Cross-Cultural Comparisons and the General Apathy of the English
While some might say that studying in England as an American doesn't necessarily give me the best perspective for cross-cultural comparison, in the realm of religion, I, surprisingly, would have to disagree.
The thing that strikes me the most is how very unreligious a people the English are. I am of course saying this as a generalization and there are many faithful people I am sure. But in combination with the English Studies we're doing as part of a Humanities course here and in my personal conversations with those around me...it is very different, yet very interesting to understand. My one flatmate described his country as "a nation of atheists, really". Most people, if forced to chose, check the box marked "C of E" on the census...but so few practice, and far fewer believe. Those that do appear to believe in something, and have faith of some sort, but not in any devout sense that would we think of it.
How could a country that, even in the early modern era, was a fervently religious country...become the victim of so much cynicism, disbelief, and pure apathy? Does it have something to do with the technological revolutions, various philosophical movements, or something inherent in the British national character that interplayed with them?I contrast this especially with of course America, but also other devout nations in the world. My flatmates and I had a 7 hour conversation last night about the differences between America and England and religion played a part for at least an hour of it. One of them talked about the decline of Christianity and it's status as a "dying religion" in Britain.
This last part struck me in relation to how the orthodoxy of a faith impacts the followers, or lack there of. Religions that are orthodox, that have truth, that have rules, are the ones that people seem to stick more closely to and believe in more fervently than any sort of relativistic, ever-changing, liberal version of any faith. Islam is a case in point: its followers have a strict set of unchanging beliefs from the Quran and a set of truths that can never and will never change. Compare that with Catholicism and Orthodox Christians - that appeal is similiar in all three. (one can also make a case for Pentecostal Christians, I am told, who assert a similiar belief in unchanging truths). Contrast that with the rather ambigious faiths of believers who either do not know the orthodoxy of their faith, reject it, or lack it intrinsically in their denomination's dogma (cafeteria Catholics, the American and British followers of certain Protestant denominations etc.).
It is a fascinating correlation.
The thing that strikes me the most is how very unreligious a people the English are. I am of course saying this as a generalization and there are many faithful people I am sure. But in combination with the English Studies we're doing as part of a Humanities course here and in my personal conversations with those around me...it is very different, yet very interesting to understand. My one flatmate described his country as "a nation of atheists, really". Most people, if forced to chose, check the box marked "C of E" on the census...but so few practice, and far fewer believe. Those that do appear to believe in something, and have faith of some sort, but not in any devout sense that would we think of it.
How could a country that, even in the early modern era, was a fervently religious country...become the victim of so much cynicism, disbelief, and pure apathy? Does it have something to do with the technological revolutions, various philosophical movements, or something inherent in the British national character that interplayed with them?I contrast this especially with of course America, but also other devout nations in the world. My flatmates and I had a 7 hour conversation last night about the differences between America and England and religion played a part for at least an hour of it. One of them talked about the decline of Christianity and it's status as a "dying religion" in Britain.
This last part struck me in relation to how the orthodoxy of a faith impacts the followers, or lack there of. Religions that are orthodox, that have truth, that have rules, are the ones that people seem to stick more closely to and believe in more fervently than any sort of relativistic, ever-changing, liberal version of any faith. Islam is a case in point: its followers have a strict set of unchanging beliefs from the Quran and a set of truths that can never and will never change. Compare that with Catholicism and Orthodox Christians - that appeal is similiar in all three. (one can also make a case for Pentecostal Christians, I am told, who assert a similiar belief in unchanging truths). Contrast that with the rather ambigious faiths of believers who either do not know the orthodoxy of their faith, reject it, or lack it intrinsically in their denomination's dogma (cafeteria Catholics, the American and British followers of certain Protestant denominations etc.).
It is a fascinating correlation.
posted by Silabella @ 11:44 AM
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