Religion in modern Britain LTLRE: The Context Religion in modern Britain

1994 2015

The starting point Religion in Britain since 1945: Believing without belonging first published in 1994 and still in print an invitation to prepare a second edition How should I do this? specifically, was it possible to continue within the framework set out in the first edition, which deployed (in a variety of ways) the notion of ‘believing without belonging’? the answer was ‘no’

Three things have changed The three are distinct but interrelated: the nature of religion and its place in British society (and indeed beyond) a step change in the study of the field – a story in its own right (new data) my own development as scholar – 20 years of thinking and writing about religion in the modern world makes a difference, not least a growing capacity to see the British situation from the outside as well as from within

The framework How should I proceed? An awareness that there are a series of factors to take into account in our understanding of religion in Britain, as indeed in Europe There are five (plus one) – see next slide The crucial point to grasp is that these push and pull in different directions A complex picture emerges, which is not easily summarized

The factors to take into account We need to consider: cultural heritage vicarious religion (essentially a public utility) a shift from obligation to consumption (a market) new arrivals secular alternatives Plus an awareness that the patterns of religion that emerge in Britain/Europe are an exception in global terms

The core theme The paradox referred to in the subtitle: on the one hand the process of secularization continues; on the other, the continuing/growing prominence of religion in public discussion The combination is hard to handle at precisely the moment when they are most needed, British people are losing the vocabulary, tools and concepts that they require in order to have a constructive conversation about faith

The consequences An ill-informed and ill-mannered debate about issues of extreme importance to the democratic future of this country A growing concern about religious literacy Hence the crucial importance of RE for every age group who else is going to fill this space?

An excursus on London In pictures

ONS 2111: Regional differences

Iconic buildings

Occupy London 2011-12

Successful churches

High levels of migration Ever growing diversity, which can be documented in a number of ways London has the largest number of migrants among all regions of the UK In 2013, about half of the UK’s foreign-born population were in London (36.2%) and the South East (13.7%) The UK-born population is more evenly distributed In 2013, only 7.9% of the UK-born population lived in London

Other faith communities A many-layered and continuing story

Brick Lane Jamme Masjid Centuries of immigration in London’s East End captured in a single building 1743 – a Protestant chapel (La Neuve Eglise) for London's French Huguenot community 1809 – a Wesleyan chapel 1819 – a Methodist chapel Late 19th c. – the Spitalfields Great Synagogue 1976 – a mosque, the London (now Brick Lane) Jamme Masjid