The future of religion in Britain
Professor Linda Woodhead has suggested that the future of religion in Britain is the continuing decline of Christianity, the resurgence of fundamentalism, the rise of non-religion, the emergence of a revitalised British Islam and a flourishing interest in “magic”. She was speaking at the Religion Media Centre’s annual lecture at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, in advance of the 2021 census results on religion, which are due to be published next month or November. It is widely predicted that the data will show a continuing decline in Christianity, an increase in those identifying as having “no religion” and a rise in the number of minority faith groups. She said the churches had to battle against very serious failures in moral authority after the abuse scandals. British Islam was becoming more visible and “cool”, while magic continues to be a fascination especially among young people. Read the full report here
Northern Ireland census religion results out today
The BBC reports that the 2021 census results showing the religious make-up of Northern Ireland will be published later today (Thursday). In 2011, the census indicated that 45.1 per cent of the population was Catholic or brought up Catholic, and 48.4 per cent was from a Protestant or other Christian background.
Violent clashes spread from Leicester to Birmingham
Two hundred masked men gathered outside the Durga Bhawan Hindu Temple in Smethwick, in the West Midlands, protesting at a meeting inside where a nationalist leader from India had been invited to speak. There were clashes and one man was arrested. The trouble follows violent attacks between Hindus and Muslims in Leicester last weekend when 47 people were arrested. Some stories on social media that inflamed the tensions have emerged as untrue. The Birmingham Faith leaders’ group issued a statement in support of their counterparts in Leicester, saying they condemned violence in the name of faith. Gabriella Swerling in The Telegraph quotes the Hindu Council saying: “It’s very difficult. You can’t control them. It’s crazy. It’s going everywhere. I can’t bring myself to say that it will come to London because we want to stop it somehow.” Channel 4 film report on Leicester here
Fifty faith leaders urge government to give more money to the poorest families
The president and vice-president of the Methodist Conference have joined a coalition of more than 50 faith and charity leaders calling on the prime minister to prioritise support for the poorest in their cost of living announcements, before Friday’s mini-budget. In an open letter, they say: “It is the urgent, moral responsibility of the prime minister to ensure that people on the lowest incomes have enough to live in the months ahead.” The letter coincides with analysis from Professor Donald Hirsch saying a family of four receiving Universal Credit will still require an additional £1,391 over the next six months to stay warm and fed.
Call to scrap Christian-focused RE in Northern Ireland
A report from the Unesco Education Centre at Ulster University, says Christian-focused religious education and daily acts of collective worship should be scrapped. It also calls for joint community schools rather than religiously segregated ones. The report says: “Segregation is still endemic in the current system and has proven to be resolutely resistant to almost every effort to introduce progressive reform.”
URC 50th anniversary events postponed over rail strike
The United Reformed Church is postponing its jubilee events on 1 October, due to the national rail strikes planned for that day. In a statement, they said: “We’ve decided, with the heaviest of hearts, that the best option is to postpone our jubilee events. After close to three years of planning, this postponement is deeply disappointing, but we want the URC to celebrate its jubilee properly, with all who want to take part”. The church was formed 50 years ago when the Presbyterian Church of England joined the Congregational Church in England and Wales.
