AIBU to think that people should stop claiming we are a Christian country.

[Ohbehave1]

Church attendances are at a very low level. How can we claim to be Christian when virtually no one goes to church any more. It seems people are when it suits them ( births, deaths and marriages or to be anti non Christian )

Oh forgot to add in my experience those that attend church can be less christian in their actions towards others. As someone who works in the nhs i see christian acts towards fellow human being every day. The last time i went to church (not including birth, deaths etc) i asked where. My fil was politely and the ladies turned their backs on me and ignored me. Was shocked by this and very hurt. Ive also been turned away with a frozen child on cold boxing day although in that case one lady ran past the wall of ladies who refused access to warm up and pulled me in and offered us a warm drink and a heater to sit next too.

Christianity is all about accepting other religions? Really? That isn't the brand of Christianity they were preaching in our U.S influenced evangelical church.

Sorry- I think that image is too small to be useful. Here's the main bit.

Creeping. Any religion is based on mythology - there may be some comments based on people who may or may not have existed, but how can you say the New Testament ( as example) is anything other than mythology?

Bertrand. Doesn't that show we are not a Christian country?

"Ohbehave would you refer to other religious ideologies as being mythological or just Christianity?"

Creeping. Yes, I would be happy to refer to Islam as mythological. Which is the question you are really asking, isn't it?

There are a few secular countries in the world. In those countries, for example, it's forbidden to teach religion in a state school.

Where I come from there was no RE, no worship at school, no nativity play, no hymns sung at school. No visiting a church. And as someone who practiced a different religion I never felt uncomfortable.

I was really shocked when I sent my first child to nursery / school to find he was in a nativity, going to church (occasionally), listening to sermons from a priest / vicar (once a month) and praying daily. At a state non faith school. And all without telling me or asking for my permission.

I was truly shocked.

It is this which makes us a Christian country not a secular one.

Nothing to do with our weekends or Christmas or Easter. Secular countries do them too. But they never make anyone, like school children, pray or go to church or listen to a sermon from a religious leader.

Honestly, I was so shocked / upset to find out my 4 year old was in a nativity play. Never ever occurred to me that a state school would put one on. (Now I know that it's every single school that does that. But you don't know that before your child goes to school. )

Yes, it shows we are not a Christian country in terms of the population. But we are so steeped in Christian privilege that we will remain a "Christian country" until we have managed to get rid of that privilege.

I go to church two or three times a year plus weddings and funerals. I am always made very welcome. I love all the Christmas nativity plays and carols in school and I am sad that they seem to have been " watered down" . Many people still have their children christened in church despite the decline in practising Christians.

I am an atheist, but am very happy to live in a Christian country. Some of the alternatives are terrifying.

Yep Christian based culture but maybe not so hot on belief. The Church still has influence - more than I personally feel comfortable with - the law still dictates that our schools have a daily act of worship of a broadly christian nature. The Church still has the right to discriminate, cherry pick Christian children for our state funded schooling. Christian prayers are said before our parliament sits, our head of state is also the Head of the Church of England. So while many of us do not agree now with the historical rights the Church has claimed, it very much seems at the moment that Christianity dominates regardless of faith.

"I am an atheist, but am very happy to live in a Christian country. Some of the alternatives are terrifying."
What's terrifying about a secular state?

YABU. As others have said our culture has derived from Christianity so to stop referring to our country as Christian would be to deny our history.

In schools there is a push towards promoting British Values and alongside this Christianity is inextricably linked. I think what the op is getting at is that maybe in this situation children and families are going to feel marginalised if they don't want their children taking part in worship. This can make those of other religions and beliefs not feel truly British or accepting of British Values if they are not Christian and especially if they are also not born in the UK. Just a hypothesis though.

I don't agree that these 'values' are Christian values at all - they are human values. We have them because we live in a liberal and (sort of) enlightened country. All religions, including Christianity, can be and are used oppressively and restrictively. So can secularism. Whether or not you live in an oppressive regime is not determined by the state religion.

The head of state is also head of the church, which is what makes us a Christian country. Not church attendances.

I'm also not sure what 'British values' are that differ significantly to the values of other liberal countries.

YABU. This is a Christian country; as PP have said: the Queen is the head of the Church of England, public holidays are Christian etc. If you dig deep enough I'm sure you'd find more traditions that have Christian origins.

I am a Christian, my attendance at church has waned in recent years due to having two children under the age of two, however that doesn't make me any less of a Christian. As my children get older, we will attend church more and more regularly until we are going 3+ times a month.

I also would like to say that I find the OP comments about "Christian mythology" borderline offensive.

but how can you say the New Testament ( as example) is anything other than mythology?

Very many people who identify as Christians accept there is a lot of mythology about their faith, some more than others. As someone who would identify as a Christian, albeit a liberal one, accepting much of it as myth is liberating, providing a context and framework for my 'spirituality'... I don't think we need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

As for New Testament, yes, there probably is quite a bit of myth in it.... But to say it is only myth is seriously overstating the atheist case though and would be to contradict pretty every academic who has studied the New Testament, be they Christian or atheist! Did you mean Old Testament?

Op 60% of the population identify thselves as being Christian, but you somehow feel you can better discern a person's belief than the person himself. How arrogant!!

48% actually"

Bertramd where are you getting your information that most people do not identify themselves as being Christian?
The latest census which is clearly the most reliable source (100% coverage and confidential) does not paint that picture at all

"I also would like to say that I find the OP comments about "Christian mythology" borderline offensive."

If you don't go to church you assume others don't go to church.

Not many wear their sunday-best nowadays. I was of the impression that 'no one' goes but here in a country area probably third go and are the centre of village life regarding coffee mornings/ clubs for elderly/ fundraising events. Etc. If this third go each Sunday then they know each other well and are, I presume, supportive of each other (and of the village).

I suspect, that like me, people assume others aren't going.
I feel I'm missing out by not. Perhaps when I'm older . . .

Sorry- there should have been a "Why?" there!