Why do most British people believe in Jesus?
There is an assumption in your question that most British people do believe in Jesus. First we should check your assumption. The most recent census data for the Great Britain is for 2001. According to this data 71.8% of people in Great Britain are Christians (UK National Statistics). Part of the Christian religion is a belief in Jesus. There are still many people in Great Britain who do believe in God, and also in Jesus, and you may still be curious as to why they believe as they do. First, remember that each person will have their own reasons for their beliefs. Some reasons that I have heard and read about (these are NOT my own beliefs) for people to believe in God/Jesus include:
Belief in God has been on the decline in Great Britain for the last 50 years at least. And so has attendance at church. A survey (of 7000 UK adults, ages 16+, interviewed between 8th February to 5th March 2006) by a Christian charity called Tearfund, claims that “One in four of the UK adult population say they go to church at least once a year. [...but] 59% never or practically never go to church.” (via Crabtree). So whatever the actual level of belief in God is in the UK, it is clear that the vast majority of Britons are not involved in a religious community.
|
Return to Culture Questions page - top of page - |
|
Further Reading: |