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UK News

Almost half of Scots have no faith

The figures:

No religion: 47.3%
CofS: 27.8%
Catholic: 14.4%
Christian (other): 7.7%
Muslim: 1.4%
Another religion: 0.5%
Buddhist: 0.3%
Hindu 0.3%
Jewish: 0.1%
Sikh: 0.1%
Pagan: 0.1%

The Scottish Household Survey for 2014 saw 47.3 per cent respond "none" when asked about their faith.

In the past five years the figure jumped from 40 per cent.

The Church of Scotland is still the most popular denomination in the country with 27.8 per cent of the population identifying themselves as part of the Church.

Responding to the survey, a government spokesperson said: "Since the harmonised religion question was introduced to the SHS in 2009, there has been an upward trend in the proportion of adults reporting not having a religion, from 40 per cent in 2009 to 47 per cent in 2014.

"There has also been a corresponding decrease in the proportion reporting 'Church of Scotland', from 34 per cent to 28 per cent."

The survey has been operational since 1999 and is only based on a sample of the general population.

Revd Colin Sinclair, Convener of our Mission and Discipleship Council at the Church of Scotland, told Premier's News Hour the numbers could be misleading.

"In some ways the figures aren't really surprising at all," he said, "they indicate a trend where people are less wanting publically to identify with an institution but that doesn't mean they're less interested in faith."

But he accepted that the drop in Church of Scotland affiliation had to be acted on: "That in some ways reflects a disenchantment with the Church and with religion but actually I think for us as a Church it makes us realise that mission doesn't start at the far end of the Mediterranean.

"It's actually on our own doorstep and it's a real wake up call for us both to pray and to think and to connect more effectively."

Premier's Des Busteed speaking to Revd Colin Sinclair on the News Hour:

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