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Brits Love Atheists

Dipsomaniac Deacons, Rectuming Rectors, Conflationary Congregations, Malign Masses,
Judgmental Jesuits, Prejudiced Prelates, Profane Parishioners, Cannibalistic Canons.
 
Meretricious Muezzins, Corrupting Clergy, Masturbating Ministers, Beastlovin' Bishops, Carnal Choirmasters, Nymphomaniac Novices,
 
Craig B said:
It may be that the more liberal forms of religion now being propagated are more attractive than the more archaic versions more familiar to older respondents.
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However, it may be that the dearth of credible alternative political views is what has given rise to the increase of religion amongst young people. Youth is a time to collectively engage in ideas and alternative views of the world and there are few opportunities for young people to do that. Plus do Brits love atheists or anyone else for that matter, I think most Brits see people's religious views as not being that important and basically up to the individual. Unless of course we are talking about fundamentalists who offer daft arguments about creationism and where priests try and influence political issues from the pulpit. However most Brits will dismiss that out of hand. in fact the only discussion I ever have about religion are with atheists who give it far more importance than anyone else and certainly it is not related to anyone's morality.
 
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Ryan O'Dine said:
I don't really understand this. Almost half the surveyed Christians believe their religion is basically bad? Why follow it, then?
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It may be an 'organised religion' thing. Most Brits who say they are 'Christian', don't go to church (except for weddings and funerals*), don't read the bible and don't tend to consider religion as they go through life. It's just a box they tick on surveys. Recent scandals in eg the Catholic church will tend to make them view 'organised religion' as bad.

*"We'll be back in church from time to time, when Granny snuffs it eight years later".
 
Ethan Thane Athen said:
It may be an 'organised religion' thing. Most Brits who say they are 'Christian', don't go to church (except for weddings and funerals*), don't read the bible and don't tend to consider religion as they go through life. It's just a box they tick on surveys.
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Most Americans are the same way, but they lie about it more.
 
Ethan Thane Athen said:
It may be an 'organised religion' thing. Most Brits who say they are 'Christian', don't go to church (except for weddings and funerals*), don't read the bible and don't tend to consider religion as they go through life. It's just a box they tick on surveys. Recent scandals in eg the Catholic church will tend to make them view 'organised religion' as bad.

*"We'll be back in church from time to time, when Granny snuffs it eight years later".
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Also, re:surveys, when you say to the various government bodies/councils who are taking surveys that you are not religious, you have to make sure they dont tick the C of E box by default, because they do.
 
[...]challenging widely held beliefs that religion is one of the last remaining bastions of British morality.
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Widely held? First I've heard of it. Who is it who supposedly holds this position?
 
MikeG said:
Why?

You've been on this forum long enough with dozens of Brits to know that atheism is the default position over here, and that no-one makes any connection between religion and morals. In fact, I'll turn this all around: when I first joined the forum and found some people making a connection between religion and morals, I found it utterly mind-boggling.
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This.

Over here, most people I come across seem to view religion, if they are involved with it at all, as a kind of therapy plus social work. Somewhere to gather on a sunday and chat about fundraising afterwards. Churches are pretty - particularly country ones and make a nice place to get married in and a useful place to get buried in.

We are socially religious, have a set church by default because our parents or school belonged to it and dont really give it much thought beyond that. We don't tend to think - what would Jesus do? as a guide to life.

Most are 'C of E' by accident and bung that bit down on questionnaires for want of anything better.

I don't know anyone who thinks much further than that. My mum goes every Sunday to 'chat' to my dad (deceased.) and it gives her a bit of comfort. I walk her up there every Sunday as it's too dark for her. They're good people up there who bring her home afterwards so I feel benevolent in general towards them.

We seem to be lacking in the whole burned over, go to hell, atheist hating, gays are dammed bit. Its all rather pleasant in fact.

I came across a couple of young americans in Ireland last year who wouldn't sit with me after finding out in general conversation that I was an atheist.

Now that surprised me, as that is very unlikely to happen in general terms in the UK.
 
p0lka said:
Also, re:surveys, when you say to the various government bodies/councils who are taking surveys that you are not religious, you have to make sure they dont tick the C[hurch] of E[ngland] box by default, because they do.
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Not in this part of the UK they don't, of course. But such is the state of things here in Scotland that public sector interview panels are not permitted to ask applicants what schools they attended, because that would enable them to infer the applicant's religious affiliation - whether Protestant or Catholic - with a risk of discrimination, depending on the religious persuasion of the interviewers.
 
scarlettinlondon said:
This.

Over here, most people I come across seem to view religion, if they are involved with it at all, as a kind of therapy plus social work. Somewhere to gather on a sunday and chat about fundraising afterwards. Churches are pretty - particularly country ones and make a nice place to get married in and a useful place to get buried in.

We are socially religious, have a set church by default because our parents or school belonged to it and dont really give it much thought beyond that. We don't tend to think - what would Jesus do? as a guide to life.

Most are 'C of E' by accident and bung that bit down on questionnaires for want of anything better.

I don't know anyone who thinks much further than that. My mum goes every Sunday to 'chat' to my dad (deceased.) and it gives her a bit of comfort. I walk her up there every Sunday as it's too dark for her. They're good people up there who bring her home afterwards so I feel benevolent in general towards them.

We seem to be lacking in the whole burned over, go to hell, atheist hating, gays are dammed bit. Its all rather pleasant in fact.

I came across a couple of young americans in Ireland last year who wouldn't sit with me after finding out in general conversation that I was an atheist.

Now that surprised me, as that is very unlikely to happen in general terms in the UK.
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Indeed. I strongly suspect that the main thing keeping religion alive in the UK is the average Brit's love of tradition...
 
Ethan Thane Athen said:
Indeed. I strongly suspect that the main thing keeping religion alive in the UK is the average Brit's love of tradition...
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I think its also where people feel they have both a sense of the history and the community of a place not really a "God" thing which is on the whole more private.
 
fuelair said:
Dipsomaniac Deacons, Rectuming Rectors, Conflationary Congregations, Malign Masses,
Judgmental Jesuits, Prejudiced Prelates, Profane Parishioners, Cannibalistic Canons.
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Alliterating Athiests just don't seem quite so fiendish in comparison.
 
fishbob said:
Alliterating Athiests just don't seem quite so fiendish in comparison.
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Of course we're not, and none of us that I am aware of are remotely like Buggering Bishops!!!!! or, not to leave a good one out, Fellating Fathers.........
 
MiaC said:
I think its also where people feel they have both a sense of the history and the community of a place not really a "God" thing which is on the whole more private.
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Don't forget love of the buildings. Lots of people in the villages local to me do church-related fundraising because they are proud of the ancient building in their midst, and don't want to see it fall into disrepair. "I'm not religious but the church roof needs a few tiles" is standard fare at many a coffee morning or tombola.
 
Oddly, I saw Tom Barnaby in a Midsommer ep running a Tombola - but it was for an Orchid show not a church building fund. Led to another Cabot Cove murder of course.
 
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