Whither Christianity?

[Khandro]

What is the future of Christianity in Britain?

[RATTER15]

None I hope, silly bloody nonsense!!!

[naomi24]

I don't know. With the influx of Islam, I often wonder whether or not, if push came to shove, Christianity might engender rather more support than it thought it had.

[pixie373]

I think all the religions will die out over time. Unfortunately, not quickly enough.

[maggiebee]

Christianity has lasted this long so I don't think it is going to go away. Hope not anyway.

[pixie373]

Eventually, i think. I have faith in people.

[birdie1971]

Christianity doesn't place a heavy burden on its acolytes in terms of time so you're free to be a Christian without it ever really intruding on your daily routine (rather like atheism ironically). I strongly suspect that a great many people in this country and others 'support' Christianity even if they disagree with some of its less palatable idiosyncrasies and don't actively practise it.

For these reasons, I think it will be around for quite some time.

[cupid04]

I'm with Maggie

[Quizmonster]

Into oblivion, one hopes, along with all the 'competing' absurdities that are religion.

[jomifl]

Sell christianity shares and buy muslim now!

[Khandro]

For nearly 500 years the Christian Church in Britain has been denominational first, and Christian second, but there are attempts at a reversal of this now going on without much notice. The setting up of the Ordinariate by Pope Benedict was to begin communication between the Catholic Church and Anglicanism, the visit by the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, to the new Pope Francis in Rome, was to begin what will probably be a slow process to wards this; both men share a religion which is missionary and Biblical. The way forward is to heed the words of Jesus himself, 'In my Father's house are many mansions.' - some of these mansions may rest within other religions too.
Religion has a long way yet to go.

[doctordb]

There are probably more Buddhas than crucifixes in the homes of Britain.

[Khandro]

doctordb; That is quite true and most of them are appalling mass-produced rubbish. According to Buddhism, images of The Buddha should not be used in any way as decorative objects, (any more than should images of Christ).
Why do people festoon their houses and gardens with them? Perhaps they believe it gives them a whiff of oriental sophistication.

[modeller]

Mythology will always prosper because people have an inner need to believe in the unknown. It is more comfortable than facing reality.
Religion is and always has been strongest amongst the ignorant uneducated parts of the world. That is not the same as the level of intelligence. Those with intelligence use or create religion to give themselves power. From witch doctors to popes they play on the Need to explain the unknown. Each time a religion or a facet of religion is explained or exposed a new one is created. That's why even in educated N. America new ones pop up almost every day.
Christianity will continue in Britain it satisfies that inner need and because it is woven into our culture .

[doctordb]

Not only here khandro, it seems to me that even in the lands and temples of Asia they use the image of Buddha as a decorative object.

[Khandro]

No, you fail to understand that in Buddhist countries all the images whether stupas, sculptures or paintings are there, not for decoration, but to give continual access to the spiritual via the conscious mind, a sort of everyday aide memoire.

[doctordb]

Even the ones in my hotel room? :)

[mibn2cweus]

Somehow, rubbing Gideon's Bible for good luck just ain't quite the same.

[sandyRoe]

It won't wither on the vine. It may be dormant now but I'm sure there will be a regrowth, a blooming of faith. These things come in cycles.

[jomifl]

/Perhaps they believe it gives them a whiff of oriental sophistication/ wonderful......
and perhaps they know as much about oriental sophistication as anyone else.

[Khandro]

Have you got one in your garden jomifl?