to think we no longer live in a Christian country

[orlantina]

More than 53% of people have no faith - according to a recent survey.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41150792

That figure changes to 71% amongst 18-25 yr olds.

It surveyed 3000 adults - so it would be interesting to look behind the stats but it seems that more than half the country have no religion.

Christianity is still probably the most common religion out there.

Should this have implications for areas of national life?

As usual Christianity, probably the most tolerant out of all the worlds leading religions That's quite scary to think that this is the case. Should we abandon religion for the freedom of thoughts?

As usual Christianity, probably the most tolerant out of all the worlds leading religions takes a bashing. Lot of Christianphobes on here. Other religions wouldn't stand for it

Why would anyone be scared of Christianity? That's a ludicrous supposition.

What I want is people to be allowed to practice whatever their religion is. I want the separation of church and state.

That isn't religion bashing. That is reasonable given the switch from broadly Christian country

If you do NOT celebrate CHRISTmas, then refer to it as ? I suppose that Easter is Chocolate Rabbit holiday?

Oh the historical irony of it. The church take holidays from pagans then complain someone is trying to take the holidays from them lol. They didn't even bother to change the name of Easter which is from the Goddess of Spring, Eostre.

Of course many have changed the name of CHRISTmas to, 'Happy holidays', 'Seasons greetings', 'Winterville', or even the text friendly 'xmass'. Oh the howls from Christians when that started happening.

FYI no one actually calls it CHRIST-mass its pronounced ˈkrɪsməs or kris-mas

Because most people here grew up in christian countries as you call them. Obviously they are the biggest target.

People can respect you but they will not change theirs rules and believes because you guys

Bless. Most people in this country aren't Christian.

Please explain why we should have a State Religion?

As usual Christianity, probably the most tolerant out of all the worlds leading religions takes a bashing

Where has Christianity SPECIFICALLY taken a bashing? There are people who have attacked religion. Where has CHRISTIANITY specifically been attacked?

Unless you think questioning the fact that the C of E and State are linked is bashing Christianity?

I use Wednesday (Odins day)Thursday (thorsday) Friday (freyaday) to describe the days of the week, but It doesn't mean I worship the Norse gods, I don't see a problem with non christians using Christmas and Easter to describe a holiday period which has no religious meaning for them.

There are two broad areas here:
i) the specific ways in which the lack of separation of Church and State mean that the daily life of all people in the UK is affected to some extent by the Church of England
ii) the issues of religious faith overall and its privileged position amongst the theories and belief systems of the world

The C of E is supposed to pay 10% of capital costs towards its schools.

The influence of any religion in our society is too much. We should be moving towards secularism/atheism. Religion causes and has caused to much hate and division. We are in the 21st century. We need to be looking at facts and logic rather than basing our society on thousand year old fairytales.

We need to be looking at facts and logic rather than basing our society on thousand year old fairytales

For people who have said that Christianity is taking a bashing here - this comment is about religion in general.

Can anyone point to any comments where Christianity specifically has taken a bashing?

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Couldn't have put it better

Am quite happy to call it 'eat and drink and presents' day and 'chocolate egg' day instead if the (minority) Christians in the population would prefer.
I'm also happy if they want to be Christians. No problem. I believe in personal freedom provided it does no harm. Don't bother me with your religion and I won't bother you with my atheism and we can all live happily ever after.

You're not wrong. I would love a world where organised religion is not a thing.

I also 'celebrate' Pi-day and 'May the Forth' be with you -day. And whilst I do eat pies I dont believe in 'the Force'. Has the church copyrighted any holidays name?

The C of E is supposed to pay 10% of capital costs towards its schools
Existing schools dont usually have any capital costs.

Abbeylee - Christmas and Easter were originally based on Pagan religious festivals, so not truly or uniquely Christian, for that matter.

Excellent point! I concur!

Christmas is a day off - and many people just see it as a day for family rather than seeing it as the birth of Jesus.

It's been part of our culture for years - and in the UK, it's probably the only real festival in our calendar where family come together.

So I wouldn't want to lose it as a holiday. It would be strange to have it rebranded.

They didn't even bother to change the name of Easter which is from the Goddess of Spring, Eostre.

Which is where 'oestrogen' comes from, the hormone that is responsible for fertility in human and in bunnies (not chocolate ones though).

zeebeedee, finally, somebody talking sense!

If we could take the best bits of religious rules and adopt them for secular life, I'd be quite happy.
Being kind to others, helping those in need, no being jealous of others perceived good fortune, no killing, no hurting or harming - all these basic tenets are in most large world religions and I fail to see why one could not live by them while not believing in to a higher power. Or a hell that would punish if one did not obey them.
And, as stated upthread, some of histories cruellest people had a religion.

What made Christianity unique was it's insistence that the poorest could be 'worth' as much (or more) than those rich or in power. Radical thinking indeed, and quite frightening for the powers that be.

I dont need a religion to tell me not to go round killing people ffs

it as a day for family rather than seeing it as the birth of Jesus

Yip, and there is more irony (even if Jesus actually existed) the church doesn't even try and pretend he was actually born on that day. So they could actually pick any random day to 'celebrate' his DOB.

Exactly.

And plenty of religious people seem to not have any issue with killing others

Us pagans and occultists are on the rise.

It's unfortunate. He who believes in nothing believes anything

Can you give an example?