Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

To ask how many Christians you know in real life?

147 replies

Shutupdad · 01/12/2022 16:03

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?

OP posts:

Mentalpiece · 02/12/2022 07:37

Quite a lot of people.
My husband is a vicar.

thehorsehasnowbolted · 02/12/2022 07:41

Maybe I just live in a bubble and there are loads of religious people out there

Extremely likely

80% of people I know are Christians. It's not an endangered species as you want to portray in you post

Girasoli · 02/12/2022 07:43

Lots, but we are regular churchgoers with DC in Catholic school, and both from Catholic countries.

(We don't just know Catholics, we also know Orthodox and Evangelical Christians...less C of E Chritsians though)

HarvestThyme · 02/12/2022 07:48

Of my friends - maybe 8 or so? That's people who mention going to church regularly or are active in church-run charities. Ages between 30 and 60. I am not religious myself and have nothing to do with church. The majority of my friends are not religious.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 02/12/2022 07:48

One friend who is a church going Christian and my father in me who is a vicar plus my mother in law. Don't know any others.

I'm sure there's a few more people I know who would describe themselves as Christian if filling in a form but don't go to church or practice any kind of religious activity.

Newnamefor2021 · 02/12/2022 08:23

Lots. But I was raise in a high demand religion so I grew up with them.

I know a lot of people who define themselves as Christians on forms but never went to church too. My grandparents for example.

I'm atheist now, but honesty most people li know believe in something. I'd love more atheist friends though.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 02/12/2022 08:38

Fewer than ten I would say. I know many agnostics, and more atheists.

RampantIvy · 02/12/2022 08:41

Quite a few. One of my friendship groups is through a church that I used to go to before we moved house. It isn't a religious group though. It just happens that we all know each other through the church.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/12/2022 08:44

Loads. I'm a practicing catholic.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/12/2022 09:12

Loads because my children go to church schools. Not sure how religious most are though, probably not very.

Im not surprised Christians are in a minority and I don’t think we should have a state religion. I don’t think anywhere should!

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 02/12/2022 09:13

Loads.... but then I'm a Christian!

JustBecause22 · 02/12/2022 09:14

Lot's - more Christians than non-Christian. But then I'm Christian, so it kinda makes sense!

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 02/12/2022 09:15

Ps I'm actually quite pleased with the census - for too long, people have ticked the Christian box without it meaning much to them outside of Xmas/Easter. So for me, the new census shows those with a real practicing faith and therefore I think that's a healthy number 🙂

KimberleyClark · 02/12/2022 09:22

Relative is a C of E vicar, and friend of DH’s a Methodist minister. They are both quite fun - minister plays in a blues band. Also know a good few practising Catholics, and our best friends are Quakers.

cakeorwine · 02/12/2022 09:23

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 02/12/2022 09:15

Does it? It asked what is your religion? That in itself is a leading question .

The British Social Attitudes survey asks:

Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?

And if people say yes, then they ask what religion are you?

Turns out if you ask that question, then you get a different response.

The latest British Social Attitudes Survey has shown that the share of the population belonging to no religion has continued to grow, now standing at 53%, with 12% Anglicans, 7% Catholics, 18% other Christians, and 9% all other religions. More than that, it also shows that the share of non-religious people will continue to rise over the coming decades, with some 68% of 18-24 year olds saying they belong to no religion, versus just 18% saying they are Christians – including 0.7% saying they are Anglicans.

humanists.uk/2021/04/01/latest-british-social-attitudes-survey-shows-huge-generational-surge-in-the-non-religious/

Managinggenzoclock · 02/12/2022 09:26

Loads and loads. 1000s probably. But I am part of a large modern church which is connected with other large churches. The over 60s are probably the smallest age bracket. If you’re an atheist you obviously are less likely to meet Christians and vice versa. It’s the real life version of the Facebook echo chamber.

BuryingAcorns · 02/12/2022 09:28

Loads. Grew up in an atheist family but both DSis and I became Christian, aunt is RC, one DS is, next door neighbours both sides - elderly one side, young family on the other side, all neighbours right the way down one side of our street all attend church. Close friends are RC and Quaker, (though many other close friends are atheist)

Managinggenzoclock · 02/12/2022 09:30

cakeorwine · 02/12/2022 09:23

Does it? It asked what is your religion? That in itself is a leading question .

The British Social Attitudes survey asks:

Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?

And if people say yes, then they ask what religion are you?

Turns out if you ask that question, then you get a different response.

humanists.uk/2021/04/01/latest-british-social-attitudes-survey-shows-huge-generational-surge-in-the-non-religious/

Show quote history

I do get a bit irritated when humanists (athesist faith) try to claim all non religious people as their members. Not being sure or having a particular affiliation doesn’t mean that you support humanism which is most definitely a faith grouping.
When I worked in a c of e school our poor administrator spent hours replying to all their daft FOI requests. Yes, the vicar comes and does assemblies from time to time. It’s very much a lobbying group.

Anonymouseposter · 02/12/2022 09:32

I know quite a few people who are Christian. Some are evangelical non conformist, some Catholic, some Anglican. I also know a lot of people who might describe themselves as Christian or as agnostic depending how the question was phrased.

cakeorwine · 02/12/2022 09:33

Not being sure or having a particular affiliation doesn’t mean that you support humanism which is most definitely a faith grouping

It means that people who say they don't belong to a particular religion don't belong to a particular religion.

Take from that what you will

And yes - a lobbying group - to remove the privilege the C of E has as the State Religious Church

MrsMariaReynolds · 02/12/2022 09:42

Loads, but I work in a faith school as well as our local Cathedral so my circles are a bit sleectiv.

I have a handful of non-work/non-church friends who aren't Christian, however.

Planesmistakenforstars · 02/12/2022 10:37

DP has a relative who regularly attends church. Other than that none, as far as I'm aware.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread