A Changing Context. Religious and cultural change regional and lcoal

Transcription

1 A Changing Context Religious and cultural change regional and lcoal

2 The Census UK 2011 vs 2001 Christian 59.3% No Religion 25.1% Agnostic 0.06% (32,000) Atheist 0.05% (29,000) Humanist 0.03% (15,000) Muslim 4.8% Hindu 1.5% Sikh 0.8% Jewish 0.5% Buddhist 0.4% Other 0.4% Christian 72.1% No Religion 14.8% Muslim 3.0% Hindu 1.1% Sikh 0.4% Jewish 0.5% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.3%

3 Some details in Census 2011 UK No religion includes 176,000 Jedi Knights (down from 390,000 in 2001) It also includes 6,750 who put Heavy Metal where do these belong? Are these really non-religious or more likely to be Pagan or New Age? Other Religions contains 44,500 New Religious Movement members 0.08% population including 1,900 Satanists (1, ) 165,000 followers of New Spiritualties (if we don t include Jedis) 0.3% population of which there are at least 80,000 (41, ) but probably around 150,000 Pagans and perhaps as many as 250,000 - Baptists equal around 150,000 and Methodists 220,000

4 What does it mean to put Christian? 2012 Richard Dawkins commissions a MORI Poll on this subject based on 2011 census of 54% who put Christian their main reason was Baptized as a child 46% (25% population) Believe Christian teaching -18% (10% population) Sunday /church school/church as child -15% (8% pop) Christian Parents 13% (7% population) Current church attendance 3% (1.5% population)

5 What does it mean to put Christian? They put Christian in 2011 Census for these reasons I try to be a good person and associate that with Christianity 41% (22% population) I genuinely try to follow the Christian religion 31% (17% of population) I m not religious but It s how is was brought up 26% (14% population) I ticked it automatically without thinking about it - 6% (3% of population) I feel uncomfortable about the growing influence of other religions - 5% (2.5% pop) It felt like another way of saying I think if myself as British- 4% (2% population)

6 The Census Wales UK 2011 vs Wales 2011 Christian 59.3% No Religion 25.1% Agnostic 0.06% (32,000) Atheist 0.05% (29,000) Humanist 0.03% (15,000) Muslim 4.8% Hindu 1.5% Sikh 0.8% Jewish 0.5% Buddhist 0.4% Other 0.4% Christian 57.6% No Religion 32% Agnostic 0.09% (1,800) Atheist 0.05% (1,500) Humanist 0.03% (820) Muslim 1.5% Hindu 0.3% Sikh 0.1% Jewish 0.06% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.4%

7 The Census Wales 2011 vs 2001 Christian 57.6% No Religion 32% Agnostic 0.09% (1,800) Atheist 0.05% (1,500) Humanist 0.03% (820) Muslim 1.5% Hindu 0.3% Sikh 0.1% Jewish 0.06% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.4% Christian 72.8% No Religion 18% Muslim 0.2% Hindu 0.07% Sikh 0 % Jewish 0.03% Buddhist 0.17% Other 0.3%

8 The Census Wales & Bangor Wales 2011 vs Bangor 2011 Christian 57.6% No Religion 32% Agnostic 0.09% (1,800) Atheist 0.05% (1,500) Humanist 0.03% (820) Muslim 1.5% Hindu 0.3% Sikh 0.1% Jewish 0.06% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.4% Christian 63.1% No Religion 27.1% Agnostic 0.05% (50) Atheist 0.05% (50) Humanist 0.025% (25) Muslim 0.7% Hindu 0.2% Sikh 0.05% Jewish 0.05% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.5%

9 The Census Bangor 2011 vs 2001 Christian 63.1% No Religion 27.1% Agnostic 0.05% (149) Atheist 0.05% (149) Humanist 0.025% (74) Muslim 0.7% Hindu 0.2% Sikh 0.05% Jewish 0.05% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.4% Christian 77.2% No Religion 14.7% Muslim 0.2% Hindu 0.07% Sikh 0% Jewish 0.03% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.3%

10 The Census UK 2011 vs 2001 Christian 59.3% No Religion 25.1% Agnostic 0.06% (32,000) Atheist 0.05% (29,000) Humanist 0.03% (15,000) Muslim 4.8% Hindu 1.5% Sikh 0.8% Jewish 0.5% Buddhist 0.4% Other 0.4% Christian 72.1% No Religion 14.8% Muslim 3.0% Hindu 1.1% Sikh 0.4% Jewish 0.5% Buddhist 0.3% Other 0.3%

11 Some details in Census 2011 UK & Bangor UK figures 176,000 Jedi Knights 0.3% population 6,750 Heavy Metal 0.012% population Other Religions contains 44,500 New Religious Movement members 0.08% population including 1,900 Satanists 165,000 followers of New Spiritualties (if we don t include Jedis) 0.3% population of which there are at least 80, % population -but probably around 150,000 Pagans and perhaps as many as 250, % population Bangor figures 823 Jedi Knights 0.3% population 18 Heavy Metal 0.006% population Other Religions contains 261 New Religious Movement members 0.08% population including 4 Satanists 292 followers of New Spiritualties (if we don t include Jedis) 0.3% population of which there are at least 607 Pagans 0.2% population - but probably around 1,200 Pagans and perhaps as many as 1, % population

12 Welsh Distincitves? The Welsh revival and the collapse of Chapel attendance This is a well documented issue and a major factor in the change from Wales as the most to the least Christian part of Britain the Church in Wales may have declined but nothing like the Chapel. Welsh language, identity and religion Welsh language was a significant factor in the Welsh revival and Chapel as Welsh it is now a significant factor in Welsh Paganism Rural and urban difference Bangor as largely rural does not have the same dramatic decline as Llandaff. Is this also connected to the place of Chapel in the story of the mining communities in South Wales? Paganism and rural Wales?

