FabSwingers.com > Forums > Politics > Church of England is panicking about declining congregations
Church of England is panicking about declining congregations
Jump to: Newest in thread
At the turn of the century, 1 million people went to church each year; in 1980, the number was 1.3 million.
Despite an increasing population, in 2019 about 854,000 people turned out to church. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 685,000. (About 1% of the population).
Christianity is in decline. This is in contrast to the growing number of mosques in the Uk, increasing from a reported 6 mosques in 1945, now 1858 (Muslim Britain org).
What should be done to encourage Christianity
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"At the turn of the century, 1 million people went to church each year; in 1980, the number was 1.3 million.
Despite an increasing population, in 2019 about 854,000 people turned out to church. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 685,000. (About 1% of the population).
Christianity is in decline. This is in contrast to the growing number of mosques in the Uk, increasing from a reported 6 mosques in 1945, now 1858 (Muslim Britain org).
What should be done to encourage Christianity
"
nothing ppl are just smarter now all religions will follow that path |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
 |
By *ermbiMan 5 weeks ago
Ballyshannon |
Church attendance is only one measure on the practise of religion. How people express themselves in everyday living through their faith is harder to measure. It's not all about filling the pews |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"There is a reason why religions are dying. But whether it is good or bad for humanity is questionable. "
Would be interesting to know your reason why the demise and would be just as interested if you believe the reason can be applied globally as well as nationally? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I think there will be an upturn in people going to church and rediscover their religion.
An amazing religious event will cause people to spark their interest.
"
They'd better think one up quickly. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"There is a reason why religions are dying. But whether it is good or bad for humanity is questionable.
Would be interesting to know your reason why the demise and would be just as interested if you believe the reason can be applied globally as well as nationally?"
The main reason is science. Religions which say stories about what happened on earth tend to get weaker as science makes predictions which aren't consistent with it. Religions which purely stick to spiritual aspects which don't conflict with what happens in the worldly life tend to stick relatively longer but even they are shrinking.
Another factor is people's general proclivity for lust and other joys which many religions try to control.
As for how far it spreads, it's linked to literacy rate of the country and also the level of freedom allowed in the country. Societies which punish you for leaving religion still have higher percentage of followers. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"There is a reason why religions are dying. But whether it is good or bad for humanity is questionable. aw it’s good "
Depends. Lack of religion has predictably driven more people into nihilism which many believe, is the root cause of the increasing mental health issues.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *otMe66Man 5 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
"There is a reason why religions are dying. But whether it is good or bad for humanity is questionable. "
I believe the decline of religion in Western societies has had a detrimental impact. Setting aside questions of belief or faith in God, religion provided a framework of moral standards and rules that shaped individuals. It also encouraged a sense of community, bringing people together who shared values.
When our societies became multicultural, multiple religions became challenging in schools, with many schools moving away from religion altogether. Over the past 40 years, we now have generations who have never been exposed to or taught religious values.
This is not as prolific in Islam, attracting numbers high enough to influence and bring people together in their communities or within families. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
In many ways, religion has served us well, bringing morality and guidelines to our lives. But as we see in current world affairs, it's also highly divisive and toxic (especially the Abrahamic faiths). The irony is that our apathy may create a vacuum for a dangerous creed to grow. Maybe that's our destiny? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"There is a reason why religions are dying. But whether it is good or bad for humanity is questionable.
I believe the decline of religion in Western societies has had a detrimental impact. Setting aside questions of belief or faith in God, religion provided a framework of moral standards and rules that shaped individuals. It also encouraged a sense of community, bringing people together who shared values.
When our societies became multicultural, multiple religions became challenging in schools, with many schools moving away from religion altogether. Over the past 40 years, we now have generations who have never been exposed to or taught religious values.
This is not as prolific in Islam, attracting numbers high enough to influence and bring people together in their communities or within families."
Oh I agree with that. Religions have been responsible for some horrible stuff. But they did serve as a foundation for morality and a sense of purpose for people. Many societies are rapidly getting rid of religion without adequately replacing it with anything else which is dangerous in the long run. Some philosophers have predicted it long back. That's pretty much the theme of all Dostoevsky's writings and the guy was spot on.
