To ask how many Christians you know in real life?

[Shutupdad]

In the census it said that now less than half of the UK identify as Christians. I am amazed it’s so high since personally I know a few elderly people and one family who are very born again/evangelical who are Christian in my real life. The vast majority of people I know are agnostic or atheist. I don’t have very strong views on religion. I’m Agnostic but I enjoy going to church on Christmas and Easter. I find there to be something comforting about the services but I can’t really describe myself as a Christian. Maybe I just live in a bubble and there are loads of religious people out there. It seems like only the very enthusiastic evangelical type of church seems to be growing and even then it’s quite small numbers. Aibu to ask if you know any Christians?

It’s about your own circle though, isn’t it? That 50% isn’t evenly distributed throughout the population or across the geography of the UK.

Hundreds! But then I am married to a vicar!

I can only think of three people I know who I know absolutely would call themselves Christian: an old school friend who is a proper Baptist Evangelical (she did several years on an overseas mission boat), a good colleague of mine who is active in his (Catholic) church, and a mum friend who I know is very involved in her church. There are a handful more people who I am pretty confident would describe themselves as Christian but I don't know how religious they are in practice.

Lots. Most of my social circle. There are a couple of friends that would define themselves as Christian too without really being practising. I would actually find it hard to name a friend I know from outside of work that wouldn't call themselves a Christian.

I work with older people and we often survey them including on religion. Unless they are Muslim, in our area I would say its rare for them to describe themselves as anything other than Christian.

Most of my friends and a large proportion of my work colleagues.

Most elderly people I know identify as Christian but they don't go to church or anything.

Quite a few, they tend to be pensioners but since lockdown have seen a few in their 40-60's starting to talk about their faith.

Me, my DD, DH and DMIL. Oh and the approx 150 people at my church and a fair few at our Community Choir.
Then there’s 3 work colleagues and the lady three doors down.

The Census results were only England and Wales- so not representative of the UK.
I know lots of Christians - all ages and denominations.

My whole congregation at church, for starters, and many of my relatives, plus several of the members of my table tennis club in another village, and some of my bridge club in the nearest city. I used to teach Sunday school a few years ago, and had 25 pupils each week.
The church is very much the focal point of our community, and still relevant. We open as a warm hub on weekdays for people who can’t afford heating, run a pensioners group and raise funds for food banks and collect toys and clothes for local charities.

Hardly anyone really. One friend I was at university with 30 years ago. Someone I vaguely know in my village who's a layperson attached to the village church and school. Even at the village CE primary school where my dc used to go, I don't think any of the parents were churchgoers. I imagine by the law if averages a few ofmy colleagues are probably Christians, but not that I know of.

I'm a staunch atheist, as are my dh and dc. My dad too. DM thinks it 'would be nice to believe' but doesn't! My grandparents weren't Christians either.

Many, both C of E and Catholics. Some more devout than others

I'm currently in a room with:
14 Christians
1 Sikh
1muslim
1 atheist
1 uckg cult member

I read that whilst peop!e identify as being broadly Christian, say they believe in God ,have their children,baptised etc many don't attend church regularly.

Curious to whether you're saying that from a Scottish or a NI perspective? Anecdotally, I am Scottish but living in England now and I always get the impression that people are more likely to be religious down here (although could be down to the areas I'm from and now live in, I guess!)

Go to church regularly - 6, maybe 7

Have an real underlying Christian faith, whether they go to church regularly or not - perhaps 12.

I'd be very surprised if it is half of my acquaintance.

Quite literally hundreds and hundreds - but I do work for CofE!

My mum, a few of my parents’ neighbours, some of my mum’s friends, a handful of my colleagues… There must also be Christians at DD’s school, given it’s a C of E primary. One of my friends is Catholic and another is a Methodist, although I don’t think either of them go to church much these days.

Very few......I can think of one friend who goes to church weekly and is heavily involved in church activities.
I have a couple of friends who send their kids to church schools but they're more "high days and holidays" type church goers.
My parents live next door to a retired vicar and I have an old school friend who's now in the clergy.

Where I live in South London there are a lot of African churches (apologies if that's not the correct way of saying it) so I know a lot of people who attend. I find members of these churches tend to not just attend church but church and their faith is very important to them and much of their lives are about it. It's very much part of their 'lifestyle' and they are very proud of their faith.
I have close friends (white 'english') who attend an alternative church. Again it's very much part of their life - not just Sunday service etc.
After my father in law passed away my mother in law starting going. She attended as a child (but that was fairly common thing to do in her childhood era). She goes for the company. The average age of this white, old fashioned semi middle class church is about 85. Unless they change something that church will be gone in a few years. But they seem reluctant to modernize.

Plenty of people don't announce their beliefs!

E.g. at work, it would be a bit off to go around introducing yourself as a Christian/inviting people to church etc.

I know a priest. His wife is also Christian and so are their children.

Me? I’m their heathen friend. 😆

Seriously tho, I know plenty of people who identify as Christian but most aren’t active in the church (the few that are are only as active as it takes to get their kids baptised and into a particular school).

Churchgoing committed Christians? 3. One of whom is getting more extreme and is probably going to end up drifting away from my circle of friends.

The other two are part of the support group for relatives of addicts I am in and are bloody marvellous.

Oh and actually my aunt is a very religions. Pretty much to the point she’s a fanatic (think Carrie’s mum). But I don’t really talk to her much (like once a decade at most, she’s that bad).

Two, maybe? My ex SIL wears a cross and got married/her kids christened in a church but says it’s mostly a family thing and another member of my ex’s family asked me when I was getting my DS christened when I was pregnant and didn’t much enjoy being told that I wasn’t.

My best friend was raised JW but does not feel positively about it now and isn’t part of any religion.

Then again I don’t tend to ask about people’s religious beliefs, if they’re relevant (ie diet or lifestyle restrictions) then the person will usually let you know.