News

NEWS

Apathy marks British approach to religion, survey finds

A dramatic fall in religious belief over a generation has emerged from a major survey in Britain, with less than half of respondents expressing belief in God compared with more than three-quarters in 1968.

“The national mood appears to be one of benign indifference,” noted Anthony King, a professor at Essex University, and the polling specialist of the Daily Telegraph, which published the poll by the YouGov research company.

“Most people give the impression of regarding religion almost as a consumer good, one to be consumed by those who happen to have a taste for it,” King wrote in the newspaper after the survey found 44% of respondents expressed a belief in God compared with 77% in 1968.

For a minority, however, hell is feared as much as before: 23% believed in it – the same proportion as a generation earlier. The most common view about being married in a place of worship rather than in a secular venue, expressed by 40%, was not to mind one way or the other.

However, support for the Queen to remain as head of the Church of England was supported by 48% of members of non-Christian faiths and by 41% of non-believers. The survey also showed that most believers are not frequent churchgoers. Anglicans are the least likely to go to church in most weeks (12%) although they represent almost half of the country’s believers. For Roman Catholics the figure was 23%.

The keenest attendees were non-Anglican Protestants. With 26% going to church in most weeks, this was seen as reflecting a rise of new evangelical churches. The survey found that only 14% of members of non-Christian faith groups attended places of worship in most weeks, and 56% of these respondents said they never attended except for weddings and funerals.

The 2001 national census in Britain found a much higher proportion expressing religious belief. In response to a voluntary question, 72% described themselves as Christian. (ENI)

Forum on fatherhood and Christianity to be sponsored by Government

Theological thinktank Ekklesia has announced that it is teaming up with the leading agency on fatherhood, Fathers Direct to hold a Government-sponsored forum on fatherhood and Christianity.

The forum is part of the largest conference on fatherhood in Europe, and is being sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills headed by the new Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly.

Fatherhood has been in the public spotlight recently with the controversial actions of protesters such as Fathers 4 Justice. The Christian faith community, however, has been discussing fatherhood for two millennia. The new forum will provide an opportunity to explore how fatherhood has been represented and discussed in Christian theology, scripture, art, tradition and history.

The forum will also feature presentations, panel discussions and workshops exploring fathering and masculinity in contemporary society, the implications for the work of churches in support of family life and an exploration of how secular social care agencies can work in partnership with churches and Christian agencies.

There will be a focus on churches’ practical work to support father-child relationships, with an exhibition of resources.

The forum has been designed for church leaders, youth, children’s, family and community workers, theologians, parachurch organisations, and those working within family, health, education and other public services interested in Christian perspectives on fatherhood issues.

A full conference brochure can be downloaded from Fathers Direct – www.fathersdirect.com

Also partnering in the forum on Fatherhood and Christianity are: Third Way magazine, the Mothers Union and the Catholic weekly The Tablet.

Working with Fathers - The National Conference will be held on 5 April, at the Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H OAL

Hard copies of the brochure, and further information: 0208 832 7311 or e-mail: info@profileproductions.co.uk

Welsh youngsters say God listens when they're in trouble

More than their parents, friends, teachers and other family members, young people say 'God listens to them in times of trouble', according to the results of a survey by Youth for Christ, the UK's largest Christian youth organisation.

Of the 900 people who were asked who listens to them most, 43% answered God, compared to only 28% selecting friends, 16% parents and 9% girlfriend or boyfriend.

In light of these findings YFC Cymru is to launch a new campaign to encourage young people in Wales to talk about their problems. The youth agency is to send hundreds of free bilingual postcards, advertising a website, www.talk2.me.uk, where young people can chat to an online worker about key questions of life and find out more about the Christian faith.

The eye-catching bilingual postcards, which will be given out by youth leaders and through YFC's Cymru office in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, also include an opportunity to receive a free CD-Rom packed with video clips, music and testimony. It highlights a direct link to Youth For Christ's, Talk2me website where they will be able to browse in either language.

Families 'need more support outside the courts' to resolve disputes

Families need significantly more support to help them resolve conflicts outside the courts, NCH has told a Government inquiry.

Society's focus on only using the courts to solve problems when families break down is too short sighted, NCH's director of policy Caroline Abrahams told MPs at the Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Family Justice.

She argued that we need to do much more to support separating parents to talk to each other and come up with alternative solutions outside the courtroom. Children's views must be listened to as part of this process. At the moment they are often overlooked.

NCH is a pioneer of child-centred family mediation services in the UK and believes the Government should do more to make this type of work more widespread. NCH is finding it increasingly difficult to secure funding for these services.

Ms Abrahams told the inquiry: "Services must become much more 'joined-up' for families, whether they are still together, breaking down or already separated."

