Is Britain a Christian country?

[denphone]

Do you think Britain is a Christian country or do you think we are a largely non-religious society?.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...sion?CMP=fb_gu

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/l...n-country.html

http://www.christiantoday.com/articl...ntry/36769.htm

According to the 2011 census, we are still mainly a Christian country (this was a voluntary question, not mandatory).

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census...-religion.html

Key points
Despite falling numbers Christianity remains the largest religion in England and Wales in 2011. Muslims are the next biggest religious group and have grown in the last decade. Meanwhile the proportion of the population who reported they have no religion has now reached a quarter of the population.

In the 2011 Census, Christianity was the largest religion, with 33.2 million people (59.3 per cent of the population). The second largest religious group were Muslims with 2.7 million people (4.8 per cent of the population).

14.1 million people, around a quarter of the population in England and Wales, reported they have no religion in 2011.

The religion question was the only voluntary question on the 2011 census and 7.2 per cent of people did not answer the question.

Between 2001 and 2011 there has been a decrease in people who identify as Christian (from 71.7 per cent to 59.3 per cent) and an increase in those reporting no religion (from 14.8 per cent to 25.1 per cent). There were increases in the other main religious group categories, with the number of Muslims increasing the most (from 3.0 per cent to 4.8 per cent).

Yes it is, in the sense that the majority self-identify as Christian, the basis of our laws are Judeo-Christian and there is still an established church across most of the United Kingdom, with an official role in public life.

On the other hand, is this a country of people who live day by day according to the teachings of Jesus? Clearly not.

Yes. But not all Christians attend church on a regular basis or make overt signs that they are Christian..They just get on with life.

[rhyds]

I'd say it was more of a loose/cultural identification with most people in England/Wales/Scotland, rather than a deeply held spiritual belief (see the reducing numbers of church/chapelgoers for example). NI of course is much more complicated than that...

Originally Posted by denphone

Do you think Britain is a Christian country or do you think we are a largely non-religious society?.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...sion?CMP=fb_gu

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/l...n-country.html

http://www.christiantoday.com/articl...ntry/36769.htm

I see the letter is signed by all the usual suspects - Pullman, Pratchett, Toynbee, Minchin ... Everyone who has made a career out of being hostile to religion, with the notable exception of Richard "The Dork" Dawkins, High Priest of the Lunatic Fringe, presumably because no self-respecting atheist wants his name on the same bill as Dawkins these days.

Didn't Cameron once say he was a sort of sometimes Christain? He compared it to losing radio reception as you're travelling in Cornwall or something.

"Like Magic FM in the Chilterns" I think it may have been ... "It sort of comes and goes".

[Gary L]

I remember years ago where just being white you were classed as 'CofE' Church Of England (Christian) on any type of form that had it on.

all changed now though. you can put 'None' yourself.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Chris

I see the letter is signed by all the usual suspects - Pullman, Pratchett, Toynbee, Minchin ... Everyone who has made a career out of being hostile to religion, with the notable exception of Richard "The Dork" Dawkins, High Priest of the Lunatic Fringe, presumably because no self-respecting atheist wants his name on the same bill as Dawkins these days.

It's also interesting how a lot more people seem happy to describe the UK as a 'Christian country' when they feel those pesky Muslims are trying to turn us in to an Islamic state, however at other times their default status reverts back to atheism.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Chris

On the other hand, is this a country of people who live day by day according to the teachings of Jesus? Clearly not.

But how many people who would class themselves as being 'Christian' on paper or whatever. actually are 'Christian' in the true sense?

like say someone were to say "Thank the Lord!"
they may say "The Lord had nothing to do with it"
even though they have put themselves down as 'Christian'

Originally Posted by Gary L

But how many people who would class themselves as being 'Christian' on paper or whatever. actually are 'Christian' in the true sense?

like say someone were to say "Thank the Lord!"
they may say "The Lord had nothing to do with it"
even though they have put themselves down as 'Christian'

Most people filling out questionnaires like census forms actually fill them accurately

[Gary L]

Exactly my point, Marty.
they might just tick 'Christian' but not actually be 'Christian' in the real sense.
they may feel obliged because they're White, British.

So we tot it all up and say something like 10% of the UK total population is Christian. when the real figure could be just 2%

Originally Posted by Russ

It's also interesting how a lot more people seem happy to describe the UK as a 'Christian country' when they feel those pesky Muslims are trying to turn us in to an Islamic state, however at other times their default status reverts back to atheism.

You spotted that too

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Russ

It's also interesting how a lot more people seem happy to describe the UK as a 'Christian country'

To make the rest of your theory work. that one has to work first.