Religion and secularism. General attitude to religion презентация

General attitude to religion
Formally, Britain is a Christian country with established churches (Church of England, Church of Scotland)‏
Reality – far more complex and varied, due to:
decline in active religious observance
decline in Christian values, esp. among the young
spreading of non-Christian religions (Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, etc.)‏
rising popularity of the New Age movement
advance of secular humanism/atheism

Britain's spiritual landscape
Evolution of religion in Britain – ingrained into the country's landscape
The presence of a church (or two) in every village, some dating to the 7th century
In addition, the towns/cities feature churches and chapels of various Christian denominations (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Quaker)‏
Some of these churches are derelict or serve different purposes (art centres, shops, nightclubs, apartments)‏
Mosques are becoming more common in areas with high density of Muslim population
Most high streets now – have New Age shops (selling merchandise related to mythology, witchcraft, astrology, spiritualism)> these often function as meeting places for followers

Some images I

Some images II

Religion as part of heritage industry

The Church of England
The Church of England (C of E, Anglican Church) – established by the Tudor king Henry VIII in 1533 for dynastic reasons (seeking divorce from his wife unable to bear him a son/male heir)‏
Head of the Church = the monarch > unlike in the USA, there is no separation of Church from State; the church is formally tied with British insitutions (monarchy, Parliament)‏
The monarch's role in the Church today is to:
“* approve the appointment of archbishops, bishops and deans (on the recommendation of the Prime Minister)‏
* formally open each new session (every five years) of the General Synod (the church's governing body)‏
* promise to maintain the Church in his or her coronation oath.“
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/cofe/cofe_1.shtml

(Lack of) political influence
In real terms, however, the Church has almost no direct influence on politics
Similarly, British politicians avoid religious agenda
“We don't do God”. - Alastair Campbell, adviser to Tony Blair
The Church's nickname “Tory party at prayer“ > does not refer to its political identification with Conservative policies, but, rather, with its role as the guardian of Britain's traditions and established ideas
The most typical+important aspect = its Englishness (the reasons behind its origin – partiotic and utilitarian, not doctrinal) > it is a fairly tolerant and flexible church, without fundamentalism

Hierarchy
The Church - divided into two provinces - Canterbury (South) and York (North)‏ The Heads (Primates) of the provinces - Archbishop of Canterbury and York, respectively
The provinces – further divided into dioceses, headed by bishops
The smallest unit – parish („farnost“) > historically a crucial unit of local government and of community life
Head of the parish – a parish priest (often called vicar or rector)‏
All Church officials can marry; there is no celibacy requirement

Archbishops Justin Welby (Canterbury) and John Sentamu (York)

Historical sources of Anglicanism
King James' Bible (1611) „And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believed not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.“ (Mark 16:15)‏
Book of Common Prayer
(the first version published in 1549)
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.] Amen.

Church of Scotland
Also called “Kirk“ > a national church in Scotland; established in 1560 as part of the Reformation movement (Calvinist reformer John Knox)‏
Unlike the C of E > independent of the State
42% of Scots identify the Kirk as their religion; but active membership is only 9% of the population
The British monarch – not a supreme governor; s/he has a purely formal role
The highest body: the General Assembly, presided over by a Moderator
A critical portrayal of Scottish Presbyterianism (its old-fashionedness and rigidity): the movie Breaking the Waves by Lars von Trier (1996)

From the life of the Church

Passive religion
the English – one of the least religious nations in the world (alongside the Czechs)‏
although 88 per cent of people admit belonging to one of the churches in Britain, mostly Church of England, only 15 per cent actually attend church
for most > the only occasions of attendance are christenings, weddings and funerals (hatchings, matchings and dispatchings)‏
For most British, religion is not a significant factor of their lives
„God is all very well, in his place, which is in the Church. When we are in His house – at weddings and funerals – we make all the right polite noises, although we find the earnestness of it all faintly ridiculous and a bit uncomfortable. Otherwise, He intrudes very little on our lives or our thoughts. Other people are very welcome to worship him if they choose – it´s a free country – but this is a private matter, and they should keep it to themselves and not bore or embarass the rest of us by making unnecessary fuss about it (there is nothing the English hate more than a fuss)”. – Kate Fox: Watching the English

Current issues of the Church
Existence of women priests, plus ordination of gay clergy > this liberal initiative alienates traditionalists (esp. in Commonwealth countries) > risk of schism; some clergy are defecting to Roman Catholic Church

Other Christian denominations
Catholics (increasing in active membership due to Polish immigration)‏
Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Quakers > former “dissenters“ (descedants of the Puritans)‏
Evangelical Christians >
include several churches and groups which are becoming increasingly popular (esp. Pentecostals)‏
character : less emphasis on dogma and sin, more emphasis on the spiritual and miraculous ⮚sometimes called `charismatic` Christianity
the meetings – include joyful singing + healing of the sick

New Age
a recent spiritual trend; a movement – not a religion!
originated partly as a reaction against modern-age materialism, partly against the dogmatized and institutionalized form of Christian religion
loosely connects a wide range of beliefs – some elements of Christianity, Eastern philosophy and mysticism, paganism, Native American spirituality, Nature worship, etc.
main feature : respect for Mother Earth ⮚ strong ecological orientation

Non-Christian faiths
Islam (moderate or radical)‏
Hinduism
Buddhism
Sikhism
minorities are religiously far more active than the native Brits

Secular humanism
– a widespread non-religious approach to life, especially common among the left-wing establishment
“Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that espouses reason, ethics and justice and , and specifically rejects supernatural and religious dogma as the basis of morality and decision-making. Like other types of humanism, secular humanism is a life stance that focuses on the way human beings can lead good, happy and functional lives.
The term "secular humanism" was coined in the 20th century, and was adopted by non-religious humanists in order to make a clear distinction from " religious humanism“. Secular humanism is also called "scientific humanism". Biologist E.O. Wilson claimed it to be "the only worldview compatible with science's growing knowledge of the real world and the laws of nature".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism
most famous protagonist – Richard Dawkins
a biologist focused on evolutionary theory
author of book The God Delusion (Boží blud)‏
advocate of rational, logical thinking, campaigner against irrationality and religion in all forms
Quote:
“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.“