". . . there are an awful lot of people now of a certain generation who don't really know how religion works, let alone Christianity in particular".
Oh really? and I wonder what generation he is referring to, taking into account that Christianity is the UK's official religion, established by law, his church has been around in this country since Henry VIII, and it has privileged access to our children from age 5. Could it be that his church is doing something wrong, or just that increasing numbers are looking at religion, thinking for themselves and rejecting it for the superstitious, backward nonsense that it is: devoid of modern significance, and still chasing to catch up, as it has down the centuries, with enlightened ethical and moral values.
I'm inclined to agree with him. I'd like to think that an increasing number of people are thinking for themselves, but I don't think it's so. As the Dawkins Foundation Mori poll showed, most of those who ticked "Christian" on their census form know very little about Christianity, and as Julian Glover wrote in the Guardian, a typical Briton is a "fuzzy believer". They might think of themselves as religious, in a vague, "I'm a nice spiritual person" sort of way, but that isn't how organised religion works. Most nominally religious people are disorganised. In one way, you might think that's a good thing, as they're not subject to the authority of a church they neither support or understand, but you might also think that demonstrates that a majority of people simply don't think very clearly. As Bertrand Russell said, "Most people would rather die than think. In fact, they do."
ReplyDeleteIf it is true that the typical Briton is a "fuzzy believer" yet the C of E still can't tempt them into church it makes the failure of organised religion even more glaring.
ReplyDeleteI feel a little sorry for Rowan. His job has been more political than religious. He has tried to bring the C of E up to date, in regards to the issues of homosexuality and equality of the sexes but there is still a great deal left to do.
ReplyDeleteIt should be borne in mind that "committed" Christians, just like any other religion, have largely abandoned reason, otherwise they wouldn't be religious in the first place. So, excercising common sense and rationality and not persecuting minorities must be hard for them.
Say what you like about Rowan, and I was in school with him a long time ago, at least he has tried to grasp the nettle on important issues. It must have been a thankless job.