The Challenge of being a The Challenge of being a disciple of Jesus todaydisciple of Jesus today
• The changes we seeThe changes we see
• The challenges this causesThe challenges this causes
• Our response to the challengeOur response to the challenge
Percentage of child population in Sunday Percentage of child population in Sunday School UK, 1900-2000School UK, 1900-2000
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
©UK Christian Handbook Religious Trends 2001/2001 No.2
Infant Baptism C of E 2007Infant Baptism C of E 2007
0102030405060708090
100
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
percentage of births by year
Belief in God or higher powerBelief in God or higher power
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Belief in GodBelief in God
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1947 1981 1990 2000
life force
personalGod
Builders (born 20s+30s) in Builders (born 20s+30s) in 20052005
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
raised inchurch
nowattend
monthly +
christianaffiliation
raisechildren
to believein God
believe in
life force
personalGod
Boomers (born 40s+50s) in 2005Boomers (born 40s+50s) in 2005
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
raised inchurch
nowattend
monthly +
christianaffiliation
raisechildren
to believein God
believe in
life force
personalGod
Gen-Xers (born 60s+70s) in 2005Gen-Xers (born 60s+70s) in 2005
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
raised inchurch
nowattend
monthly +
christianaffiliation
raisechildren
to believein God
believe in
life force
personalGod
Gen-Yers (born 80s+90s) in 2015?Gen-Yers (born 80s+90s) in 2015?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
raised inchurch
nowattend
monthly +
christianaffiliation
raisechildren
to believein God
believe in
life force
personalGod
“I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened, but I don't know into what religion yet.”
David Beckham.David Beckham.
He was christened in 2005 with a He was christened in 2005 with a traditional Christian ceremony in a traditional Christian ceremony in a private chapel constructed specially in private chapel constructed specially in their Hertfordshire mansion – with two their Hertfordshire mansion – with two Buddhist shrines at the entrance!Buddhist shrines at the entrance!
Teddy Bear Teddy Bear challengechallenge
Church of the Sacred Teddy BearChurch of the Sacred Teddy BearWorship him for he is all hugging!Worship him for he is all hugging!
Chesterton: When people stop Chesterton: When people stop believing in God they don’t believe in believing in God they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything!nothing, they believe in anything!
The MediaThe Media• Growth in TV shows on the supernatural, Growth in TV shows on the supernatural,
spiritual and paranormal –spiritual and paranormal –– Fiction … supernatural, sea of souls, Buffy, Fiction … supernatural, sea of souls, Buffy,
demons, Hex, charmed, Sabrina the teenage demons, Hex, charmed, Sabrina the teenage witch, apparitions, treu blood, the vampire diarieswitch, apparitions, treu blood, the vampire diaries
– ‘‘fact’…..haunted homes, most haunted, healers, fact’…..haunted homes, most haunted, healers, Britain's psychic challenge, documentaries on Britain's psychic challenge, documentaries on mediums, Pagans, teenage witches etcmediums, Pagans, teenage witches etc
• Move from ‘Scooby Do’ approach where the Move from ‘Scooby Do’ approach where the ghosts are found not to exist to an approach ghosts are found not to exist to an approach where the balance is to believe in themwhere the balance is to believe in them
• Replacement of the priest with the medium, Replacement of the priest with the medium, investigator or demon hunter.investigator or demon hunter.
Experience of fortune telling, Experience of fortune telling, Tarot, astrology, psychics, Tarot, astrology, psychics,
palmistspalmists
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
The Challenge of being a The Challenge of being a disciple of Jesus todaydisciple of Jesus today
• The changes we seeThe changes we see
• The challenges this causesThe challenges this causes
• Our response to the challengeOur response to the challenge
The Challenge of being a The Challenge of being a disciple of Jesus todaydisciple of Jesus today
•What challenges do you face in What challenges do you face in being a Christian:being a Christian: at workat work in familyin family in community/societyin community/society
The Challenge of being a The Challenge of being a disciple of Jesus todaydisciple of Jesus today
•What is our response to the What is our response to the challenge?challenge? as individuals (supported by the as individuals (supported by the
church)church) as a church?as a church?