UK: Is religion on the way out? (1 Viewer)

[ltasey]

I'm from the States and was wondering why church attendance is so high in the US but on the wane in the UK. What's going on in the UK that makes people indifferent or not attracted to Christianity?


The States and UK are similar in many ways (modern industrialized countries with good education systems), yet the appetite for religion is stronger in America.

Why is this?

ltasey

 

[MoonlightSonata]

(I am not sure if the above post was sarcastic or not but the US has one of the highest crime rates in the world, I believe.)

 

[Ilija]

The majority of the first settlers of the U S of The A were all religious nuts known as pilgrams, they didn't like the way that the COE ( Church of England) was run. America has allways been more religious, because they were built on the fundementals of Pilgranism. Where as Britain was more open with different cultures. Plus tis the American way of life mojority of people go to church on sundays because they are just used to it.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

This is a good article on it.

http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/churchstate.html

 

[Ilija]

This is a good article on it.

http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/churchstate.html

Good stuff NTB, love your work *thumbs up*

 

[insert-username]

I'm from the States and was wondering why church attendance is so high in the US but on the wane in the UK. What's going on in the UK that makes people indifferent or not attracted to Christianity?


The States and UK are similar in many ways (modern industrialized countries with good education systems), yet the appetite for religion is stronger in America.

Why is this?

ltasey

In the US, would you say that God is used often as representing what's good or right, especially to children? From what I know, I think that religion, Christianity in particular, gets embedded in American children right from birth, with God used as a powerful symbol to help keep them in line. I don't think this trait is quite so common around the rest of the industralised world, and reason for new generations to begin abandoning the Church.

NTB's article also poses an excellent point... I never thought of things that way.


I_F

 

[Wolfowitz]

In the US, would you say that God is used often as representing what's good or right, especially to children? From what I know, I think that religion, Christianity in particular, gets embedded in American children right from birth, with God used as a powerful symbol to help keep them in line. I don't think this trait is quite so common around the rest of the industralised world, and reason for new generations to begin abandoning the Church.

NTB's article also poses an excellent point... I never thought of things that way.


I_F

You're confusing the role of the church with the boogie man, Santa and the Easter Bunny.

As many Americans do.

 

[insert-username]

You're confusing the role of the church with the boogie man, Santa and the Easter Bunny.

As many Americans do.

Thanks for reinforcing my point.


I_F

 

[xeuyrawp]

The US always has had a large church turn out.. And we can see a correlation with the USA's remarkably low crime rate.

Sarcasm doesn't transfer well through the internet, jackass.

 

[Sonic]

they didn't like the way that the COE ( Church of England) was run.

who does seriously!!! does anyone here follow the COE??? i'd like to know why...

 

[neo o]

who does seriously!!! does anyone here follow the COE??? i'd like to know why...

The majority of Christians in this country for starters.

 

[withoutaface]

Wrong. There are more catholics than anglicans.

 

[euskadi_warrior]

yeh, withoutaface is right. i thought there were more anglicans in australia, hence being the national religion. a few decades ago, there would have been more anglicans.

1996 census:

Catholics: 26.82%
Anglicans: 21.82%

 

[sparkl3z]

good. religion is stupid

 

[mr EaZy]

The majority of Christians in this country for starters.

last time i checked- the majority in this country are catholics and not COE (AKA anglican)

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/56c35cc256682bc0ca256dea00053a7a?OpenDocument

 

[mr EaZy]

anglican was the predominant a few decades ago but catholicism has now taken over.

 

[mr EaZy]

the Americans follow a more evangelical form of christianity- where the faith is seen as a moving force for society

they have all these great speakers doing stand up preaching in malls and on stages etc- they're quite good at what they do actually! now they have preachers at boxing matches as well...


with the crime rate thing- its probably a social phenomenon- most of the prison population is black. thats a fact - and they couldnt afford attorneys and that is a reason why the death penalty there is seen as a fraud because it doesnt distinguish those who had access to good lawyers and others who couldnt afford one but got a state sponsored one

the USA has about 20 million homeless people
it also has sectors with really poor development- and this was highlighted during the katrina hurricane disaster

the emphasis on crime in the US used to be on the mafia in NY but now its drugs charges and firearms - they have a special branch to handle alll these : the ATF i think its called...
kinda like the FBI only dealing with tobacco(drugs) and firearms (i cant remember what the A stands for)

 

[Ilija]

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms = ATF


Onto the American thing, religion doesnt really have anything to do with the crime rate, its just a badly run country, and like Mr Eazy stated theres poverty all over the place. I went there in 2003 and I went to real life ghettos lol America, unless your rich and wealthy is not a good place to be.

 

[Wolfowitz]

America is also more prevalently white.

If you go to London you'll be surprised by one thing: the number of black people.

 

[ihavenothing]

America is also more prevalently white.

If you go to London you'll be surprised by one thing: the number of black people.

Bullshit, have you ever been to Detroit (84% black), Harlem (63%) or South Central LA (78%), The USA is now only officially 69% white mainly due to immigration from Mexico. African Americans make up about 13% of the total American population.

If you go to Brixton or the East End you'll be overwhelmed by Black Britons, but not much in Scotland or places like Wiltshire and Essex. Only 2% of Britons are Afro-Carribean.

The Afro Carribean community in the UK is also a lot more integrated than African Americans, you'll find. ie. Lenny Henry, Heather Small, Trisha, Seal, etc.