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?

I heard that before moses got the 10 commandments the world was full of murder and ox covetting. Thanks moses

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

Well - when Cameron and Theresa May say we are a Christian country, I do look at their policies and the effects of those policies and wonder what Jesus would think?

Austerity
Benefits
Arms sales

Out of interest would the christians here be happy to have their children taught from bronze age science 'books', or science books from the 15, 16, 17 or even the 1800's? If not why not?

Why would you believe a 'preacher' and a bronze age book about what happens after you die, has your 'preacher' died and come back to tell you about it or is he just better trained than you in how to be a 'salesperson'.

All the christians here, do you realise that you are all atheists too, I'm sure you dont believe in the egyptian, greek, indian or norse pantheon of gods, so I believe in 1 less god than you, not really that hard to make the leap.

If all science and religious books were to suddenly vanish and in 100 years time re-written, do you think all the information would be identical because the science books would be full of the same knowledge that they are today

How do you figure out which bits to take literally, a pp earlier said that days in genesis meant eons, but the bible was designed to be taken as literal it is only in recent years that this days = eons thing gets spouted out because its becoming the god of the gaps, dont understand it = magic

God = The tooth Fairy for adults and the unintelligent

As to the pp who said evolution is just a theory, so is gravity so feel free to float the fuck off my planet

Apologies if someone has said this since I read (I didn't see it)

But...
Satanists = Church of Satan - (lavay) is a (actually quite reasonable) belief in "yourself" as god - do things that are good for yourself

The satanic temple = a pressure group (US) that exists to complain any time religious privileges are granted to another religion. As in "are you happy to give the same to us satanists? No? Well you can't have it either then"
Mainly hipsters.

On holiday I read a really interesting book on what Jesus would make of the world now, of how 'his word' has been misquoted and misused, how the whole 'son of god' did not particularly mean that he considered himself The Son Of God, but that this phrase was simply used to describe a god-fearing Jew of good standing - it did not make him special. He lived at a time full of prophets and predictions of The End.
He was dangerous as he spoke to Others, those that the powers that be quite likes have separate from their good selves.
I quite liked the Jesus I read about
Still not bothered about God though.

He'd be appalled at what was done in his name over the centuries and what it happening now in country that professes to be built on Christian values

BeyondLimitsAndWhatever sums it up perfectly
Definitely hipsters

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.

A bit of revisionism going on there. The historic relationship between people and the church was essentially based on money (hence the huge wealth of the Catholic Church). You had to pay to get christened (or go to hell), you had to pay to get married (or go to hell), you had to pay to get buried (or go to hell, you could pay to guarantee salvation, you had to pay 10% of your income (or go to hell), you were expected to work on church land for free for a specified number of days per week, you had to pay for indulgences to get into heaven... The list goes on and on. The church most certainly did not consider the poor equal to the rich. And it most certainly didn't frighten the powers that be because the church were the power.

Not sure how different it is today. Thinking of Tony Blairs transition from one seat of power straight into the Popes inner circle.

He'd be appalled at what was done in his name over the centuries and what it happening now in country that professes to be built on Christian values hmm
Why what's happening in this country that's so bad. I think he'd be more appalled at certain other countries.

I heard that before moses got the 10 commandments the world was full of murder and ox covetting. Thanks moses

I heard that after moses got the 10 commandments the world was full of even more murder and ox covetting. Thanks moses.

Fresh, yes, that's what 'the Church made out of it, not what Jesus (allegedly) preached (but enough independent sources to suggest the was quite the social radial reformer).

Actually capital costs in schools can be substantial from time to time and there is always some capital expenditure, eg roofing, flooring, painting, windows, kitchen refurbishing, playground resurfacing, extensions even to existing schools. But I agree that it's not necessarily much every year for every school.

Why what's happening in this country that's so bad. I think he'd be more appalled at certain other countries

In the UK - Some things he'd be pleased with. Some things he'd be shocked with.

Some great things have come out of the UK that have been done by people who have used their Christian beliefs to make positive changes.

Conversely, some appalling things have been done and continue to be done by people who claim to have Christian beliefs.

If we could take the best bits of religious rules and adopt them for secular life, I'd be quite happy.

Humanism?

There is a fear that if you dont indoctrinate children at school when they are young then no one is going to believe when they grow up and Christianity will die (which is happening already). aka deep down inside they are afraid of the truth.