13 The local goes global The internet-global communication in place of print No regulation of access or content (with some censorship) Many empowered but some have no access Media a global phenomenon Everywhere is in your living room You may know more about what is happening in Africa than at the end of your street Our choices become everyone s business global tensions in the church

14 The global becomes local

15 Post-modernity? Modernity to Postmodernity I tell my story I choose my beliefs I buy my identity The logic of consumerism

16 Detailed Welsh Data? Sadly outside of the Census unreliable The two big surveys, The European Values Survey and International Social Survey Project count Wales with England which is an issue in itself! but this means they both only have around 80 Welsh respondents we need a thousand to get good data I downloaded the Welsh data anyway but it is clearly not reliable, too extreme showing the problem of a very small sample so I have chosen not to include it But the Church in Wales could commission a survey and I d be happy to help make it good.

17 Changing attendance 76% of New Christians Come from 26% De- Churched finding faith today 1992 This section of the population is older and decreasing over time percentage of population Church attendance % Non Churched 26% De Churched Age in % monthly under 15 monthly

18 Belief in God? by church attendance EVS personal God Spirit or life force don't know what to think no God spirit or life force 0 weekly or more monthly or several times a year yearly or less never total

19 Truth in religion? by church attendance EVS only one true one true others have truth none true all have truth none have truth 0 weekly or more monhtly or several times a year yearly or less never total

20 Japan Britain annual festivals monthly religious attendance reigious affilitaion belief in God religious attendance religious affiliation belief in God percentage population 2000

21 Builders (born 20s+30s) in life force personal God raised in church now attend monthly + christian affiliation raise children to believe in God believe in

22 Boomers (born 40s+50s) in life force personal God raised in church now attend monthly + christian affiliation raise children to believe in God believe in

23 Gen-Xers (born 60s+70s) in life force personal God raised in church now attend monthly + christian affiliation raise children to believe in God believe in

24 Gen-Yers (born 80s+90s) in 2015? life force personal God raised in church now attend monthly + christian affiliation raise children to believe in God believe in

25 Post- Secularism? Post-modernity - multi-faith in a post-secular age Post-modern move from truth as fact to truth as experience - From universal truth to true for me may be different to true for you. Rejection of objectivity for subjectivity Personal belief re-enters the public square Any and every belief. All are equally unprovable All of this much to the annoyance of Richard Dawkins. and Christians? Religion once more on the agenda but any religion with no way back to Christendom..indeed is Christianity disadvantaged compared to the alternatives?

26 The New Tribes of Britain The Postmodern cultural elite Advertising, gaming, social networking, reality TV, theoretical physics, film making, popular music, multi-culturalism The New Spiritualities From Pagan roots ecology, spirits in nature, communal ritual, feminine deity. To New Age roots eastern mysticism, personal growth and well being, pic n mix from all religions Life to the Max Clubbing, recreational drugs, binge drinking, foreign travel, the latest gadgets, serial monogamy, cosmetic surgery, celebrity status, spending the children s inheritance

27 The New Tribes of Britain Middle Britain Family and friends, working parents raising families, tuition fees, fear for the future generations, keeping up with the joneses The single person household product of falling birth rates and family breakdowns, need for community and identity, can be part of any other group Cultural sub-groups Ethnic groups from outside Britain, youth sub cultures The under-class Desperate poor, chronically sick or disabled, addicts, sex workers, petty criminals, those in the care system. Sold visions they can t aspire to, lack of hope, a culture of getting by, for some pride in small things and fierce loyalty to the culture

28 The New Tribes of Britain Reasserting British identity Cut immigration, minorities should adopt British values and culture, reasserting the countries Christian tradition, buy British Religious traditionalists Society to be run on religious values, sacred texts as source of truth, public marking of religious identity, traditional views on family, gender and sexuality The New Atheists Science and reason the source of truth, society to be run on secular values, religion not only wrong but dangerous, post-modernism and New Spirituality as bad as religion, academics and high culture, Religious high art admired

29 The New Tribes of Britain Postmodern Culture formers New Spiritualties Life to the Max Middle Britain Single person Sub culture groups Under class Traditionalist British Identity Religious traditionalists New Atheists What is the Gospel for each tribe What kind of church would potentially welcome each tribe?

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33 Christendom Bereavement Shock How could this happen? Paralysis, going through the motions Denial Britain is still a Christian country, honest. Revival is round the corner. People will come back if we just wait. Anger Against secularists, against Christians who have betrayed us, against failures of church and its leadership Bargaining If only we pray hard enough, this is the programme that will turn it all around Grief How can we sing the lord s song in this foreign land? All that has been achieved fading, nostalgia for Christendom as something lost acceptance