With Islam, the social pressure against leaving the religion is pretty high because the religion has pretty strong opinions against apostates. Adding to it, most Islamic countries are politically controlled by the religion too. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
I’d suggest we have supplanted the NHS and climate change as the established church in place of the CofE.
The reasons for decline, I would suggest are rooted in the uncertainty of faith and belief. What would be convincing about a church that replaces belief expressed through liturgical rites with quasi-entertainment and dumbed down rites and “I’m alright, you’realright, everything’s alright” philosophy.
II’m Catholic and the shift change was in the late 60’s when the ancient rite of mass was changed. Out went Latin, chants, art and beauty and in came the vernacular language, folk music, a sort of brutal cubism in religious art and artifacts. The problem is the young adults of the 70’s are still folk-rocking it like it’s 1973 and trying to convince the current younhger generation that they are somehow “relevant”. The point they miss is that religios belief is not about being culturally relevant, it’s quite the oposite, it is counter-cultural. It’s why there has been (in Catholic circles) a massive uptake of the old Latin mass amongst younger generations and families and furious attempts by the people who cling to the 1970s to quash it by restricting which priests could say the old rite and the number of churches in which the old mass could be offered.
The CofE isn’t that much different in that it still uses the book of common prayer but is more interested in talking about climate change and social justice than about God. And you don’t need God to be a climate activist. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I’d suggest we have supplanted the NHS and climate change as the established church in place of the CofE.
The reasons for decline, I would suggest are rooted in the uncertainty of faith and belief. What would be convincing about a church that replaces belief expressed through liturgical rites with quasi-entertainment and dumbed down rites and “I’m alright, you’realright, everything’s alright” philosophy.
II’m Catholic and the shift change was in the late 60’s when the ancient rite of mass was changed. Out went Latin, chants, art and beauty and in came the vernacular language, folk music, a sort of brutal cubism in religious art and artifacts. The problem is the young adults of the 70’s are still folk-rocking it like it’s 1973 and trying to convince the current younhger generation that they are somehow “relevant”. The point they miss is that religios belief is not about being culturally relevant, it’s quite the oposite, it is counter-cultural. It’s why there has been (in Catholic circles) a massive uptake of the old Latin mass amongst younger generations and families and furious attempts by the people who cling to the 1970s to quash it by restricting which priests could say the old rite and the number of churches in which the old mass could be offered.
The CofE isn’t that much different in that it still uses the book of common prayer but is more interested in talking about climate change and social justice than about God. And you don’t need God to be a climate activist. "
Religion is based on belief.
Science is based on understanding, no belief is required. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I’d suggest we have supplanted the NHS and climate change as the established church in place of the CofE.
The reasons for decline, I would suggest are rooted in the uncertainty of faith and belief. What would be convincing about a church that replaces belief expressed through liturgical rites with quasi-entertainment and dumbed down rites and “I’m alright, you’realright, everything’s alright” philosophy.
II’m Catholic and the shift change was in the late 60’s when the ancient rite of mass was changed. Out went Latin, chants, art and beauty and in came the vernacular language, folk music, a sort of brutal cubism in religious art and artifacts. The problem is the young adults of the 70’s are still folk-rocking it like it’s 1973 and trying to convince the current younhger generation that they are somehow “relevant”. The point they miss is that religios belief is not about being culturally relevant, it’s quite the oposite, it is counter-cultural. It’s why there has been (in Catholic circles) a massive uptake of the old Latin mass amongst younger generations and families and furious attempts by the people who cling to the 1970s to quash it by restricting which priests could say the old rite and the number of churches in which the old mass could be offered.
The CofE isn’t that much different in that it still uses the book of common prayer but is more interested in talking about climate change and social justice than about God. And you don’t need God to be a climate activist.
Religion is based on belief.
Science is based on understanding, no belief is required. "
Not exactly. Science depends on empiricism and no empirical theory can be 100% proven to be true. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I’d suggest we have supplanted the NHS and climate change as the established church in place of the CofE.
