While there seems to be a resurgence of religion and belief in God in our country, the Brits are not.
Their decline has been precipitated by decades of PC behavior, allowing any foreigners into their country and the complete breakdown of any moral, civil and social authority and responsibility.
The financial woes of Europe can be directly attributable to this behavior.
Good news. As a nation loses its soul, it loses strength and direction.
I was laughing at the Baptist attendance figure, though. 150K? I think there is one megachurch in Tx that has almost a third of that attendence, all by itself. No wonder England looks at us like we are screwy.
Note that you can date the change to the assumption of the Papacy by Benedict XVI. Benedict’s return to orthodoxy, both in faith and in liturgy, is what is drawing people back.
Of course, the older British bishops are kicking and screaming all the way. I think they were happy with their dwindling, pointless Church of the Groovy - that nobody wants or needs to attend.
Nobody wants to say it, but a lot of people, even devout Christians, are thinking it: unless you really understand the power and significance of ritual and collective worship, and are in the right mood on a given morning, CHURCH IS B-O-R-I-N-G. If they didn’t feel obligated to go to church, a lot of Christians wouldn’t bother getting up early on a weekend to sit in a hard pew for an hour and a half, listing to someone hash out some scriptural point they don’t find terribly exciting.
Mind you, I’m NOT advocating turning services into dance parties, or falling into the trap of changing religion to “keep up with the times.” I really don’t have a solution. But going to church shouldn’t be a weekly chore that people do only to avoid the consequences of NOT doing it.
Could it be that they are viewing the Muzzie alternative and don’t like what they see?
It would appear that the UK is in need of another Charles and John Wesley revival. Unfortunatly, Political Correctness would get them thrown in jail today.