-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Posted by William Shannon. SNET news mail list [I read that 85% of the Irish still attend church. N] Jesus is a mystery in nation of little faith By Victoria Combe, Religious Affairs Correspondent CHRISTIANITY has plummeted in Britain with less than half the population believing in Jesus Christ and 14 per cent claiming not to know who he is, according to a survey published today. The number of people who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God has fallen from 71 per cent in 1957 to 45 per cent in 1999. Another 22 per cent believe that he is "just a story". In a Gallup poll in 1957, six per cent of the population believed that Jesus was fictional. The decline in Christian beliefs is matched by a decline in church going and religious affiliation, with only 48 per cent of Britons claiming to belong to any religion. The survey was conducted this month by Opinion Research Business, which interviewed 1,015 men and women on their beliefs. While 65 per cent still proclaim to believe in God, only 28 per cent of them believe in the traditional Christian understanding of a "personal God". And 37 per cent see God as a "spirit or life force". The Church of England registered the steepest decline in organised religion. Membership has slumped from 40 per cent of the population in 1990 to 27 per cent in 1999. Catholics have remained constant at nine per cent of the population, according to the survey. Only three per cent of the population go to church at Easter or Christmas and 46 per cent said they never went to church at all. There remains a core 11 per cent who go to church once a week. Despite this apparent lack of interest in the Christian Church, 27 per cent of the population describe themselves as "spiritual", and another 27 per cent call themselves "religious". But 38 per cent describe themselves as "not religious". The findings reflect a shift towards a more relaxed "pick and mix" approach to spirituality. It is now common for people to adopt new-age beliefs alongside Buddhist teachings, while dipping into Christian worship. There is also less social pressure on Britons to attend church and to take their children to Sunday school. -> Send "subscribe snetnews " to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -> Posted by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