Christianity is far from dying: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_population_growth about 360% growth in the last century. Evangelical Protestantism (Christians who believe the Bible - faith not religion) from 1960 - 2000 grew at 3x the world population growth rate and 2x Islam

The C of E might be declining - those who claimed to be Christians by default / born Christians, might be declining - Christianity in 'the Western Culture' might be declining - but worldwide, nope

A bit of revisionism going on there. The historic relationship between people and the church was essentially based on money (hence the huge wealth of the Catholic Church). You had to pay to get christened (or go to hell), you had to pay to get married (or go to hell), you had to pay to get buried (or go to hell, you could pay to guarantee salvation, you had to pay 10% of your income (or go to hell), you were expected to work on church land for free for a specified number of days per week, you had to pay for indulgences to get into heaven... The list goes on and on. The church most certainly did not consider the poor equal to the rich. And it most certainly didn't frighten the powers that be because the church were the power.

I think that might be a bit revisionist - the Church was not founded in pre-reformation times - it is founded in the Bible - so you need to go to the Epistles and other parts of the New Testament to see Church as it should be - a far cry from now... Agree that there have been lots of bad things done in the name of the church over the years, but that is not to negate the original concept based on the Bible which doesn't change - it is God's Word then and now... and there is absolutely equal value given to anyone regardless of wealth.

Yes, Humanism is a pretty good idea

I can think of any relgious rules that would make humanism better

I can think of many times that relgion has changed its rules because society at large told them to

I cant think of a single good thing a religious person can do for someone that a non religious person couldnt.

I can think of plenty of horrible things done in the name of religion that non religious people dont do

Christianity is far from dying: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_population_growth about 360% growth in the last century

Oh please info from an American think tank about the fertility rates of 'Christians' verses 'Muslims' is hardly proof of Christianity's rapid growth around the world. Do you know the difference between percentages and absolute numbers? The worlds population has exploded over the past century and just because a Christian woman has 3 children does not mean there is now 3 more Christians.

In less developed countries with less developed education systems it is easier for the church to brainwash convert people to say they believe something, especially when it is conditional on receiving aid. Multiplied by the Popes ban on birth control = more cannon fodder in poorer countries.

For example at the last census less than a third of people who claimed to be 'christian' actually believed that Jesus rose from the dead. So in developed countries like ours Christianity is dying. Under-developed countries is where all the action is at, can the church grab enough of them poor souls before they to become educated. All that is happening is that the process of dying is being strung out. But it has started the process of dying.

Agree that there have been lots of bad things done in the name of the church over the years No there have been a lot of bad things done by the church. You can pretend 2,000 years of the church being the spoke person of god is irrelevant and all that matters is what is in the bible. The Bible of course which can be interpreted any way you want by anyone you want. But the church is dying because people have lived through 2,000 of the churches reign and it was found wanting. You can't hide that in the Bible.

The worlds population has exploded over the past century and just because a Christian woman has 3 children does not mean there is now 3 more Christians

Indeed. Christianity is not inherited.

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."

Sadly I've been to a lot of funerals recently. Usually taking place in church. Very moving and comforting.

Sadly I've been to a lot of funerals recently. Usually taking place in church

I do wonder how many funerals take place in a church - even if the person is not a Christian.

derxa Sadly I have been to many funerals as well, some in churches, some not. But they were all moving and comforting. Everyone finds comfort in their own way and no one wants to change that.

I do wonder how many funerals take place in a church - even if the person is not a Christian. They were mainly regular church goers. Lovely people.

Everyone finds comfort in their own way and no one wants to change that

Quite.

People who know me know that I am not religious - so a church funeral would be inappropriate. I hope that when I go, people who care about me can send me off as they want.

In is my understanding that Christianity is spreading in Africa, often spread by fundamentalist right-wing preachers from the US bible-belt preaching against premarital sex, the use of contraception including condoms and that HIV is a punishment sent from God.

I find this deeply offensive and Wrong on a level I cannot even begin to express.

I agree plenty of atrocities committed by the Church,, but also bad people using their beliefs as an excuse to justify their actions in order to enrich themselves.

orlantina The tradition of using churches are wearing off now as more and more weddings are elsewhere but you usually have months or even years to find suitable venues.

Sadly with funerals you dont have the time or desire to deal with finding venues and its just easier to pick a local church who are set up for these things.

I often wonder at funerals why so many religious people cry if they actually believed their relative had gone to a 'better place' and they would see them again.

I wonder how much easier it would be to make your peace with death and relatives if you knew how final it was and dealt with it when you were alive rather than putting it off because you were deluded into thinking there was more.

To borrow a phrase. Death is when "the rubber hits the road" for religious people.