Surfer, I don't think the UK is remotely as you think it is.
This country isn't majority atheist, nor even agnostic.
Take this backward hole I live within, most people here will proclaim to follow some form of Christianity, and indeed our local government and regional government is run on the basis of that.
We still do not have gay marriage, because the book says 'gayers are the naughty', some people will actively proclaim into your face that you're going to hell for not following their own little brand of subdivision, as all the others are basically wrong in their opinion, and unless one follows their brand of Christ you don't get in.
Now it doesn't bother me, as I don't think there is heaven and hell in the way they do, if this is a construct, then we'll transfer somewhere, if it isn't then oblivion, either way no big individual man with pearly robes and few seraphim to judge me.
For all the calling out of jagga by myself in part and others, his views from his religion are basically identical to the views of someone within the Free P Church in Northern Ireland, their book differs, but their firebrand nature doesn't. They are hell bent on the destruction of the world and all those in it, as such things bring about the wonderful afterlife they've been promised, and they are determined to tell you so.
This isn't a secular society, it was under Cromwell for a bit, and then it was back to Church and State having the same supreme ruler and 'defender of the faith'.
I don't think our society has anywhere near the numbers of atheists you think it does. Many who do not practice would still on their deathbed still proclaim to follow a God, or would say a prayer when a relative is dying.
I did enjoy Iain M Banks version of an afterlife, species and technology dependant, found that a wonderful read.
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