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Over 50% of the UK has no religion poll suggests

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
I blame TV shows like Monty Python and Benny Hill. Its their fault! -- no not really. I think TV is a component of a process resulting from many factors.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.

I suppose it's that religion can be viewed as impractical and unnecessary. Maybe even a little crazy, given how people act at times. That or maybe because people take religion a little too seriously to a point where it becomes a little bit ridiculous in light of the advances we've made so far in light of the sciences and social progression.
 

England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
I suppose it's that religion can be viewed as impractical and unnecessary. Maybe even a little crazy, given how people act at times. That or maybe because people take religion a little too seriously to a point where it becomes a little bit ridiculous in light of the advances we've made so far in light of the sciences and social progression.

I agree,I think IT and a more accessible educations a factor too.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I think a lot of it may have to do with Muslim extremist groups and seeing how they do uphold their scriptures, but in a very strict and rigid manner, and also people reading the Bible and realizing that our own sense of morality and right-and-wrong is so vastly superior to and so far removed from what the Bible teaches as moral and good that people are left with no choice but to go without or spend a ton of time trying to reconcile things that can't be reconciled.
 

England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
I think a lot of it may have to do with Muslim extremist groups and seeing how they do uphold their scriptures, but in a very strict and rigid manner, and also people reading the Bible and realizing that our own sense of morality and right-and-wrong is so vastly superior to and so far removed from what the Bible teaches as moral and good that people are left with no choice but to go without or spend a ton of time trying to reconcile things that can't be reconciled.

I agree,we are more capable than what a religion allows us Imo.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I agree,we are more capable than what a religion allows us Imo.
Very much so. Over this week, I've been pondering over several points in my past, particularly of those things I am for/against, have always held that position, but when I was a Christian I was hit with this road block that I had to change my views to become in favor of just because that was the Biblical position (the death penalty being one such thing, that the only time I ever did support it was because "the Bible told me so"). And then there are those things I wouldn't have been against at all, ever, but again religion taught me how to be intolerant towards others, and how to hate myself. Reason and logic stopped, what took their place was the words of ancient men who believed in the possibility of man who survived being eaten by a whale.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
CS Lewis saw secular culture increasing, and he was alarmed and sought to alarm others. The third book in his science fiction series outlined a worst case scenario and symbolically associated secular culture with Satanism. You might say he was the first modern Satanic scaremonger, though he was a dedicated Christian. He wrote Mere Christianity in defense of religion and tied his concerns about secularization to all of his fictional works. Many people, like CS Lewis, saw secular life increasing and wondered what the results would be. Would it result in a regression from social progress thus far obtained? Some worried and some not. So CS Lewis was one of those opponents who partially documented the UK's transition to its current religious status.
 

The Emperor of Mankind

Currently the galaxy's spookiest paraplegic
Well it looks like all the usual arguments for continuing Christian privilege in the UK just flew out the window. Time to disestablish the Church of England, remove the Lords Spiritual from the House of Lords, remove the unelected Christian officials from Scottish local education committees and stop mandating that public schools should indoctrinate children with Christian beliefs.
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
I'd say much has to do with anti-science attitudes that some people base on their religious views. With enough education hearing some anti-science rhetoric tends to alienate. Every time a religious leader speaks their mind about it, people leave the church.

Another reason is hypocritical behavior of church leaders. People are becoming less tolerant of that. Every scandal sees people leave the religions.
 

England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
Well it looks like all the usual arguments for continuing Christian privilege in the UK just flew out the window. Time to disestablish the Church of England, remove the Lords Spiritual from the House of Lords, remove the unelected Christian officials from Scottish local education committees and stop mandating that public schools should indoctrinate children with Christian beliefs.

I agree it should,take it out of church or religious schools and let children make an informed choice when they reach adulthood,of course though,parents are still a problem there though.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Religion has lost adherents because, quite simply, it is no longer quite as appealling as it used to be relatively few decades ago.

While better education and the advancement of science are a part of the reasons why, I don't think they are very significant factors. If anything, those are spurs for religion to become more relevant, and for better reasons.

I think a more accurate explanation is that religious groups used to be an almost necessary part of social integration at times when there were very few useful alternatives. As work careers became more varied and communications and recreation followed suit, being part of a church became far more optional and often takes the appearance of a "retro" choice, fairly or otherwise.

Personally, I doubt that this has much to do with a decrease of theism. Theism seems to me to never have been quite as prevalent and as solidly rooted as many people assume. It is just considerably easier to openly deny it now than it used to be in times past - and that is a good thing for unbelievers and a far better thing for believers.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member

Back in 1972 while in London I mentioned the Bible to a young woman and WOW did I get an ear full of all the English history horrors committed by Christendom in the name of religion.
So, it is any wonder religious waters ( people ) are drying up spiritually.
Just as foretold at Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30 that false clergy would be fleecing the flock of God.
People can easily poke holes, so to speak, in the teachings of Christendom, because they think they are poking holes in Scripture. In reality I find they are finding holes in church customs or church traditions outside of Scripture but are just being taught as being Scripture, and they have No interest in finding out otherwise.
 

SabahTheLoner

Master of the Art of Couch Potato Cuddles
Religion in a traditional sense is very limiting. Additionally there are more convincing answers in non-religious thoughts, for some people. There used to be a lot more "go with the crowd", but attitudes change.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Very much so. Over this week, I've been pondering over several points in my past, particularly of those things I am for/against, have always held that position, but when I was a Christian I was hit with this road block that I had to change my views to become in favor of just because that was the Biblical position (the death penalty being one such thing, that the only time I ever did support it was because "the Bible told me so"). And then there are those things I wouldn't have been against at all, ever, but again religion taught me how to be intolerant towards others, and how to hate myself. Reason and logic stopped, what took their place was the words of ancient men who believed in the possibility of man who survived being eaten by a whale.

Was Jonah ' eaten ' or just temporarily swallowed by that BIG not-named fish.
I recall an old news clipping ( should have kept it ) about a man back in the 60's who was swallowed by a BIG fish and survived. In the picture he looked bleached like snow but he was alive.

As far as the ' death penalty ' I was wondering if you are referring to Genesis 2:17. You break the Law and you die.
I find there was No post-mortem death penalty for rebel Adam but simply ' returning to dust ' at Genesis 3:19.
So, the biblical position about that death penalty is simply dying out of existence, going back to non-life.
Because we can Not resurrect oneself or another then we needed someone who can bring us back to life.
I find that the Bible teaches that Jesus can and will unlock enemy death for us as per Revelation 1:18.
Our last enemy ' death ' (death penalty) will finally be No more according to 1 Corinthians 15:26; Isaiah 25:8.
 

Altfish

Veteran Member
Back in 1972 while in London I mentioned the Bible to a young woman and WOW did I get an ear full of all the English history horrors committed by Christendom in the name of religion.
So, it is any wonder religious waters ( people ) are drying up spiritually.
Just as foretold at Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30 that false clergy would be fleecing the flock of God.
People can easily poke holes, so to speak, in the teachings of Christendom, because they think they are poking holes in Scripture. In reality I find they are finding holes in church customs or church traditions outside of Scripture but are just being taught as being Scripture, and they have No interest in finding out otherwise.
If it was that easy, do you really think the non-believer numbers would be rising so fast?
Do you not think that most have already investigated religion and scriptures and found both wanting.
Get used to it, these figures will soon be at 75%.
 
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