Sand Dancer
Currently catless
The developed nations are going that way. US will be next.
-
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:- Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
- Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
- Access to private conversations with other members.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
2021 Census: England and Wales No Longer Christian-Majority Nations
- Thread starter Debater Slayer
- Start date
This article is over a year old, but I have only recently come across it. According to the 2021 census of England and Wales, Christianity is no longer the majority religion in either country:
Census: Christians a minority in England; non-religious grow
The latest U.K. census has found that less than half of people in England and Wales consider themselves Christian.apnews.com
What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any specific feelings about it?
I've seen similar trends here in America, where church attendance is down and fewer people identify as Christians. The only thing I really wonder about is whether the various Christian religions ever stop and think why they might be losing adherents.
If a politician loses votes or a business loses customers, a logical question for them to ask is "What are we doing wrong?" Do Christian religious leaders ask questions like that? And if not, why not?
Far as I can see (and extrapolating a bit from what I see here in Brazil) many people who consider themselves Christians and emphasize that aspect of their lives see that adherence to Christianity as an important source of stability, certainty, and answers.
Quite a few are simply not interested in being at the place where it would make sense to ask whether there is any reason for any course correction.
It is not always a matter of popularity for them. Being part of a somewhat exclusive group can even be attractive to a degree.
Quite a few are simply not interested in being at the place where it would make sense to ask whether there is any reason for any course correction.
It is not always a matter of popularity for them. Being part of a somewhat exclusive group can even be attractive to a degree.
A friend of mine was on a panel tasked to investigate the reason Christianity is losing members. The conclusion was ...
The internet and the freedom of information it provides.
It's getting a bit dated now, but I found these 2019 Statistics Canada stats to be interesting:
- Proportion of population who declared a religious affiliation: 68%
- Proportion of population who agreed that their religious beliefs were "somewhat or very important to how they lived their lives": 54%
- Proportion of population who attend religious activities at least monthly: ~21%
Religion in Canada
This infographic presents information about the religious landscape in Canada. Data from several cycles of the General Social Survey were used to provide a portrait of the diverse relationships that Canadians have with religion and key trends that characterize the evolution of religiosity in...
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
We're dragging along a lot of kicking, screaming deadweight.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
I suspect in many cases that it does serve as a sort of security blanket, and they resent those who don't have that sort of dependency.
There are, apparently and broadly, two general varieties of Christians with a very asymmetrical relationship between them. I am speaking mainly about Brazil and the USA here; those are two very different societies, but as it happens this applies to both.
One has been diminishing in numbers even as it becomes more extreme in fervor, and emphasizes their adherence to Christianity as a part of their sense of identity. Sometimes at the expense of such positive things as respect to science, basic morality, and even basic discernment.
The other sees value in the vocabulary and rituals, having far more often than not inherited those without much of a chance or need to consider alternatives. Most of those try not to start nor emphasize any significant tensions with those of the other group, who can be very difficult and unpleasant to deal with.
Understandable as that stance is, we may be well past the point where it makes sense.
One has been diminishing in numbers even as it becomes more extreme in fervor, and emphasizes their adherence to Christianity as a part of their sense of identity. Sometimes at the expense of such positive things as respect to science, basic morality, and even basic discernment.
The other sees value in the vocabulary and rituals, having far more often than not inherited those without much of a chance or need to consider alternatives. Most of those try not to start nor emphasize any significant tensions with those of the other group, who can be very difficult and unpleasant to deal with.
Understandable as that stance is, we may be well past the point where it makes sense.
Quite. For far too many it is just way too tempting to let that resentment become despise for "the people lost in the world of the Enemy" and pride for being "soldiers of the Righteous cause".
Those people would be pitiful if they were not so harmful.
Last edited:
Altfish
Veteran Member
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the numbers who ticked the 'Christian' box but no longer practice is very high; consequently, it would not be unreasonable to postulate that the number is a lot less that the census indicated.This article is over a year old, but I have only recently come across it. According to the 2021 census of England and Wales, Christianity is no longer the majority religion in either country:
Census: Christians a minority in England; non-religious grow
The latest U.K. census has found that less than half of people in England and Wales consider themselves Christian.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you have any specific feelings about it?
Secret Chief
Very strong language
I blame Sunday opening
I blame Sunday opening
Repealing the Sunday dry law in wales is to blame.
Back before the days of the internet, they used to blame TV, movies, and rock and roll. But now all that's on the internet, too.
Still, religion should be able to compete in the open marketplace of ideas - if they have a good enough idea. They certainly have enough money to be on TV and establish a presence on the internet.
If religion can only survive in a closed society with rigid censorship (and harsh penalties for non-belief), then I guess that says something about how well it can compete in an open society without censorship.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
The Bible says in the end times people will fall away from the church. It's just the end times...
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
"Christian" is sometimes used as just being a generic theist, so yeah, it doesn't specify if they are practicing or not.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
We are the last hold out. American Christianity is kind of an anomaly.
Unless, of course, it simply reflects the poverty of organized (Christian) religion.
Sand Dancer
Currently catless
Well, you and I know that...
Could be that. I've encountered quite a few people who believe we're in the end times. 2000 was a big year that a lot of people looked forward to, thinking that was going to be the end. Then it was 2012. I recall reading about a prophecy by Nostradamus in which he predicted the end of the world when Easter falls on April 25. The next time that will happen will be in 2038.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
American Christianity has forgotten about Christ.