The Church of England A Changing Church in a Changing Culture Professor Linda Woodhead Lancaster University, UK YouGov for Westminster Faith Debates religion and personal morality 2013 Total sample size 4,437 adults Fieldwork undertaken between 25th - 30th January 2013 The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+) The Survey questions first part – on religion Items on: -affiliations and self-identities of various kinds -influences and socialisation -beliefs (inc. scaled) -group participations, past and present -public practices -personal practices -authority and guidance The survey questions second part – on personal morality • • • • • • Abortion Sex and sexualisation Gender difference The family Same-sex marriage Euthanasia Plus the usual demographic cross-breaks Survey 2: Religion and Social Morality Just completed Religious by age 90 80 70 C of E Prefer not to state 60 None Catholic Other 50 40 30 20 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Proportions who state C of E as their religion and proportion who have probable or definite belief in God or higher power: in each group about two in three Anglicans are believers. 70% 60% Percentage of age group 50% 40% Anglicans Believers 30% 20% 10% 0% under 30 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 Age 60 to 69 70 and over Prob no Don't No God God know Moral score: 0=“liberal" 3="strict moral minority" Total Prob God Def Non God, Part GF Total part GF non GF 0 6.9% 4.7% 2.8% 3.9% 2.5% 0.2% 0.2% 21.2% 0.5 4.9% 3.8% 4.1% 4.7% 3.2% 0.1% 0.3% 21.0% 1 4.1% 3.3% 3.8% 5.6% 4.5% 0.6% 0.7% 22.6% 1.5 2.6% 2.0% 3.8% 4.4% 3.9% 0.4% 1.1% 18.3% 2 0.7% 0.7% 1.0% 1.7% 2.6% 0.5% 1.1% 8.4% 2.5 0.3% 0.4% 0.7% 0.7% 1.8% 0.7% 0.9% 5.5% 3 0.1% 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.7% 0.4% 1.6% 3.0% 2.9% 100.0 % 5.9% 19.5% 15.1% 16.2% 21.0% 19.4% e.g. abortion 0= keep or relax current rule 0.5= reduce time limit or don't know 1= ban abortion A liberal, democratic/egalitarian ‘moral majority’ of 80-90% of the GB population A strict moral minority of 8.5% A God-fearing moral minority of 3.6% Should same-sex couples be allowed to get married? All All religious adherents Church of England Catholic Should 52% 43% 44% 44% Should NOT 34% 43% 43% 41% Don’t know 14% 14% 14% 15% Self identified religious tradition None Anglican Roman Catholic Presbyterian Methodi st Baptist Jewish Hindu Islam / Muslim 81 72 56 61 62 43 69 36 26 9 15 30 24 23 45 21 28 55 10 13 14 15 15 12 10 36 19 Support change Oppose change Don't know Euthanasia: Adherents Anglican Roman Catholic Church of Scotland Methodis t/ Baptist Pentecostal Jewish Hindu Islam / Muslim Support change 59 44 45 49 6 64 47 23 Oppose change 25 42 40 40 78 25 36 63 16 14 15 11 16 11 17 14 Religion of group Don't know Euthanasia: Actively participaitng in a group Which, if any, of the following do you rely on MOST for guidance as you live your life and make decisions? Own reason and judgement Own intuition or feelings Family God or 'higher power' Trusted friends The teachings of my religion Science Deceased loved ones Religious leaders, local or national The religious or spiritual group to which I belong Great literature and art, past and present None of these Don't know 41% 22 13 6 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 4 5 Profile of Churchgoers in England, 2005 Source: Peter Brierley Anglican Roman Catholic 28 % 28% Baptist, Charismatic, independent churches 44% In your opinion, would you say that the Church of England today is...? A positive force in society 18 A negative force in society 14 Neither a positive or negative force in society 58 Don't know 10 You said that in your opinion the _Church of England_ was a positive force in society, which, if any, of the following is the MAIN reason for this? [To those who said the CofE is a positive force. N=689] The Church of England is integral to English culture The Church of England is an ethical voice in society The Church of England is part of our heritage 21 20 18 The Church of England is at the heart of local communities 10 The Church of England is a support for those in need The Church of England brings people closer to God The Church of England is an important part of a global church 10 9 The Church of England is an important provider of services like schools and chaplains For another reason Don't know 5 4 2 2 You said that in your opinion the _Church of England_ was a negative force in society, which, if any, of the following is the MAIN reason for this? [This question went to those who said the CofE is a negative force. N=603] The Church of England is too prejudiced - it discriminates against women and gay people The Church of England is stuffy and out of touch The Church of England is too hypocritical The Church of England is too morally conservative The Church of England is too privileged The Church of England is too liberal The Church of England is too 'happy clappy' The Church of England is too clerical For another reason Don't know 30 24 17 8 6 4 2 2 5 2 You said that in your opinion the _Church of England_ was a negative force in society, which, if any, of the following is the MAIN reason for this? AGES The Church of England is stuffy and out of touch The Church of England is too prejudiced - it discriminates against women and gay people 18-24 25-39 17 46 40-59 60+ 19 23 35 39 24 15 You said that in your opinion the _Church of England_ was a negative force in society, which, if any, of the following is the ages MAIN reason for this? [This question went to those who said the CofE is a negative force. N=603] 1824 2539 4059 60+ The Church of England is too prejudiced - it discriminates against women and gay people 46 39 24 15 The Church of England is stuffy and out of touch 17 19 23 35 The Church of England is too hypocritical 12 9 25 20 The Church of England is too morally conservative 12 8 7 6 The Church of England is too privileged 5 6 5 7 The Church of England is too liberal 4 3 4 7 The Church of England is too 'happy clappy' 1 1 1 3 The Church of England is too clerical 1 4 2 1 For another reason 0 8 7 4 Don't know 2 3 3 2 A values-based theory of secularisation The widening ‘values gap’ A contingent rather than an inexorable process (e.g. blessing civil partnerships) Faithful witness or failure of leadership? Are the majority of us (GB and Anglican) wrong? What role for a national church out of step with its nation? (e.g. blessing civil partnerships)