To ask why religion is declining in Britain

[Jackieweaver2024]

Just that really I would be interested to hear everyone’s opinions?

What gets me is this. I’m a teacher in a multi cultural school. We have Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, and the majority are non believers ( especially the white population)

But it’s all taught from a Christian viewpoint. Why? We live in a multi cultural society. Why is Christianity the most important religion?

I know Buddhism is classed as a religion, but it's more of a philosophy really. If there's no god telling you what to do and threatening eternal damnation if you don't follow the party line, I guess you can pick whichever bits of the philosophy that suit you. Not that theists don't also do that of course...

People have become accustomed to less death and now think it's normal not to die i.e. in childbirth or from what are now fairly treatable diseases.

Going back to the 1970s/80s, there would have been many around that remembered siblings/kids dying from TB, various infections etc pre-WW2. My own grandmother lost five children before the six that survived.

People exposed to this kind of thing need to believe in something greater, have faith in a great hereafter etc., and later luckier and more pampered generations should be mindful of this.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Not having a faith does not make you morally superior. If anything it shows why RE, where children learn about religions still needs to be compulsory in schools

As long as it isn’t taught from a Christian standpoint as it currently is. Children should learn Applied Religion not religion taught from a Christian point of view. It’s disgusting that this is allowed to happen. Just like religious schools.

What does this mean? It isn't taught that way in any school I've worked in. Don't know so much about primaries mind you. Noone teaches Judaism "from a Christian perspective" for example, that is not what happens.

More people are agnostic (aren't sure what to believe- myself included) or atheist (which is a religious position- believing in something that they cannot possibly know i.e. that God doesn't/Gods don't exist).

There's no point claiming it's all due to science because people still believe in all sorts of crazy crap and describe themselves as 'spiritual' because they like to do their horoscope or use crystals.

It's also because most people have no real knowledge of religion- for example in the bible Jesus was incredibly forward thinking and associated with women who were shamed by society and was very egalitarian. A lot of our country's principles (e.g. that disabled people deserve to be looked after and survive; that kids matter) are based on Christian principles. I say all this as an agnostic because how can I possibly know whether God exists or not!

@carebear50 I've just spent an hour watching that video, a very interesting man!

"I'd like to think it's because critical thinking skills are improving, but I don't see much other evidence for that."
This. And sadly, we worship at a different altar

Well I'd say because people are more capable of critical thinking. But then there are conspiracy theorists and antivaxxers so maybe it's just newer things to believe in?

I’m a secondary school teacher, I’ve had years of kids moaning about the Christian standpoint. My own children hated it.

Any questions have to be argued with an underpinning of Christian faith. If you don’t do this you won’t get the marks, even though your argument may be valid. If it’s not Christian you’ve failed.

It makes you g people SO angry. They have lots of valid and relevant opinions that can’t be used. As it had to be a Christian point of view.

Because it's nonsense

[quote ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown]@carebear50 I've just spent an hour watching that video, a very interesting man![/quote]
I'm glad you liked it

I could listen to him all day. He's a Christian.....but he practises true Christianity and is obviously a very learned intelligent man.

I think so many people totally dismiss Christianity .....but I think listening to someone like professor John c Lennox, and his hitchens and Dawkins debates really raises the bar and might make people think outside the box a little
...

Re But mainly the bible is full of men. Hanging out with a man. Women aren’t really represented. The majority of religions are headed by a male icon who repressed women.

Mary was a woman. Esther had a book named after her. Eve has a lot to answer for, and lets not talk about Jezebel! Those are only a few of the women mentioned in the bible.

Too outdated and out of touch with todays society, particularly Catholicism where a Priest will give holy communion to a rapist, but not to a divorcee. I was told this from somebody from within the local church society.

@ZoeTurtle

I'd like to think it's because critical thinking skills are improving, but I don't see much other evidence for that.

Nor do I, especially looking at the Coronavirus threads. Organised religion is out of fashion but I suspect there are a lot of people with belief in a higher power quietly doing their own thing.

Because anyone with half a brain, and half an education, knows it's total bollocks?

Religion is a pointless outdated concept that has no relevance in today’s society. It’s more about community for folk that go than religious worship these days.

@zingally

Because anyone with half a brain, and half an education, knows it's total bollocks?

I’ll tell my Buddhist friends who both have PhDs that, shall I?

@ChancesWhatChances

Religion is a pointless outdated concept that has no relevance in today’s society. It’s more about community for folk that go than religious worship these days.

I'm inclined to agree with you.

Ironically the rude, sneering posters who are unable to accept that there are a lot of rational well educated people who are capable of critical thinking have a faith, are the ones who appear not to be capable of anything other than poke fun at believers.

I'm agnostic BTW. I am not afraid of religion, nor do I poke fun at people with a faith. It is called respect.

@Icenii

I think we need to move back to our celtic roots. Back to celebrating nature and the natural cycles. Because we have progressed we don't need to personify concepts anymore, but I really believe it would improve the health and wellbeing of us and the earth.

As a female, I can't see why anyone would celebrate a religion where they actively contributed to women being seen as unequal etc. Look at how celtic festivals celebrated fertility and sexuality and how Christianity destroyed it, and women in the process.

Pre-Christian Celtic religion was, as far as we know, pretty harsh!

I always wonder when I hear things like this, what does this romanticised view of the religious practices people had come from? In truth what is known is limited - a lot of modern things we associate with paganism are really neopagan and very modern - but what we do know is not some kind of airy-fairy appealing highly individualistic set of beliefs that would appeal to most modern non-religious people. Nature is great, but it's pretty harsh and hierarchical, and worship of nature creates a harsh mindset.

I am a theist but I have no trouble believing that atheists number amongst them as many intelligent, well educated, critical thinkers as there are among those who believe in God.
There are also many unintelligent or closed minded people who don't believe in God, just as there are among those who do.
I think any argument that begins with the premise that those who think differently to you are thick, will never be sound.

Mary was a woman. Esther had a book named after her. Eve has a lot to answer for, and lets not talk about Jezebel! Those are only a few of the women mentioned in the bible.

I meant it was typified by male superiority. None of the women were particularly powerful or important. They’re just a side issue to magnify the importance of men.

There are so many different versions of the bible how do you know which one is the truth?
People are becoming more spiritual imo

Free will

@ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown

I am a theist but I have no trouble believing that atheists number amongst them as many intelligent, well educated, critical thinkers as there are among those who believe in God. There are also many unintelligent or closed minded people who don't believe in God, just as there are among those who do. I think any argument that begins with the premise that those who think differently to you are thick, will never be sound.

Well said

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

It may be a relevant message, but the majority of people don’t read the bible so don’t know about it.

And that is the crux. It’s a dying cause. People aren’t interested anymore, it doesn’t hold the threat it used to.

Will there even be Christianity in 100 years🤔there’s hardly any now!

Christianity is still the biggest religion in the world!

Re your comment:
And why does God allow things like famines, tsunamis, floods etc. where there is no human doing the harm but many innocent people are killed?

Unfortunately there are loads of humans doing harm

The balance of the earth has been wrecked by humans - polluting the air, ozone layer, rivers and seas, decimating rainforests etc. and causing global warming - which is responsible for some of these natural disasters

With famine, there are too many countries who receive charity donations but the goverment keep it and don't hand it to their needy people

The awful thing is there is enough on this earth to keep everyone fed, we just don't share it fairly

I agree a lot of the bible is hard to understand, but there are so many good lessons in there
Many of the things Jesus says in the gospels in encouraging people to improve on previous rules and traditions and do what really matters; I think he would have a lot to say today to move things on further!