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I never wrote that, nor assumed it.

The question I posed: can secularisation be tracked in a country where religious groups are not registered, and if so, how could it?

It's an interesting puzzle, and I hoped to learn more about France through it. I don't have the feeling I'm getting anything out of this, though.

by Nomad on Thu Nov 5th, 2009 at 05:26:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The question I posed: can secularisation be tracked in a country where religious groups are not registered, and if so, how could it?

Sure.  The NZ Census for example asks "what religion do you identify as" and provides a checklist (including "no religion" and "object to state").  And from that simple question, asked over decades, the trend of secularisation in New Zealand is very clear.

Of course, that requires the government to ask about religion, which e.g. the French would object to.  But if they won't, there's nothing stopping a private entity, such as a university social science department, from asking a similar question, or one including a question on whether someone attended a service in the last week.  They'd need a few thousand respondents to get good subsample sizes, but that's not beyond them.  And I'd be surprised if someone isn't doing it...

by IdiotSavant on Thu Nov 5th, 2009 at 09:57:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, in France, non-state affiliated social sciences lab in private universities are very few and far between...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Fri Nov 6th, 2009 at 02:27:05 AM EST
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