Alex, West, UK
Excessive CCTV coverage and Political Correctness are evils disguised as benefits, they are the instruments of a socialist dictatorship.

David, Hemel Hempstead, UK
Atheism is not a religion, it is the abscence of religion, to allow space for more valuable pursuits.

The people must develop their own core identity and values they should not use religion as a crutch for their laziness in developing a core identity and values.

Richard Perrott, Bucks, UK

As few as half? If the so-called religious were honest, it would be nearly 100% who don't beleive in this ficticious cloud of gas.

Darren, London, UK

If I want to take drugs and binge drink then it really isn't any of your business. It hurts me and me alone. And quite frankly, I'd rather not have a set of strange, absurd, outdated doctrines dictating my life.

The reason you're scared of Godless hoodies is because they're stupid, violent dimwits. If it was only about escapism they wouldn't fight. If our children valued their education, their liberty and their fellow man then we wouldn't have a problem.

The reason we shouldn't do this through religion is highlighted perfectly in Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. If you're bullied and frightened by the threat of Hell - essentially forced - into doing "good" then it's hardly good at all. Choice is intrinsic to good and evil; if you don't have the capacity for evil then your actions cannot be good.

Will Langdale, Hull,

This is a hopelessly misleading summary of the UN report. It does NOT question the accuracy of the 2001 census, and it does NOT call for the disestablishment of the CofE.

What it DOES do is suggest that the census may not be as indicative of society as other polls, which 'measure “belief” or “practice”, rather than “religious affiliation”'. The 'two thirds' statistic is not a new claim, but is a quote from a year-old (uncited) survey.

What it DOES do is criticise the current effect of the establishment of the Church of England on human rights. This does not equate to a call for disestablishment, and there is no mention of this in the report's conclusions.

Come on, Ruth, you're supposed to be writing for a proper newspaper; have some respect for our intelligence.

Will, Cambridge,

"The lack of religion explains the hopelessness among young peple, and their well-documented escapism through binge-drinking and drugs."

No, it's the lack of adequate parenting responsibility and indiscipline that explains that.

The lack of religion explains why we live in one of the most tolerant societies in the world. It explains why decisions are now made on the grounds of logic and reason, rather than a 'God's Will' justification. It explains why we are free from the tyranny of the corruption of countless 'religious figures' throughout the centuries.

Religion is the "opiate of the masses", keeping potential trouble makers in check. Thankfully, we now have an educated population, cabable of thinking for themselves. This is why religion is being rejected.

Martin, Bristol, UK

I'm an old atheist Englishman, now an American and I think you guys should still keep the Church of England as the official church even if nobody's a Christian. It's part of your history; your Englishness. You guys should also keep the monarchy around. England has great traditions and culture and the English should be more proud of themselves.

Joe, NYC, USA

To Andrew Berman: no-one is telling us to get rid of 'our' church (did you notice the majority of Brits posting comments are non-religious?). What the UN has suggested is that we separate Church and State - as in the USA.
And to Nick P: as for the vast majority of terrorism being caused by Muslims - no, it was caused by terrorists. Equating the two bolsters the terrorist' cause and plays into their hands.

Chris T, London, UK

Re - "The lack of religion explains the hopelessness among young peple, and their well-documented escapism through binge-drinking and drugs" ~ RB, Aberdeen,

Perhaps true. But what do you seek? People adhering to what maywell just be a fairy tale false hope, just to keep society in order? That's what the religious establishment and government did here for centuries with an iron fist outwardly and by infiltrating peoples minds with fear of hell fire and demons, to control their every thought and deed in life.

Nowadays we have CCTV and Political Correctness doing that, instead of the community gossip that people were witches, and the Inquisition. Just because something 'gives' some far away lofty goal of 'salvation' in return for your continued good behaviour, you can't prove that that hope has substance can you? You take a huge gamble on it, and it appears your interest lies in the social control elements that it brings, RB.

Alex, West, UK

Actually the report says that two-thirds of the British either don't claim membership of a religion or never go to church. If we assume not all that much has changed since the 2001 census, that makes 51% non-practicing or non-believing people who mostly claim "affiliation" to Christianity. The national religion appears to be Apathist.

_Felix, Nottingham,

Can we now have less of Church programmes first thing Sunday mornings on Radio Scotland? I like Radio Scotland waking me up but have to use a traditional clock alarm on Sunday. You can have a diverse choice with Buddhist, Hindu philosophies intermingling with Church of Scotland programmes instead. That could make it more interesting.

Sammy, Dundee, United Kingdom

Religion and religionists are here to stay in one form or another - please stop your whingeing

McGinty, Glasgow, UK

Atheism is a religion. It is the belief that things are naturally occuring and there is no point following the teachings of a 'prophet' who probably hasn't life experience anyway.

Religion is without question THE most dangerous facet of society and is responsible for more killings, wars, unwanted births, poverty and worldwide misery than anything else in history

I manage just fine without it - and I don't bomb people who don't believe the way I do

David, Hemel Hempstead, UK

I regard this as highly encouraging. There are positive aspects of religion but the negative ones are serious.

Colin , Shrewsbury,

Britain is an open society. And one that accepts a certain amount of evolution as the years go on. Thats great. But to accept that one religion has more rights than any other, particularly a religion with a track record such as this one, would be a grave (GRAVE) error.

Daryl, Manchester, UK

Blimey.
Can we stop faith schools teaching intelligent design now?

DJC, St Andrews,

Considering that most of the terrorism is carried out by Muslims is it surprising that they are being watched more than others.

Nick P., Camberley Surrey, UK

Good to see. I can't wait until talking to god is viewed the same as talking to any other non existant voices in ones head.

Randy, St.John's,

The Church of England has been a major player in our countries political past, however, if there are so few Christians left in the UK I think the UN was right to question whether it still play a role in the political sphere. Freedom of religion is one of the things we should hold dearest in the UK, but freedom from its interference is something we should be able to be proud of, too.

Amy, Stourport,

The lack of religion explains the hopelessness among young peple, and their well-documented escapism through binge-drinking and drugs.

RB, Aberdeen,

Personally I agree, having any sort of state sponsored religion is a hold over from the dark ages. If people want to be religious that's fine, but any religion having greater privileges in the eyes of the law is disgusting.

Chris, York,

Excellent - we're getting there!

Steve Payne, Leicester,

How interesting, a news story that reflects my own experience. I hardly know any religious people, although to follow the media sometimes you'd think we were all religious in this country. Why does it take the UN to discover that we're not?

philip, cambridge,

So, uh, why should anyone in Britain care what someone from the United Nations says they should do?

Really, a bureaucrat from the UN tells you to get rid of your Church? Unbelievable.

Andrew Berman, Tenafly, NJ, USA

I don't think more than about 10% of the country are really Christian in any meaningfull sense. Of course, many claim a sort of ethnic-Christian identity, but is that any more meaningful than being a Scot or working-class?

Ivan Pope, Brighton, UK

And to think that as a young infidel in the Britain of the 1940s, I thought (feared) I was in a minority of one.

alan, germany,