United Kingdom, a Christian state? Not anymore…
April 19, 2008 by Mark
…according to a United Nations investigation, into the role of religion in the UK, and also by the latest edition of Social Trends, a report published by the Office for National Statistics and described as “An established reference source”, aggregating “social and economic data from a wide range of government departments” and painting “a broad picture of UK society today, and how it has been changing.”
We’re all familiar with the 71.6% figure commonly cited by Church of England apologists, terrified by the increasing criticism of Christianity’s over representation in the United Kingdom. In a country where both the Head of State, and some members of the House of Lords, represent a National Church, the United Nations’ recent calculation that half (only two thirds for 18-24 year olds) of all britons are non-religious and that the 71.6% figure of 2001 is no longer accurate, will come as quite a shock to many. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the UN report also requested the disestablishment of the Church of England, the influence and high profile of which they claim does not mirror “the religious demography of the country and the rising proportion of other Christian denominations.” Ofcourse, some would say that, recently, the Church of England has been doing a very good job of disestablishing itself…
Personally, I’d say the following quote pretty much sums up the real reason for the CofE’s existence:
“The only sensible conclusion to draw from the uniquely privileged position of the Church of England - its official status, the bishops’ seats in the House of Lords, the Prime Minister’s right to appoint senior clerics and so on - is not that it represents some profound spirituality in the people, but that it suits mutually convenient purposes for state and Church”
-”The English” by Jeremy Paxman, p99-100
With only 38% of those Britons that took part in a recent Eurobarometer survey declaring a belief in God, 45.8% rejecting affiliation to any religion, and with those considering themselves Anglicans dropping by 7.1% in the past decade, the Office for National Statistics’ recent report seems even more stark for the poor old CofE.
“…the ongoing, growing, and powerful movement called secularism, a way of understanding and living that is indifferent to religion — in fact, not even concerned enough to pay it any attention, much less oppose it.”
-National Council of Churches, Handbook of Denominations: Secularisation.
It would appear that the claims of social theorists, that there has been a rapid process of secularisation of British society since the 1950s, are proving more of a reality than even the most wild eyed anti-theists might have hoped. It is no coincidence that the increasing secularisation of Europe correlates with the rise of Science and ongoing modernisation; it appears that the further development and implementation of secular ethics, transnational democratic government, and gender equality may go hand-in-hand with the diminishing authority of religious institutions.
“DALAI LAMA SAYS SECULARISM IS THE TRUE ROUTE TO HAPPINESS
The Dalai Lama has come out in defence of secularism. Speaking in Tokyo, the Tibetan spiritual figurehead said: “Secularism does not mean rejection of all religions. It means respect for all religions and human beings including non-believers. I am talking to you not as a Tibetan or a Buddhist but as a human being having a friendly discussion and sharing my experiences on the benefits of cultivating basic human values.”
In a lecture on “A Good Heart - The key to Health and Happiness” the Dalai Lama emphasises that cultivating secular ethics - which he said has nothing to do with religion - benefits all human beings. He said strengthening inner values of warm-heartedness and compassion benefits both believers and non-believers in leading a happy and meaningful life. He said, “Love and compassion attracts, hatred and anger repels. [...] Peace does not mean absence of conflicts. Differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; through humane ways,” the Dalai Lama said amidst a thunderous applause.
Terry Sanderson, vice president of the National Secular Society, said: “It is not often that we can raise a cheer for a religious leader, but the Dalai Lama is sensible to say that a universal ethic is better than one based on religion. Secularism asks us to keep our religion to ourselves, which enables us as human beings to share what unites us rather than what divides us.”
-National Secular Society newsletter, 2006 Nov 17
Two questions for you. First, what gives the U.N. any right to dictate religion to England? Second, after the Archbishop of Canterbury recently suggested that England adopt sharia law, doesn’t it seem like the Church of England would be on it’s way to history soon anyway, as well as any religion other than Islam?
Good questions!
I presume the United Nations investigates the role and status of religion in all its major member countries; I don’t think the report aimed to dictate on religion, but merely highlighted the fact that the unique privileges of the Church of England are no longer representative of the British people. In a democratic, mostly secular country - that also boasts over 170 different religions - it remains a mystery, why being a bishop, of only one of the many denominations of Christianity in Britain, should automatically win you a seat in the House of Lords.
“Britain is the only country left in the democratic world that allows clerics to sit in its legislature as of right”
-National Secular Society newsletter, 2007 Jul 07.
I definitely agree with you on your second point, it seems like the Church of England is doing a pretty good job of sealing its own coffin. In fact, I guess I agree with you on your first point as well; regardless of whether the Church of England should be disestablished, it’s arguably not the place of the UN to request so. I think it seems particularly irritating because Britain has proved itself fully capable of secularisation, and the Church of England’s status is increasingly just a peculiar artefact of this country’s history, rather than a political reality.
According to the same research, there has been a large proportional increase in the number of Jews, Hindus and Muslims (from 1.8% to 3.3%) in Britain. However, this is probably due to immigration, wider samples and an increase in the number respondents from ethnic minorities - a group sometimes under represented in national surveys.
I believe the Dalai Lama has a great point and I believe in order for we the people to discover the truth both sides have to come into view, especially in the schools and allow the students to choose, which philosophy serves them best. The schools at the present are creating half-wits and the children seem completely un-interested and are very rebellious toward the civilization. I think ideas come from somewhere other then ourselves and all constructive ideas are important. The scientific and religious community should reason together. I sense we are a creation and an evolution and we can also de-evolute, depending on how we use our free will.
Whenever religion and politics intertwine, both suffer.
Just look into the Middle East and all throughout Europe.
Whether the real reason behind “religious wars” is because religion or not, religion in a strong enough issue, that people will die for it.
Religion should be removed from all “commons” and/or public eye.
No money should be used for any one religious, if not any, when it comes to the public.
If a church or religion wants to start up a group, they should act legally like corporations and be taxed accordingly.
That way, they cannot steal, (at least not as much) as say the Catholic Church and the United States support for tax-funded “Faith based” initiatives, where American’s tax money is used to fund private tax-free religious organizations, more direct, Christian foundations that teach hatred.
Corey Mondello
Boston, Massachusetts
http://www.CoreyMondello.com
4-22-08