Source: The Scotsman
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=225032005
On March 1, 2005 The Scotsman reported, "Scotland has a weaker sense of religious identity than the rest of the UK, according to a new report that shows the changing face of religion in modern Scotland. Despite a strong Christian past, just 67 per cent of Scots identified with a religion in 2001, compared to 86 per cent in Northern Ireland and 77 per cent in England and Wales. The breakdown of the first national census to show religious leanings - published yesterday by the Scottish Executive - showed important social information about the different religious communities in Scotland. It found that about two in five Sikhs and Muslims aged between 16 and 74 have no qualifications, compared to about a third of all people in Scotland of the same age group. The Muslim population showed the youngest age profile, with 31 per cent aged under 16. Forty five per cent of those who aligned themselves with the Church of Scotland were aged over 50. But commentators insisted that despite the figures Scotland is still a spiritual country, and called on the Executive to use the information to help the minority religious groups to thrive in society."