England and Wales are no longer Christian nations...

D.P. said:
and they predate Christianity, and are shared by all major religions. So it would be just as valid to claim these are Islamic or Hindu values
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It’s funny that witchcraft (not Wikka) view christianity and it’s related religions (such as islam, Judaism etc) as the young religions.
 
Tom_ed1987 said:
Bit conflicted on this subject. One the one hand, I am atheist.
On the other, I want to live in a predominantly Christian country, because i think the alternatives range from worse to frankly awful.
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I feel similar. I think it's entirely possibly to have a strong moral foundation based only on rational behaviour (see The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris) but I don't think the UK is particularly well-placed for that. I think the diluted, post-Enlightnment Christianity served us reasonably well in the past and it'll be interesting to see how things go without it.
I notice that the happiest (and healthiest) old people I know are the ones who go to church still, and have that community to replace lost friends/family. We should have something to replace that, just not sure what form it will take.
 
Tom_ed1987 said:
Bit conflicted on this subject. One the one hand, I am atheist.
On the other, I want to live in a predominantly Christian country, because i think the alternatives range from worse to frankly awful.
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I feel the same, especially as someone who grew up in a religious environment. As I age more and more, I feel myself considering why I don't follow a religion. But I just can't find myself believing in some of it, but living in a nation that doesn't have those values instilled feels a dangerous path to trod. Some of its replacements are quite horrible.
 
One thing I've found quite curious in the report is the pockets of highest atheism, first image in link

Brighton has a large LGBT population so that's understandable. But Caerphilly, for example? What is it with South Wales having so many atheists?
 
Tom_ed1987 said:
Bit conflicted on this subject. One the one hand, I am atheist.
On the other, I want to live in a predominantly Christian country, because i think the alternatives range from worse to frankly awful.
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Do you mean the alternative being no religion or just other religions? One religion doesnt have to replace the other.
 
In my limited experience, people who turn to religion these days have other issues in their life that religion puts a sticky plaster over.

In a more equitable society where mental health provision was better, I suspect religion would start to decline even more quickly.
 
muon said:
edit: Yep can see the usual suspects, looking through the thread.

I think the entire world is trending towards less religion, which is a good things.
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no - just the youngsters deciding they have no religion ....
maybe they should ask - did you marry in a church, or baptize your children, cancelled easter , or done anything to formalize that designation.
perhaps a non binary/pan option should be permitted on the census.
 
ozzaman said:
Isn't the change in stats because those that previously 'identified' as Christian now say they are either agnostic or no longer practicing christians?

Not sure this can be pinned entirely on the hordes of immigrants the headlines are trying to imply are the cause..
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You are absolutely correct. The No. 2 religion in the country, which has risen dramatically is - "No Religion"!
We are very nearly a union of "unbelievers".
 
jpaul said:
no - just the youngsters deciding they have no religion ....
maybe they should ask - did you marry in a church, or baptize your children, cancelled easter , or done anything to formalize that designation.
perhaps a non binary/pan option should be permitted on the census.
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That's what religion is. You decide what fiction you would like to believe (or in a lot of cases, pretend to believe)...
 
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Paracelsus said:
I feel similar. I think it's entirely possibly to have a strong moral foundation based only on rational behaviour (see The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris) but I don't think the UK is particularly well-placed for that. I think the diluted, post-Enlightnment Christianity served us reasonably well in the past and it'll be interesting to see how things go without it.
I notice that the happiest (and healthiest) old people I know are the ones who go to church still, and have that community to replace lost friends/family. We should have something to replace that, just not sure what form it will take.
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Morality is genetic, there is zero difference between how moral people are based on if they are religious or not, male or female, rich or poor.
 
squerble said:
I believe in religious freedom, so anyone can believe what they want.

Religion, however, should have not a single impact on government policy. It should also be a private thing, and not taken into work, to be kept only in your home or place of worship.
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Not to mention an impact on a school a child can go to based on being baptised or not. The don’t think they get away with it anymore, but in recent years it was still very much the deciding factor,
 
Paracelsus said:
One thing I've found quite curious in the report is the pockets of highest atheism, first image in link

Brighton has a large LGBT population so that's understandable. But Caerphilly, for example? What is it with South Wales having so many atheists?
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People in Caerphilly sees proof that God does not care all around them every day.

And Senghenydd...
 
Yes but how many of those people will be celebrating on the 25th of December?

I'm an atheist but religion is everywhere and the basis of western culture in some sense.
 
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jpaul said:
no - just the youngsters deciding they have no religion ....
maybe they should ask - did you marry in a church, or baptize your children, cancelled easter , or done anything to formalize that designation.
perhaps a non binary/pan option should be permitted on the census.
Click to expand...
having turkey at Xmas and chocolate eggs at Easter is not religion. (as for your questions I was married on a boat 1st time and in a hotel 2nd time and not christened our lad - we decided he can make his own mind up once he is a little older.)

the last funeral I went to was a humanist one and I felt it was much better tbh
 
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