British Christianity has been in decline for decades. This website endbc.co.uk examines the decline in British Christianity from an atheist’s perspective. It also examines the various attempts by the churches to reverse the decline in British Christianity.
The decline in British Christianity is unlikely to start to ‘bottom out’ until at least the early 2040s. In 2019 there were about 5.8 million more British Christians over the age of 65 than British non-religous people over 65, see data from the ONS publication ‘Religion by sex and age group, Great Britain, January to December 2019‘ dated 12th August 2020. These additional Christians over 65 will eventually be reflected in 5.8 million higher Christian deaths than non-religious deaths. Most of these higher Christian deaths will likely take place during the next 20-30 years, i.e. by the early 2040s onwards.
These 5.8 million Christian deaths are important as the over 65s age group is easily the largest age group in which Christians significantly outnumber the non-religous. To put these 5.8 million Christian deaths into perspective, the total population of Scotland is about 5.5 million. The comparison with Scotland’s total population illustrates the scale of the demographic time bomb facing the churches and why the decline in British Christianity is likely to continue for the next 20-30 years.
Most of the churches, along with most other religions, are on the losing side of the debate regarding same sex marriage and sexual equality rights generally. With 85% of the UK supporting same-sex marriage and 90% wanting LGBTs to have the same rights as heterosexual people the democratic will of the people has clearly spoken (see 2019 Eurobarometer ‘The social acceptance of LGBTI people in the EU‘).
While most churches are strongly against sexual equality, their memberships are typically in favour of sexual equality – the Evangelical Alliance’s member churches being likely exceptions. Put simply, mathematically there is no way UK wide 85%-90% support for sexual equality could be achieved without a majority of UK Christians also supporting it. There is clearly a divide between the wishes of most British Christians and most churches. For most churches to be out of step with the wider UK population is one thing, but for many churches to be out of step with their own members is quite another….
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse published multiple investigation reports, many of them relating to child sex abuse within the Christian churches such as the reports on the Roman Catholic, Anglican Church, and Child protection in religious organisations and settings investigation report. Criticism in the IICSA’s investigation reports went all the way to the very top of British Christainity, including an ex-Archbishop of Canterbury and the former Prince of Wales, prior to him becoming King Charles. Interestingly I have been unable to find a single reference to atheists in the IICSA’s reports, not one. Please feel free to correct me via the contact menu.
British Christianity by contrast, continues to avoid addressing the issue of child abuse. Any improvement in British Christianity’s fortunes requires that this issue be addressed once and for all, something Christianity has consistently refused to do.
If you have read until this far well done !
I suspect you are very much in the minority. Since you read to the end, I wanted to reward you by making it clear that this website is about the ongoing decline in British Christianity and not its end / extinction. The latter will simply never happen.
Others that didn’t read this far probably will not appreciate this important distinction. This ‘easter egg’ will enable me to judge who has truly read my website. 🙂
Well done !