Fear not God or secularism: Census 2016

Gear contrives an argument erroneously posing "Secularism" as a type of non-belief.

The key element of "Secularism" is the separation of church and state. If it were a religion its goal would be self- referential, and incongruous.

Enshrined in the Enlightenment age of universal religiosity, "Secularism" protects the religious freedom of all faiths and none.

It's part of the Baptist tradition, evidenced in the campaigning of the Danbury Baptists, which resulted in then President, Thomas Jefferson, enshrining in the First amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

Our own Section 116 of the Constitution reads similarly:

"The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance…"

Secularism is supported by 84% of Australians, many of faith, because it's about allowing people to believe and practise what they want, free of state interference. Ironically, those who fear the rise of irreligion should take much comfort to that they might otherwise oppose - secularism.

Census data provides crucial evidence informing government policy and funding.

The Census asks "what is the person(s) religion?" According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the major world religions are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Tao, Confucian, Tribal and Animist.

Notwithstanding superficial comparisons of "religious" behaviour in sport or politics, the Census asks about real affiliation with real religions.

There's no danger of Census data diverting funding to fanatical Marxists, or crazed sports fans - even those who might pray to effigies of Lenin, or believe Gary Ablett Junior is Jesus and Gary Ablett Senior is God.