You can bet that most of the churches that 'tick the right boxes' will be happy-clappy evangelical in nature, and they will use the results of the survey to try to boost their numbers (and hence their income from titheing members.....)

Andrew Brown , Nottingham, England

Why don't people get it that religion is personal? I don't believe in god. Do you want me to pretend? Why do you assume I'm evil? Being godless doesn't mean you think people lack accountability.

Someone who can't see a world without a god may never be willing to consider it. Someone who doesn't believe in god can't "trick" themselves into believing. Accept it. Get over it.

If your god created you, why would he disapprove of you using what he gave you, including skepticism, thought, reason, and knowledge? If no god created me, why can't i experience my reality according to my senses? what's it to you? how is your salvation dictated by me rejecting your ideas?

And why be insulted when people talk about religion in any fashion other than reverent? Is there faith shaken when they hear an athiest speak? It's like saying you'll forget english if I speak spanish near you. maybe it's annoying, but I can't take your faith away just by expressing my opinion...

Helene, Los Angeles, California USA

Michelle , Windsor , Canada

I noticed your comments here and am happy to admit that you are partly right - atheists DO think. Freely.

Their considered thoughts are usually the product of the use of a little intelligence , some observation and the evolved questioning processes which occur in human brains when they are not brainwashed into accepting particular myths , fantasies and fairy tales , often implanted by adults.

Sadly your ability to offer similar reasoned thought seems to have been been undermined by just such a procedure.

But at least you got something right - next time try thinking freely for yourself - like atheists do - rather than follow the dogma and stereotypical responses of a diehard religionist.

Bob Green, Essex, England

Sheesh, Charles.
Atheists think that there was nothing and then it exploded.
Atheists think that they're justified in their actions.
Atheists think they're not going to heaven because there isn't one.
Atheists think that there's no ultimate meaning to life (after the universe achieves heat death, we'll be back to square one...pure nothingness until another big bang perhaps?)
Face it....YOU're a victim of cultural brainwashing.

(disclaimer....I didn't put much thought into what Atheists believe for this example....just being pithy here...your post was so non-sequitur that I couldn't help but respond)

ps Karen said it was MORE (not EXACTLY) like being in love. I gather, though, that you don't even believe in love?

Michelle, Windsor, Canada

Karen, London.

Rapists think they're justified in their actions.
Thieves think it's ok to take stuff that isn't theirs.
Violent people think others are asking for it.
Suicide bombers, and the other religious think they're going to heaven.
People who are in love are merely feeling a surge in hormones to the brain.

Face it. You're a victim of child brainwashing.

Charles, London,

Well, Liz from Bristol, you clearly haven't been to any of the churches I've belonged to. My church is packed-out every week and the feeling I get is nothing like epilepsy but a deep sense of joy and love that I'm cared for by the person who made me and knows me very well. While community, or 'family', is part of the reason for church anyway, my experience is that the purpose and wisdom of Christianity can't be found anywhere else. I've had times when I haven't attended church but am always drawn back by a longing that is more like being in love - although some are equally cynical about this, believing it, also, to be a malfunction of the brain (no offense intended).

Karen, London,

I don't think it's just about the form of worship - I've always been part of very lively, youth-orientated churches but am now attending a more traditional Anglican church as I find the ritual and historical symbolism deeply meaningful at this stage of my life (45). I think it's more about where you're at in your personal, spiritual life.

Karen, London,

I think people don't go to church because religion typically prevents us from having a true relationship with God and thus it is entirely boring and unsatisfying and meaningless...

If you can find a church that doesn't have all these empty rituals and also preaches the true Jesus, then you're on your way to a more satisfying "religious" experience. And once that happens, you don't want to miss a week! (And these churches do exist...you just have to find them!)

Michelle, Windsor, Canada

Oh my! People don't go to church because they don't believe all that flim-flam. Some people believe in "something spiritual", but most of us don't. And the "religious" feeling is experienced by 1% of worshippers and is an electric effect in the brain, akin to epilepsy. The other 99% of worshippers are there because of a sense of community or to get their kids into a supposedly better school.

Liz, Bristol,