The reasons for decline, I would suggest are rooted in the uncertainty of faith and belief. What would be convincing about a church that replaces belief expressed through liturgical rites with quasi-entertainment and dumbed down rites and “I’m alright, you’realright, everything’s alright” philosophy.
II’m Catholic and the shift change was in the late 60’s when the ancient rite of mass was changed. Out went Latin, chants, art and beauty and in came the vernacular language, folk music, a sort of brutal cubism in religious art and artifacts. The problem is the young adults of the 70’s are still folk-rocking it like it’s 1973 and trying to convince the current younhger generation that they are somehow “relevant”. The point they miss is that religios belief is not about being culturally relevant, it’s quite the oposite, it is counter-cultural. It’s why there has been (in Catholic circles) a massive uptake of the old Latin mass amongst younger generations and families and furious attempts by the people who cling to the 1970s to quash it by restricting which priests could say the old rite and the number of churches in which the old mass could be offered.
The CofE isn’t that much different in that it still uses the book of common prayer but is more interested in talking about climate change and social justice than about God. And you don’t need God to be a climate activist.
Religion is based on belief.
Science is based on understanding, no belief is required.
Not exactly. Science depends on empiricism and no empirical theory can be 100% proven to be true."
What % has been proven to be true about religion. You can pick any of the numerous gods around the world. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"I’d suggest we have supplanted the NHS and climate change as the established church in place of the CofE.
The reasons for decline, I would suggest are rooted in the uncertainty of faith and belief. What would be convincing about a church that replaces belief expressed through liturgical rites with quasi-entertainment and dumbed down rites and “I’m alright, you’realright, everything’s alright” philosophy.
II’m Catholic and the shift change was in the late 60’s when the ancient rite of mass was changed. Out went Latin, chants, art and beauty and in came the vernacular language, folk music, a sort of brutal cubism in religious art and artifacts. The problem is the young adults of the 70’s are still folk-rocking it like it’s 1973 and trying to convince the current younhger generation that they are somehow “relevant”. The point they miss is that religios belief is not about being culturally relevant, it’s quite the oposite, it is counter-cultural. It’s why there has been (in Catholic circles) a massive uptake of the old Latin mass amongst younger generations and families and furious attempts by the people who cling to the 1970s to quash it by restricting which priests could say the old rite and the number of churches in which the old mass could be offered.
The CofE isn’t that much different in that it still uses the book of common prayer but is more interested in talking about climate change and social justice than about God. And you don’t need God to be a climate activist.
Religion is based on belief.
Science is based on understanding, no belief is required.
Not exactly. Science depends on empiricism and no empirical theory can be 100% proven to be true.
What % has been proven to be true about religion. You can pick any of the numerous gods around the world."
Nothing can be proven true about the empirical world. I was responding to his comment that "no belief is required for science".
I am pro-science and don't really follow any religion. But it'disingenuous to say that science gives us the absolute truth. It gives a reasonable explanation of things that humans can observe empirically which sounds sensible to us. And it's built on numerous assumptions.
You don't have to trust me on this. Schrödinger for example believed in mysticism. In his book, he argues that science has a paradox because of which consciousness can never be explained by science. Philosophy of science is quite a fun topic  |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"At the turn of the century, 1 million people went to church each year; in 1980, the number was 1.3 million.
Despite an increasing population, in 2019 about 854,000 people turned out to church. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 685,000. (About 1% of the population).
Christianity is in decline. This is in contrast to the growing number of mosques in the Uk, increasing from a reported 6 mosques in 1945, now 1858 (Muslim Britain org).
What should be done to encourage Christianity
"
Church of England might be in decline of Christianity certainly not in decline more more young people are going to church in the UK and globally Christianity is growing. Also many of them own record labels and broadcasting now, it not all face to face. Cell churches also changed the shape of old school large congregations
Churches like vineyard, Hillsong, Bethel see huge congregations. i used to go to a church in Bradford ‘abundant life’ they were having to put on five services a day because it was that busy I think it could hold about 1000.
