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?

Seriously... as someone who was brought up a Catholic... the world would probably be better without any kind of religion.

I don't see a problem. We can still enjoy the good bits of Britain's Christian heritage (cathedrals, Christmas, myths and legends a- plenty), while acknowledging that this is a different country nowadays- one where people are free to practice any faith they want (even Satanism ), or none, if they prefer. And all these new faiths are just adding another layer to our rich cultural heritage (especially Satanism. Could somebody please link me to any events they know of that involve dancing widdershins, naked, around an immense black goat? Sounds like a gas...).

"
Well, I've heard that if you play a certain record backwards...."

And there are all those kids wearing black clothes these days, why else would you wear black if you don't want to bow down to Satan????

Yeah. It's fine by me.

Religion has caused so many wars which have killed so many people. I don't see this as a bad thing.

The major genocides have no origin in religion - Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, he Ottomans had genocide after genocide, Greek, Assyrian, Caucus, Armenia etc, The holocaust of course extended to people with disabilities, people of colour, sexual deviants , the list was endless. Rarely is religion to blame, usually is an unhinged psychopathic megalomaniac.

Whilst the population might not be Christian, we do have a strong Christian heritage and tradition. I think it would be a real sadness to see Eid lights but no Christmas lights, no Easter eggs, no Carol singing around the village. Our church buildings are beautiful. Good sacred choral music is spine tingling. Much charitable work - hospices, city angels, homeless shelters and soup kitchens, food banks and care homes are provided through religious funding and affiliation. Many schools are part funded by the churches.
I think if the majority of people were asked whether we should move the Christmas bank holidays to celebrate Hanukkah instead they would want to stick with Christmas. I think if we wanted a bank holiday to celebrate Eid Mubarak instead of Easter, many would resist.

Does this contempt for religion and desire for it to be eradicated apply to all religions or just Christianity? Do those of you who despise religion also oppose the practice of Islam - which is on the rise in the UK? Or not?

Religion seems to have done more harm than good over the centuries.

I'm all for the principles of Christianity to prevail without the fairy tale bits.
Love thy neighbour as yourself - we'd all do well to remember that.

Australian here, but our most recent census showed a big jump in the number of people selecting "no religion". Made me very happy. But Australia is a secular country - no official religion, no religion in public schools etc.

I support a secular society.

Religion has no part in public life IMO.

Bring on the separation of church and state

I favour a secular society with people free to practise religion privately if they wish provided that religion doesn't harm others or have practices which run counter to laws of the land. This applies equally to all faiths.

Well I'm not religious myself.. but don't discount all woo.
Many popular music videos these days are full of satanic symbolism, like blood sacrifice to certain gods (baal) , horns everywhere, inverted crosses. Clothes by designers with same symbols, and worn by younger people.

Do those of you who despise religion also oppose the practice of Islam - which is on the rise in the UK

I think people should be free to practise whatever faith they want - without it being compulsory in schools through collective worship, without faith schools being giving advantages over places and without any faith being a national religion.

I don't despise religion - all faiths have their positives and negatives.

I don't think religion and state should be linked.

Religion has caused so many wars which have killed so many people. I don't see this as a bad thing.

I'd also add to the excellent points above about Wars, the fact that religion has brought about beautiful things and corrected and fought against wrongs. People who feel themselves to be religious and are acting in a way they think reflects that have done truly marvellous things in the World.

I'd hate for that to be dismissed along with the 'fantasies and the man in the sky' posts. Nobody has mentioned overt terrorism yet, but that's only a matter of time on the mumsnet lottery!

Think about all the people of religion who stood with and went onto trains or into gas chambers by choice. Think about those people like Trevor Huddleston (someone who deserves much more praise than he's ever asked for). He advocates non violent ways to fight apartheid and said it was his religious Christian duty to do so every single day.

I don't despise religion, I despise religious fanatics of any faith.

Mirai - personally, yes - I don't much distinguish between different religions. No doubt some are less pernicious than others, but the world will be a far better place when they are all gone.

I think if we wanted a bank holiday to celebrate Eid Mubarak instead of Easter, many would resist

Maybe we could just have more holiday entitlement - and NOT be forced to take Easter or Eid off. But if people wanted to, they could take off Eid or Easter.

I think Christmas will always be a special time as it's more cultural. But Easter - I think people should just be able to take it off their annual leave rather than it being a Bank Holiday when most workers have to take it off.

Great. So can we expect to see religion moving out of schools now?

Most of the least Christian People I know are those who attend church. Biggest bunch of hypocrites you could meet.

The sooner we stop believeing bollocks the better and the better society would be without religion..

The problem with many faiths is that it's not enough for someone to have faith themselves, many feel that everyone else needs to become a believer and if not, or if imperfect, then there are penalties and negative consequences.
Even those faiths that don't evangelise are often repressive to others within their community, especially towards women. Wicca being an exception.
So humanist, ethical, compassionate beliefs are preferable, why should you need to believe in a supreme power who will reward and punish in order to be a decent human being?

It's great news.

I'm happy that religion is on the way out (seemingly). I'll be happier still when religious privileges are abolished.

Allegedly if you play Bohemian Rhapsody backwards you can clearly hear "hello Satan, have a cup of tea".

But i have so far only tried that with an old Hinge and Bracket LP at my granddad's house back in '82. Interesting things happened...

You don't need religion, to be the best person you can be! The one biblical text I accept/agree with is, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.....or however it's actually phrased!
If we all did that, the world wouldn't need religion!