Thursday, February 2, 2012

A sad conclusion to the Anglicans in the British Social Attitudes survey is how to find some religion after not having been born in it

In the spirit of honesty and openness that has Julian Baggini recently ordered all parties to the status of the Heathen, I think it is for me to admit this: the latest installment of the annual British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey reads like a nightmare for anyone (like me) who cares about the future of the Church of England. Chapter 12 of the 28 BSA, released last week, it feels more like an epitaph of a chapter of social analysis Anglican.

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is actually an update of the most important treatment of religion BSA published two years ago and the theme is similar. Since 1983, the number of self-affiliation with the Church of England has cut in half, most go to camp without religion, which increased 31% to 50%.

The reason for this change is mainly down to what is known as the cohort effect, where the younger generation (in this case the least religious) to replace the old (more religious) , the. The fact that the trend is based on the cohort, rather than the life cycle (ie, at what stage of life they are), suggests that it may in the long run.

There are, of course, mitigating factors, as there is in every social research. "No religion" does not mean atheist, much less hostile. Other Christian denominations have remained relatively stable over the past 27 years. And it is obvious that religion is just another victim of broader social trends, at least not widespread public hostility towards accession to large institutions. All this is true and relevant, but does not change the history underlying data:. Membership in the National Church in England, currently on a downward track

God knows, religious societies have proved quite fallible linked in the past. But at least had some external moral standards that could be called to account. The absence of these lines in the sand is a good omen, and not moral freedom as much as moral relativism.

The second question relates to the retention levels, ie the probability that you will always be affiliated to a particular group if they were raised in the. For Anglicans and Protestants from other traditions, the figure is only 49%. Rates of the Catholic Church a little better, with 62% of people who grew up as Roman Catholics remain Catholic (despite the seriousness with the Roman Catholic Church is, of course, another matter). Even better are those raised in non-Christian religions (not distinguished in Chapter vain BSA would like to know how it differs from a minority religious group to another), 87% of them remain in the Faith

But by far the retention rates are the most successful in the "no religion" category. Almost everyone - 94% to be exact - raised without religious affiliation in Britain today is no religious affiliation. Basically, if your parents seem outside the faith, you are out of faith. Who said, give me the child, and I'll give you the man?


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