Posted on 12/07/2022 8:32:36 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The recent release of the 2021 UK Census data has brought a bombshell finding to Christian observers everywhere. In England and Wales, which covers the vast majority of the population of Great Britain, the percentage of those who identify as Christian fell 13 points over a decade, from 59% of the population to a mere 46%. That comes on the heels of the previous decade, which saw the numbers fall from 72% Christian in 2001 to 59% in 2011.
Unfortunately, this poll may not give the full extent of the decline, partly due to the questioning in the poll. In 2020, the British Social Attitudes Survey used a more precise question about Christianity: ”Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion? If yes, which?” In that survey, 53% of UK respondents claimed no religion and only 37% claimed Christianity as their religion. Considering Christianity has been the most profound influence on the culture of the United Kingdom for over a thousand years, this trend (with the resulting accompanying trends in the breakdown of the family and plummeting birthrates) portents a dark future.
All leaders in the West, particularly Christian leaders, should take note of the lessons. Let me explain.
First, it is important to recognize those claiming “no religion” have risen exponentially to 37% by the 2021 Census data. The head of Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, claims the census numbers “confirm that the biggest demographic change in England and Wales of the last 10 years has been the dramatic growth of the non-religious.” The problem has not been other religions converting those in the UK, but of the British leaving the Church out of a seeming lack of commitment. Most church leaders understand this dynamic, and many mainline denominational churches have attempted to liberalize and become more “relevant” to modern society. This liberalization has invariably meant moving away from previously accepted Church doctrine based on scripture. In doing so, these denominations have brought the opposite results of what they sought.
British researcher and writer John Hayward has studied the hard data. He particularly focuses on the numbers of the decline by denomination in the U.K. His writings give the precise current numbers and trend lines for all British denominations going back decades and have led to clear conclusions. According to Hayward's studies, “All the evangelical denominations are growing, except for the Brethren. By contrast, all the mixed denominations are declining, with the liberal ones declining the most.” In the United Kingdom, the majority of those identifying as Christian was part of the established Anglican Church, including the Anglican community of the Church of Scotland and Church of Wales.
Other similar long-established mainline denominations, like the Methodists, contained the vast majority. Even with the rise in numbers of the scripturally faithful Evangelical Churches, the overall numbers continue to plummet as the elderly in now liberal denominations pass away.
Hayward studied the specific deviations in accepted doctrine of Churches seeking relevancy versus those unmoved and found:
“To date, no growing church has adopted same-sex marriage. All of these denominations hold firm to historic Christianity. Indeed, they are all evangelical in doctrine...Not all denominations are declining (in the UK); there are growing ones: churches that stand on historic Christianity and against the progressive ideology...I can see that the growing evangelical congregations will have surpassed the liberal and mixed denominations by the middle of the century.”
Critical to note is that other religions/denominations standing firm to established doctrines, like Orthodox Judaism and Islam, have likewise not seen the decline of those Churches moving to progressive ideology. I think it is important to note that within denominations, individual churches and even subgroupings of denominations have stood firm. That is particularly true of parts of the Anglican Community.
American leaders need to pay attention, as the dynamic is playing out throughout Christianity in the West: As the percentage of Christians in the West has declined, Christian influence on society and culture has declined, and as a result, society has become more morally ambiguous. Families break apart or never form and children are left without moral guidance. The growing and scripturally faithful churches offer the anchor and moral clarity people seek at this time. Those attending scripturally faithful churches are not coddled with whimsically morphing values, as has happened in too many of the declining churches. Christians are exhorted to commit to counter-cultural “biblical” moral standards which don’t change.
In regaining biblical Christianity, the Church will grow and society will benefit from the salt and light the Church is called to provide.
Bill Connor, a retired Army Infantry colonel, author and Orangeburg attorney, has deployed multiple times to the Middle East. Connor was the senior U.S. military adviser to Afghan forces in Helmand Province, where he received the Bronze Star. A Citadel graduate with a JD from USC, he is also a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College, earning his master of strategic studies. He is the author of the book Articles from War.
England suffers from a population that has disturbed character disorders, narcissism, and other personality disorders. Most likely the reason comes from a generation of traumatized citizens during WWII. I’ve seen so many older women over their that are emotionally cold and their children tend to be either little narcissists or disturbed characters and most of the time it’s both. Add that to a weak church and even weaker reverends that don’t preach about hell and the consequences of sin. Once the majority of Christians are out of the way, secularism takes over and actively tries to eliminate or further erode the church and it’s influence because after all, sinners hate being reminded of their sins.
So, what we are seeing is those who were never Christian to begin with are no longer feeling any social pressure to call themselves such.
RE: England suffers from a population that has disturbed character disorders, narcissism, and other personality disorders.
I also notice that a huge number of their famous award winning actors have come out of the closet.
‘Add that to a weak church and even weaker reverends that don’t preach about hell and the consequences of sin.’
what sins, exactly, are you referencing...? if are you speaking about crimes, then I submit they don’t not fall under religious jurisdiction, as that’s why we have cops, judges and juries...?
I’ve always found the doctrinal obsession with sin in religions to be counterproductive; of what value is it to teach people that they were born sinners and must repent under penalty of eternal condemnation, and at the same time be unable to point to any precise sins that anyone has actually committed that they must repent... ?
in fact, what sin is it, exactly, that people are born having committed that, failing an act of penance,will land them in eternal torment...?
I seem to recall the road to Heaven being called a “narrow path” but the “wide path” led to destruction.
They can’t compare to Portland
Charles Spurgeon, the famous minister, noted the decline of Christianity in Britain around 1880. Probably had something to do with Darwin’s book.
I know this; Muslims do not assimilate, remember the are raised to kill the Infidel.
Every religion out there (including many belief systems that don't often get recognized as religions) includes some sort of rules and moral standard that you have to follow to be "saved" (however defined). Christianity is unique in acknowledging that we humans do a lousy job of conforming to ANY moral standards, even ones we make up ourselves. We cannot meet a perfect God's perfect standards by our own efforts. That's why Jesus came to take away our sins.
If you compare it with other religions, you'll notice they get very fuzzy when it comes to quantifying how good you have to follow their moral dictates to succeed. Has a Hindu been good enough to move up or down in his next reincarnation? He doesn't know. Muslims will tell you they don't even know if Mohammed is in Paradise. The Koran doesn't say or give you any idea how perfectly you need to adhere to the Koranic moral laws to enter paradise. The standard of perfection is the only one that really makes sense, and the Gospel story of redemption is the only chance we have with that standard in place.
Well said, EnderWiggin!
The flesh produced sins to start. The f-ck first and ask questions later plagues the UK and here in America but it‘s really bad in the UK. They have the same out of wedlock babies and abortion rates like America’s inner city ghettos. People have no damn self respect or respect for others. Yes, people are born sinners. Psychology proves the first instinct in every human is to be narcissistic and only be teaching children to grow out of this helps develop them into functional adults. Churches are or were good at reminding people of their true nature and helping them to grow to be more Christ like. I’ve seen way to many males in the UK that have failed to launch. They’re hooked on porn and live with their mummies. No self respect for themselves, their mothers, they often turn into creepy older men who prey on young children. And the women over there are no better. Shack up with loser men who never commit then dumping him for something worse. It’s no wonder the kids are so messed up.
That country is so messed up with personality disorders that it’s not even funny.
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