What does it mean to be a Christian in the UK? (see below for further details)?

Question

I am agnostic. And have nothing against people having religious beliefs as long as they do not impact on me (that said, most of our older laws are based on religious views, so it is hard to escape)
However, according to the 2001 Census 71.6% of the UK population claim to be Christian. I don't know anyone who gets married in churches anymore, or pray, or go to Sunday Worship, or take their children to school. I only know one person who believes in God and Jesus. Admittedly, it might be the circles I socialise in, but what about work colleagues etc?
I am being serious on this one btw (I like a laugh now and then, but I want serious and intelligent answers on this one, save the mocking of me or anyone else for later)

Some great answers so far. Good Tree, I have tried a variety of churches, including very conservativce CoE (that was when I was younger), tried the Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers) and I have also tired more "happy clappy" styles. The fact remains the same for me, that all religions are the same as myths. I enjoy a good myth, bit it Greek, Norse, Hebrew, Hindu, etc, but it is when it gets in the way of a peaceful and tolerant society, that I shy away from it.

The census only comes out every ten years. Here in the UK we did not have a census in 2007. Not sure which country you are posting from?

Interestingly, having read more about the 2001 census, 92% of the population answered the question (it was an opitional one) It was also the year that everyone was stupid enough to think that, if enough put down that they were a Jedi, then it would be recognised as a real religion by the government. Those that put down Jedi, were lumped with the likes of me. I put down Agnostic. Just shows how unimportants us Agnostics and Heathens are, if the government can't seperate us!

Answer 1

IS THIS what you are seeing and yet don't realize it?
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

If so, it only proves you should put more faith in the source of this statement.

Answer 2

Some Christian groups are growing but many are stagnating. If you look beyond the numbers game and read some of the books and listen to the leaders, there is very little depth to it. Much 18th / 19th century material of little spiritual worth has just been re-packaged and simplified. The majority leave the thinking to others and are not bothered to study, or to think for themselves. Also, I question whether the majority want anything to do with the basic Christian ideas of showing practical love, kindness and forgiveness. Some do, (God bless them) but all the rest just seem to want a vaguely Christian social club which won't change, or challenge them.

In short, from my own experience over 34 years, the UK is becoming a spiritual desert.

I think we need a fresh start, and I don't mean another institution or a new denomination. I mean more quietly; Individuals re-discovering their historical faith and practising it. Thinking critically and being prepared to develop their spiritual lives, working it out in practical ways as well. Christ introduced the faith at this grass-roots level anyway.

Answer 3

A good question.

I think (perhaps not suprisingly) it means different things to different people. For me it means that it is part of my background but no longer really part of my life, I went to all church schools and church and Sunday school every Sunday whilst growing up. That is a long way from most people's experience in the UK though and I think most people would class themselves as Christian during the Census owing to some family background or simply because we are a predominanly (and historically) Christian country. Be interesting to know what those people who don't regularly attend church regard as their denomination.

Interesting too that every survey that you see in the news tells us that church attendance is falling, when in fact, if you look at the 'charismatic' churches (as someone points out above) the numbers attending are increasing. And in numbers that the CoE (at any time in its history) would be envious of. In London, it is not unusual for these churches to have Sunday congregations in the several hundreds with one or two with congregations exceeding a thousand. That tells me a great deal about the way that the 'traditional churches preach and the way they reach out to their potential congregations. I know people who attend traditional churches and those who attend charismatic churches and age is indeed a big factor, with younger people attending the latter; that I know people who attend and still get married in chruch, says a bit about my family circles.

Contrary, to what we are being told, Christianity is a long way from dead in this country. It will be interesting to see where it goes in the next few years!

Answer 4

Good question and it applies to most Western countries today. Those statistics are based on census poll in which people are asked to which religion they belong. People think they belong to a certain religion usually because of the way they were raised, not because they actually observe any religious customs (other than national holidays). Therefore, the result is really a compilation of personal opinions, not any objective fact.

Answer 5

I'm not gonna lie, I think they mean that they are Christian by tradition. Christians have two categories: religious and spiritual.

Religious:
use religion to control people
may be legalistic
have no real relationship with God
it does not affect their lives
have no joy
practicing a ritual
all about the rules at times
only "Christian" because their parents or grandparents were
only Christian bc they are white, have been to church, or got "confirmed" when they were 8.

Spiritual:
have an actual relationship with God
seek to know him
talk to him
accepted him at an age where it wasn't brainwashing
They don't have to be perfect, and they know it, so they are free
Love others (verse in the Bible confirms this is a sign)
question and challenge their beliefs often


One of those types just isn't real, and it's always obvious who is in what group after talking with them for a while.

Answer 6

To be a Christian in the UK simply means to believe the teachings of Christ, as mentioned in the Bible, and to try to live their lifes according to their understanding of those teachings.

Like you I am an agnostic, I like Christians, but I could not worship the God they worship, I cannot admire a God which is prejudiced against it's own creation.

Answer 7

definite, on the final Supper the folk who compiled the bible have been Catholics. the folk who wrote the Scriptures that went into the bible have been Jews. The Pope ordered Jerome to collect scripture right into a e book to renounce heresies that have been stoning up around Western Christendom. This replaced into performed in the previous due 4th century. No, the bible replaced into compiled AFTER Constantine switched over and made Christianity criminal. Constantine had no longer something to do with a) the business enterprise of Christianity or the advent of the bible. The bible stayed the comparable for 1200 years until eventually the Protestants bumped off books from it to in good shape their schedule(s). No, for sure no longer! The Catholic Church replaced into based by using Jesus until eventually the final Supper. So it genuinely consisted of the Apostles. How could they have given any ok while they have been being pursued for arrest and loss of life besides? it rather is an absurd question. no person worships the Pope. it rather is absurd besides. genuinely we don't understand that people who compiled the bible did no longer purposely substitute what Jesus reported. by way of fact the KJV got here from that bible, you have been utilizing those comparable scriptures, different than that all of us understand the Protestants bumped off books from the unique. So, the KJV replaced into purposely altered. we will not have an prepared Christian faith with a sparkling understanding of the bible and no disagreements by way of fact Protestants refuse to settle for the single authentic faith, based by using Jesus. apart from, they pontificate, and characteristic been preaching, lies against us, ie "worshiping the Pope." How stupid is that?!

Answer 8

Christianity is on the rise in the UK, but maybe not so much in the traditional churches. I belong to a new frontiers church, have only been a Christian for 5 years and it blows me away to find so many young people attending church. I thought only old people went! but our churches, and many others, are lively, family friendly, social places with so much going on, teaching that is relevant to our lives and a fantastic uplifting feeling to them. I fully recommend you seek a lively church in your area and pop your head in the door one day. You may even like it!

Answer 9

Maybe they are like my mum. She as far as I can remember never went to church for years but she was very annoyed when I refused to get married in church

Answer 10

Check the 2007 census - down to less than 40% believe in Christ...

The short answer to your question - it's very lonely to be Chrisian in the UK....

Having said all that, all these thing must come to pass. We are in the end days...