The slow whiny death of british christianity is a characteristic Hari evisceration of organised religion. I agree that most of the state religious subsidies and allowances should be cut, but found myself wondering why I felt that the argument was a little bit of a straw man.
My initial thought is this: in my experience, all my religious friends are slightly remote from the full institutions of their religion. They may use religion and church for community, but not to justify separation or entitlement. Many others are private believers. Faith makes sense for them, but not necessarily the ceremonies and rituals.
I think that it is the institutions that are the problem. Yes, religious faith is dropping too, but the credibility of the institutions is dropping more rapidly.
In many ways, that makes Hari’s case stronger.
Hari is tilting at a straw man. He should shadow my vicar for a week, try loving others as he loves himself (a very challenging spiritual exercise!), and discover more about the multiple, lively ways in which the institutions and communities of the C of E provide for folk to lead fuller lives. You’d think someone bright would do a smidge of research beyond the iceberg’s tip of London-based meeja headlines…
I’m on my village church committee and it’s been eyeopening to realise that in 10 years the CofE has lost so much financial ground that the contribution required from PCCs has risen twentyfold. Church fetes are now held to pay the vicars! Cannot understand how any subsidies can be cut, it’ll all fall over..
I agree that there are many fantastic individuals within the church. What I am not sure is if they must necessarily be of the church to carry out their positive roles.
I can certainly attempt to love others as myself without any religious aspect. I’m not saying I’d be any good at it, mind you.
Separately, I did wonder whether the Big Society was in fact an attempt at creating a secular set of church-like services.
Ouch. That doesn’t sound healthy. Losing the monopoly on marriage and those property investments can’t be solely to blame.
Amazing that they keep on going despite all that. I wonder if the fabled public sector work ethic is on display in the same way when the cuts come knocking.
I think there were some bad stock investments and they’re on a defined benefit pension scheme (!) so that keeps needing topping up – a case where business and ethical practice have clashed. I’m fairly sure there’s enough at the top level to go round, it’s the community level that’s taking the hit. To meet current budget requests from this diocese our village would need to raise £200 per person per year pa – clearly not possible – and I do wonder what’s going to happen.
Ah, the curse of pensions, even though a rev’s pension can’t be enormous. But £200 is a huge amount: like another quarter of council tax.