🗊Презентация Religion and secularism. General attitude to religion

Religion and secularism

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)‏

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

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

Other famous secular humanists Christopher Hitchens Anglo-American left-wing journalist Admirer of George Orwell, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson champion of the "New Atheism" movement; believer in the philosophical values of the Enlightenment His argument = the idea of God as the supreme being is a totalitarian one; destroying individual freedom; science, not religion, should be the bearer of ethical values