More at www.nch.org.uk

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS Apathy marks British approach to religion, survey finds A dramatic fall in religious belief over a generation has emerged from a major survey in Britain, with less than half of respondents expressing belief in God compared with more than three-quarters in 1968. “The national mood appears to be one of benign indifference,” noted Anthony King, a professor at Essex University, and the polling specialist of the Daily Telegraph, which published the poll by the YouGov research company. “Most people give the impression of regarding religion almost as a consumer good, one to be consumed by those who happen to have a taste for it,” King wrote in the newspaper after the survey found 44% of respondents expressed a belief in God compared with 77% in 1968. For a minority, however, hell is feared as much as before: 23% believed in it – the same proportion as a generation earlier. The most common view about being married in a place of worship rather than in a secular venue, expressed by 40%, was not to mind one way or the other. However, support for the Queen to remain as head of the Church of England was supported by 48% of members of non-Christian faiths and by 41% of non-believers. The survey also showed that most believers are not frequent churchgoers. Anglicans are the least likely to go to church in most weeks (12%) although they represent almost half of the country’s believers. For Roman Catholics the figure was 23%. The keenest attendees were non-Anglican Protestants. With 26% going to church in most weeks, this was seen as reflecting a rise of new evangelical churches. The survey found that only 14% of members of non-Christian faith groups attended places of worship in most weeks, and 56% of these respondents said they never attended except for weddings and funerals. The 2001 national census in Britain found a much higher proportion expressing religious belief. In response to a voluntary question, 72% described themselves as Christian. (ENI) Forum on fatherhood and Christianity to be sponsored by Government Theological thinktank Ekklesia has announced that it is teaming up with the leading agency on fatherhood, Fathers Direct to hold a Government-sponsored forum on fatherhood and Christianity. The forum is part of the largest conference on fatherhood in Europe, and is being sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills headed by the new Secretary of State, Ruth Kelly. Fatherhood has been in the public spotlight recently with the controversial actions of protesters such as Fathers 4 Justice. The Christian faith community, however, has been discussing fatherhood for two millennia. The new forum will provide an opportunity to explore how fatherhood has been represented and discussed in Christian theology, scripture, art, tradition and history. The forum will also feature presentations, panel discussions and workshops exploring fathering and masculinity in contemporary society, the implications for the work of churches in support of family life and an exploration of how secular social care agencies can work in partnership with churches and Christian agencies. There will be a focus on churches’ practical work to support father-child relationships, with an exhibition of resources. The forum has been designed for church leaders, youth, children’s, family and community workers, theologians, parachurch organisations, and those working within family, health, education and other public services interested in Christian perspectives on fatherhood issues. A full conference brochure can be downloaded from Fathers Direct – www.fathersdirect.com Also partnering in the forum on Fatherhood and Christianity are: Third Way magazine, the Mothers Union and the Catholic weekly The Tablet. Working with Fathers - The National Conference will be held on 5 April, at the Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H OAL Hard copies of the brochure, and further information: 0208 832 7311 or e-mail: info@profileproductions.co.uk Welsh youngsters say God listens when they're in trouble More than their parents, friends, teachers and other family members, young people say 'God listens to them in times of trouble', according to the results of a survey by Youth for Christ, the UK's largest Christian youth organisation. Of the 900 people who were asked who listens to them most, 43% answered God, compared to only 28% selecting friends, 16% parents and 9% girlfriend or boyfriend. In light of these findings YFC Cymru is to launch a new campaign to encourage young people in Wales to talk about their problems. The youth agency is to send hundreds of free bilingual postcards, advertising a website, www.talk2.me.uk, where young people can chat to an online worker about key questions of life and find out more about the Christian faith. The eye-catching bilingual postcards, which will be given out by youth leaders and through YFC's Cymru office in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, also include an opportunity to receive a free CD-Rom packed with video clips, music and testimony. It highlights a direct link to Youth For Christ's, Talk2me website where they will be able to browse in either language. Families 'need more support outside the courts' to resolve disputes Families need significantly more support to help them resolve conflicts outside the courts, NCH has told a Government inquiry. Society's focus on only using the courts to solve problems when families break down is too short sighted, NCH's director of policy Caroline Abrahams told MPs at the Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Family Justice. She argued that we need to do much more to support separating parents to talk to each other and come up with alternative solutions outside the courtroom. Children's views must be listened to as part of this process. At the moment they are often overlooked. NCH is a pioneer of child-centred family mediation services in the UK and believes the Government should do more to make this type of work more widespread. NCH is finding it increasingly difficult to secure funding for these services. Ms Abrahams told the inquiry: "Services must become much more 'joined-up' for families, whether they are still together, breaking down or already separated." More at www.nch.org.uk © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.