; 26% believed in “something” but were not sure what; and 9% regarded themselves as agnostics"

This adds up to 79%. So how do you classify the 19% non-atheist, non- believers, non-agnostics? Presumably they are the Hello readers who simply believe whatever they are told.

Peter, Oxford, England

If you want to believe in bronze age tribal myths and fairy tales in the 21st century then fill yer boots.

George, Bolton, Lancashire

Its lack of religion which is truly harmful
Religion isnt sitting and praying for a better car or winning the lottery...
Religion should exort one to God-concienceness... being aware that God is witnessing our every action. That is the summit of religion, for then you will try to make every deed a good one.
Look at the biggest wars is history... World War 1 and 2, killed more people then ever... they wernt fought over religion, rather man-made ideology. People forget the greatness and purity that all religions call people towards, Christians are loving people, Muslims donate 2.5% of their wealth to charity every year.
People need to switch off the box and read about religions from their sources... read the bible and the Quran and the Torah.. the truth is self-evident, until you have reviewed the evidence you should keep silent. or as the muslims say, say good or keep silent

Believer - One Truth, Durban, South Africa

Religion has been used as a spring-board of aggression against fellow humans. This is true for all religions but those of mid-east origin have mesmerising theology that claim exclusive links to God. Two clear camps emerge in their world-view - those of "believers" and "non-believers". The rest of this slippery slope, we all know very well. But what many may not see is the transformation of a religion into a "quasi-military organisation" with its own "uniform", "generals" and "foot soldiers" with the tempting prize of world-domination. People don't view it thus because "religion" has a good socio-cultural camouflage, which "monolithic" political ideologies such as marxism or fascism cannot have. Should we be surprised that religious ideologies have, therefore, not merely survived but decade after decade destroyed human lives and almost all peaceful cultures that do not divide the world into camps ? There must be something in our evolution that attracts us to religious dogma.

Kris iyer, Wellington, Newzealand.

So that's one third theist, one third thoughtless. and one third godless.

Tom Donald, Dumfries, Scotland

thank god I'm an atheist!
check out history - All religions have manipulated and exploited people in some way. Manipulative and divisive leaders have used religion to control the masses for the last 5000 years. It is a very good money maker and means that those that "talk" to the big boss upstairs has a very nice lifestyle and can abuse those that do not adhere to the groups rules! It is still happening today in every country in some form or other. Why bother to educate if the religious leaders only want sheep to follow and not question and participate but just pay to pray- check out the front page today!

DCoates, Brighton, Sussex UK