In a post elsewhere on the site someone said that some European countries allow religions to deduct tithes directly from a member's paycheck. I am not sure if tht is so in the UK,but it would explain the high numbers, as it would cause people to leave religion in droves. It may also be high simply because they only asked youth. This is a single study. So it could also be an "outlier" study with results outside the norm. I hope it is accurate, but my education wont' let me take it for granted as being unquestionably correct.

Glad to hear it looks accurate to someone who lives there. More than one response questions the high numbers, and I though perhaps it was an outlier study. I feel better now.

Yup, this is true. The native population is almost entirely secular. Of the realitvly small number of Christians left in the country most are either old or African immigrants. Immigration is the main driver for the increasing rates of Islam in the UK. With all other religions in decline, and Islam on the rise, it is possible that Islam will become the most common religion in Britain, although the vast majority of the population will remain secular.

I don't think that scare tactics really work. Atheists are grossly under represented in prisons, which means religious persons do more wrongs despite the scare tactics. So, I don't think it will make any difference at all... but there is a chance that as atheists produce fewer criminals, then as atheism becomes more common, there may be fewer people doing bad things in general.

I did post a second article of how atheism is also growing in the U.S.

On a per capita basis, atheists are grossly under represented in prisons. Criminals are much more likely to be religious. So, I expect things will at worst remain the same. It is however also possible that people in general will moderate do fewer bad things as atheism grows. That is if current statistic are an indicator of future behaviors.

Not likely.