To ask why religion is declining in Britain

[Jackieweaver2024]

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

I don't know a single religious person who doesn't believe in evolution, or who thinks the world is only a few thousand years old

I know one, my moronic MP. He is a creationist and the most ignorant man you will ever meet.

Christianity, historically, was all about controlling the masses. It’s been replaced in the UK by Murdoch media. It fulfills the same desire huge swathes of the population have to be told what to do, how to think and be reassured that they are the better than others.

Being rich.

The Uk is a relatively wealthy country.

God says it is hard for rich people to become Christians[they rely on money instead of God].

Because people no longer want to believe in an imaginary creator in the sky. Instead they believe in antivax or aliens or underground child-stealing or whatever the latest is.

I actually do know some people who believe this. Because their church tells them so. Zero critical thinking involved. These people include a doctor, a former town councillor, a former archaeology/palaeontology enthusiast, & a former CofE vicar. Ask them any question that remotely challenges the boundaries of their beliefs, & you'll get the answer "I need to consult with the pastor about that". Totally brainwashed

Completely agree! Utter brainwashing.

@RunningFromInsanity
I don’t think it is.
Christianity is decreasing in the UK but worldwide I would say the percentage of religious people is the same

I would say you are correct. In many countries, Christianity is increasing. Sadly, not in the UK.

It’s like that Scientology stuff. Watched a documentary about it and was astonished that people not only bought in to it, but paid money to get to the next level.

I mean, it’s actually sad in a way that people are being deceived in such a way....

Someone I know, said that he was a sunday school teacher in the 60s. Once TV was normal in peoples' homes, attendance dropped dramatically from then onwards.

I mean, it’s actually sad in a way that people are being deceived in such a way....

What’s sad, I think, is how poorly-developed your arguments are and how ill-informed you are.

No, I am not a Scientologist!

@mnahmnah
Church attendance is dropping in the mainstream churches but rising in the new, evangelical style churches, which doesn’t get counted in the official figures.

Does it not? I didnt know that.
Well that makes a big difference.
Of the younger people I know going to church, I would say the vast majority attend evangelical style churches.

From what I know, and someone could correct me, it is actually middle aged people that are the least well represented in churches. Not the young.

I don't think Islam is declining at all in Britain. If anything, its popularity is increasing.

Or did you actually mean Christianity OP?

Because it's unnecessary imo. It's extremely possible to be a good person with a strong moral code and connections to the community without religion. In the past, it would have been much harder to be openly non-religious without suffering discrimination.

I think the access to education and encouragement of critical thinking/ connecting with others of different faiths and none is helping too. It's a good thing imo.

@HeidiHaughton Because none of it makes any sense

That could be partly the fault of churches.

But individuals are supposed to seek God for themselves.
Most people can read, and Bibles cost about £15

Have you yourself tried to seek God?

People are not as easily fooled by the scaremongering bs that religion teaches
People dont feel obligated to worship a imaginary friend to be seen as a good person
Why would any sane person link themselves to pedofile rings, which i believe is the heart most religious organisations .

People have better things to do.

@SionnachRua Because it's unnecessary imo. It's extremely possible to be a good person with a strong moral code and connections to the community without religion

Sadly, that doesnt get you to Heaven alone, though.

@Iamthewombat

I mean, it’s actually sad in a way that people are being deceived in such a way....

What’s sad, I think, is how poorly-developed your arguments are and how ill-informed you are.

No, I am not a Scientologist!

🤣😂 Ok then....

Just to point out, the onus isn’t on me, as an atheist, to explain why there isn’t a god.

I don’t need to ague against something that no one can prove exists. Take you’re pick of which god, given that there’s hundreds!

Sadly, that doesnt get you to Heaven alone, though.

Ah well, that only matters if you believe Heaven exists. I don't. You may as well say I'm not going to Asgard, it has much the same impact on me.

Because established religion like Cof E is no longer in any way relevant to the rest of the population. My DC were Cathedral choristers and what I saw was appalling - no pastoral care, no recognition they were anything other than singing machines and no recognition of the gospel from Cathedral clergy - one female Canon told me that there was no need whatsoever to turn the other cheek unless the other party did so too...

I think it’s because it is no longer rammed down your neck all the time plus the awful crimes unearthed in the name of really ie child abuse and the wars caused by religion. Also people are no longer scared of voicing their views.
Yes religion is comforting to some but creates bad memories for others.

We are better educated these days therefore the decline of religious beliefs is inevitable. Superstition belongs in the past.

Because it's bonkers.

I thought we'd been moving away from religion since The Enlightenment.

I'm always amazed that people still have religious faith.

It seems utterly bizarre to me that we still alow so much abuse and subjugation of women under the auspices of most religions.

Certainly all the major religions aren't exactly pro-women, and all manner of practices are tolerated because we have, for some reason, decided that religious belief is a protected characteristic.

You can be prosecuted for religious 'hate-crime' in the UK, we by law have to respect people's mad beliefs in imaginary entities and the 'laws' that arise around them.

But misogyny isn't a crime.

I'm just not ok with any of that.

Because established religion like Cof E is no longer in any way relevant to the rest of the population. My DC were Cathedral choristers and what I saw was appalling - no pastoral care, no recognition they were anything other than singing machines

So you lost your faith because your chorister children weren’t praised enough?

It's all bullshit. The morality is fine. Science disproves everything else.

People have access to more information more easily than before. They can see and hear arguments from both sides without leaving home. See contradictions in arguments. There is also more religious knowledge, we know so many different different religions exist which instead causes a conundrum. Which religion is right?

People can get sense of community in a million different things now, from gaming to hobby groups.

Religion hasn't moved with the times fast enough, while some may say religion shouldn't change yet believe in a bible of two different laws then it seems 2000 years after that shouldn't there be updates? Obviously sone religions do and are more accepting of modern values but many are not.

The pressure to believe isn't here, I would say most people up I talk to would be agnostic, very few people I encounter on a day to day basis practice conservative religion.

I was raised in religion, left on my mid 30s.