FAITH is diversifying rather than disappearing from Britain, according to a study of people who have undergone change in their religious belief. Its authors suggest that a “quiet but profound” transformation of the landscape of faith is under way.
The study of 2774 adult participants found a small but “noticeable” move towards Paganism and Wicca for those leaving organised religion. Islam has also experienced modest growth in converts. But the “main destination” for those leaving organised religion is secularism.
The study by the think tank, the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life, sought to uncover the complexity behind national census figures that show that fewer people now identify as Christian: 46 per cent in the 2021 census. Simply concluding that Britain was becoming a post-religious society was too simplistic, when, “while the Christian label is falling, religion itself has not simply vanished, it is changing form,” the report, The Changing Landscape of Faith in Britain, says.
“In short, Britain today is neither uniformly secular nor unambiguously Christian. It is religiously plural, with Christianity no longer dominant and non-affiliation at record highs, but with many other faiths and new spiritualities on the rise. The idea that religion will soon be extinct oversimplifies this complex transition.”
The “busiest corridor” away from faith was for those leaving the Christian faith. Yet Christianity is also the most popular faith to move into, although new Christians are more likely to identify as “other” Christian rather than Anglican, Roman Catholic, or Pentecostal.
“This trend points toward a repatterning of Christian identity, rather than institutional loyalty, where the emphasis lies on direct spiritual experience and a personal relationship with Jesus over institutional belonging,” the report says.
Overall, the survey found that 44 per cent said that they had left Christianity, while 17 per cent had converted to the faith; 83 per cent of leavers had become agnostic or atheist, 11 per cent said that they were spiritual, and three per cent had converted to Buddhism, and two per cent to Islam.
Those who had moved away said that it was because of lacking belief in God, and having doubts about doctrine. Young people, in particular, were more likely to say that they had left owing to disagreement over Christian teachings.
The survey also asked respondents about the impact of their conversion or leaving. Of those who had left the Christian faith, two-thirds said that they had experienced no positive outcomes. Those who converted were much more positive about its impact, reporting a stronger sense of purpose and positive outlook.