“Great Britain is a Christian country”

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“Great Britain is a Christian country” ( 1)
“The contemporary religious landscape of the UK should be seen as exhibiting contours that are ‘Christian, secular and religiously plural” (Weller)
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“Great Britain is a Christian country” (2)
. Religion in the UK is three dimensional
. Christianity remains the predominant religion.
. However, increasing religious plurality.
. Secularization is also an issue
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How do we know this?
(1)
The census – happens every 10 years
Remains the most used data for illustrating religious diversity.
Since 2001 there has been an optional religious question
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How do we know this?
(2)
The religious make-up of the UK is diverse and multicultural. The approximate figures for religious belief in UK according to 2001 Census:
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How do we know this?
(3)
Christianity – 71.6%
Islam – 2.7%
Hinduism – 1.0%
Sikhism – 0.6%
Judaism – 0.5%
Buddhism – 0.3%
Other faiths – 0.3%
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2011 Figures
59%: Christianity
25.1%: No Religion
4.8% Islam
1.5% Hinduism
0.8%: Sikhism
0.4%: Buddhism
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What are possible problems with asking a question about religion? (1)
Data is incomparable: In England, the only previous official Census relating to religion was conducted in 1851. In 2001 and 2011 the question was voluntary, with a range of differing pre-set options for response according to the country concerned.
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What are possible problems with asking a question about religion? (2)
Difficulty in knowing the significance of people who did not state a religion: 7.3% did not respond to the voluntary question.
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What are possible problems with asking a question about religion? (3)
We are socialised to write ‘Christian’ on forms: Less than half of British people believe in a God according to latest British Social Attitudes Survey results – Yet for some reason about 59% told the 2011 census that they were Christian.
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What are possible problems with asking a question about religion? (4)
Responses to questions might reflect racial suspicion rather than religious belief
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What are possible problems with asking a question about religion? (5)
An inclusive approach is more appropriate in a diverse society: There are those listed as having no religion on the census just because they are not associated with a formal religion e.g. New Religious Movements, Humanists, agnostic, scientologists.
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Look at this and then answer the questions
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20683744
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How much had Christianity declined between the 2001 and 2011 census?
Between 2001 and 2011 there has been a decrease in people who identify as Christian (from 71.7 per cent to 59.3 per cent) and an increase in those reporting no religion (from 14.8 per cent to 25.1 per cent
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How have the figures changed for people describing themselves as having no religion?
non-religious; and
very low confidence in religious organisations, but tolerance of religious difference.
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According to the article, what are the reasons for these changes?
The reason for these changes is that it doesn't what you believe in and so what religion you are
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What did the National Secular Society say about the changes?
Separation of religious institutions from state institutions and a public sphere where religion may participate, but not dominate.
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According to the article, what are the reasons for increases in non-Christian religions?
If you think religion belongs to the past and we live in a new age of reason, you need to check out the facts: 84% of the world’s population identifies with a religious group.
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Extension - Read the following article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12507319
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Why do some people find the voluntary religious question on the Census unsatisfactory?
Some people may not like the Census religion question as they may feel it imposes upon their privacy. But making sure the Census does not undercount the non-religious is hugely important, because policymakers within both local and national government use
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Why do they prefer the ‘British Social Attitudes Survey’?
The more people who take part in this study, the more accurate the results will be.
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What do the British Humanist Association say about the Census question?
Humanists UK says the results show the Census should not be relied upon as evidence of religiosity by decision-makers in resource allocation, and is encouraging those who do not believe or practise a religion to tick the 'No religion' box to avoid this ha
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What do members of the Church of England say?
A belief that the Bible contains the core of all Christian faith and thought. a loyalty to a way of worship and life that was first set out in the Book of Common Prayer. celebration of the sacraments ordained by Jesus - that of Baptism and Eucharist or Ho
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Look through the following slides and write the statements IN RED into a chart like the one below.
“Great Britain is a Christian country”
no
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A
Their parents may follow a certain religion. Just because everyone in your family is Christened doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a Christian yourself.
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B
How might this affect attitudes/the way that people fill out the form?
There attitudes might be different to other religions
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C
To an outsider Christianity is our religion – Established Church, Queen as ‘Defender of the Faith’, Empire attempted to spread Christianity
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D
Economic development, urbanisation
Scientific age – move towards rational thought – Darwinism
Space travel, transport, technology
Rise of feminism
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E
The census question is optional
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F
Lots of religions add to the diversity of Great Britain. Religious diversity enriches our society.
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G
Islam is the fastest growing religion in Great Britain
Christianity is in decline
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H
World War II labour shortages meant that we welcomed many immigrants over to help
Africanisation policies of the 70s and the Partition of India meant that people came to the UK for safety
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I
The Church of England is our state religion and Established Church.
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J
According to the 2011 census Christianity is the religion of the majority – 59%
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K
Christianity has shaped past and present life of UK helping to mould legal structures, public institutions, and the social and intellectual traditions
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L
Christianity isn’t even a national religion. The whole point of it was to evangelise and spread the news of Jesus Christ all over the world.
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M
Festivals and traditions are rooted in the Christian tradition whilst also celebrating the festivals, beliefs and cultures of other religious and non-religious traditions
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'Great Britain is a Christian country.'
The diversity includes Hinduism, Islam,
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Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one
point of view including the fact that religious traditions in Britain are in the
main Christian and also diverse. (the following religious
Britain is the main country in the UK and has loads of religious people there and it a tradition to
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Is Britain a Christian country?
Yes it is
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

. Religion in the UK is three dimensional
. Christianity remains the predominant religion.
. However, increasing religious plurality.
. Secularization is also an issue

Back

“Great Britain is a Christian country” (2)

Card 3

Front

The census – happens every 10 years
Remains the most used data for illustrating religious diversity.
Since 2001 there has been an optional religious question

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

The religious make-up of the UK is diverse and multicultural. The approximate figures for religious belief in UK according to 2001 Census:

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Christianity – 71.6%
Islam – 2.7%
Hinduism – 1.0%
Sikhism – 0.6%
Judaism – 0.5%
Buddhism – 0.3%
Other faiths – 0.3%

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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