If CofE is in decline in the UK that’s a good thing because it’s generally shit & gives Christianity a bad name
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
It's no surprise when we have been steadily encouraged to thinking of the individual above all else.
Christianity like most religions talks about the value of sharing, help the community and less well of than yourself. The values of family and marriage.
Since the 70s we have steadily become about individual greed, how much we can do for ourselves, how to avoid paying as much tax as possible, one famous politician even told us there is no such thing as society. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"
...
You don't have to trust me on this. Schrödinger for example believed in mysticism. In his book, he argues that science has a paradox because of which consciousness can never be explained by science. Philosophy of science is quite a fun topic "
I thought Schrödinger was a cat(a)holic... |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"It's no surprise when we have been steadily encouraged to thinking of the individual above all else.
Christianity like most religions talks about the value of sharing, help the community and less well of than yourself. The values of family and marriage.
Since the 70s we have steadily become about individual greed, how much we can do for ourselves, how to avoid paying as much tax as possible, one famous politician even told us there is no such thing as society. "
Agree with that. That's the sad thing about Marxist communism. They were all forcing militant atheism when the only way to get all people in the society to care for others over themselves seens to be through God and a promise of afterlife. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"
...
You don't have to trust me on this. Schrödinger for example believed in mysticism. In his book, he argues that science has a paradox because of which consciousness can never be explained by science. Philosophy of science is quite a fun topic
I thought Schrödinger was a cat(a)holic..."
I am uncertain about it |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"All will hopefully decrease and disappear - man made cods wallop. However some are like brain washing where it controls everything about your life - i'm sure you can guess which. "
Jehovah’s Witness? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"All will hopefully decrease and disappear - man made cods wallop. However some are like brain washing where it controls everything about your life - i'm sure you can guess which.
Jehovah’s Witness?"
Or maybe church of Scientology |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"All will hopefully decrease and disappear - man made cods wallop. However some are like brain washing where it controls everything about your life - i'm sure you can guess which.
Jehovah’s Witness?
Or maybe church of Scientology "
Buddhists? They live their life by those principles. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *ermbiMan 4 weeks ago
Ballyshannon |
"All will hopefully decrease and disappear - man made cods wallop. However some are like brain washing where it controls everything about your life - i'm sure you can guess which. "
Explain the cods wallop part. Doesn't sound very respectful of believers |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"At the turn of the century, 1 million people went to church each year; in 1980, the number was 1.3 million.
Despite an increasing population, in 2019 about 854,000 people turned out to church. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 685,000. (About 1% of the population).
Christianity is in decline. This is in contrast to the growing number of mosques in the Uk, increasing from a reported 6 mosques in 1945, now 1858 (Muslim Britain org).
What should be done to encourage Christianity
Church of England might be in decline of Christianity certainly not in decline more more young people are going to church in the UK and globally Christianity is growing. Also many of them own record labels and broadcasting now, it not all face to face. Cell churches also changed the shape of old school large congregations
Churches like vineyard, Hillsong, Bethel see huge congregations. i used to go to a church in Bradford ‘abundant life’ they were having to put on five services a day because it was that busy I think it could hold about 1000.
If CofE is in decline in the UK that’s a good thing because it’s generally shit & gives Christianity a bad name
"
abundant life centre is absolutely ram packed all year lol dont get me wrong i think a lot are there for the activities ie football clubs for the kids ect but the community uses it which is good all round |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"At the turn of the century, 1 million people went to church each year; in 1980, the number was 1.3 million.
Despite an increasing population, in 2019 about 854,000 people turned out to church. In 2023, that figure had fallen to 685,000. (About 1% of the population).
Christianity is in decline. This is in contrast to the growing number of mosques in the Uk, increasing from a reported 6 mosques in 1945, now 1858 (Muslim Britain org).
What should be done to encourage Christianity
"
Better question, what should be done to discourage this growing Islamism. Better if both faded away. Only real difference between a religion and a cult is how many members it has. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
