God will always have a remnant, a people, who will stand firm in the last days.
If we ever needed the Lord before, we sure do need Him now1. We are living in the last days, and as Seventh-day Adventists, God's remnant church, we have a special message for the people of this world, as explored in last quarter's Sabbath School lessons. However, in our quest to reach the world, we must understand the state of the people in our geographical catchment areas. For example, in England and Wales, the most recent population census provides unique insights into religious affiliation which is invaluable to our evangelistic strategies.
2021 Census
The 2021 population census of England and Wales poses a watershed moment for all people of faith as for the first time ever, the census shows that less than half of the population in England and Wales (46.2%, 27.5 million people) describe themselves as 'Christian' compared to 59.3% (33.3 million) in 2011, a 13.1 percentage point decrease over a decade. It is most assuring to note that despite this decrease, 'Christian' remained the most common response to the religion question. The religion question in the census data is voluntary, however, it drew the largest response rate, with 94.0% (56.0 million) answering the question in 2021, an increase from 92.9% (52.1 million) who answered in 2011.
The biggest dilemma faced by people of faith is how little we know about those who were formerly religious but now deidentify with religion (also known as religious dones). Understanding the reasons for the religious dones leaving their religion will strongly pave the way for reaching out to them. Many of them identify several reasons for leaving their religion – either intellectual reasons – no longer believing as they did before or outgrowing their faith, suffering religious trauma (i.e. hypocrisy of sexual abuse scandals in church), personal adversity (tragic death of a loved one) or social reasons (unwelcoming religious community).
Losing my religion2
If you are old enough to have owned a radio in the early 1990s you would have heard the iconic song 'Losing My Religion' by R.E.M., a life-changing hit for the rock band, whose lyrics were greatly misunderstood as sacrilegious – as if advocating that you reject the church. In fact, this was not the case. The words of the song are an expression for being at the end of one's rope, and the moment when politeness gives way to anger. The song, which was written in a minor key and with no formal chorus, was not set up for success but ended up as R.E.M.'s greatest hit song.
The census report showing people leaving religion should not be a cause for us to lose our religion. Yes, this is a concerning trend for the Christian fraternity when the census confirms that the answer 'No religion' was the second most common response (37.2%, 22.2 million), representing a 12.0 percentage point increase from 25.2% (14.1 million) in 2011. The geographical differences in people's responses were most marked in Wales where there was the greatest decrease in people reporting their religion as 'Christian' and the greatest increase in people reporting their religion as 'No religion'. Elsewhere, London remained the most religiously diverse region of England in 2021 – a quarter (25.3%) reporting a religion other than 'Christian'. This sharply contrasts with the Northeast and Southwest regions who are the least religiously diverse, with 4.2% and 3.2%, respectively, selecting a religion other than 'Christian'.
Figure 1: The percentage of the population reporting 'No religion' has increased Religious composition, 2011 and 2021, England and Wales.
Religion in America
The changes in the religious landscape in England and Wales are mirrored in the United States, according to recent research, with the country becoming more demographically diverse and more people becoming disaffiliated with organised religion. This new survey3 highlights religious affiliation trends – how often people attend church or are engaged in prayer meetings and why people switch from one religion for another, a trend called 'switching'.
The survey showed that most Americans are still Christian, the proportion of white Christians has remained relatively constant since 2018 (42%), and that of Christians of colour make up 25% of the country's population, also unchanged from preceding few years. However, the proportion of those who are religiously unaffiliated has risen to 27% from 16% in 2006.
Faith triumphs at last
Amidst the stark statistics about religion or lack of it, there remains a beacon of light exercised by those holding public office while remaining true to their faith or beliefs. I listened with keen interest to Kate Forbes' remarks in a BBC Scotland interview . The former SNP leadership candidate, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch belongs to the strictly traditionalist Free Church in Scotland. She articulated the changing landscape very well after her own experience during the leadership contest when she said that people are increasingly becoming "fearful" of expressing their faith.
Like her church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church should stand like the brave and reach people with our unique end-time message. Revelation 14:12 proclaims, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
1 Gospel song composed by Thomas Dorsey, 1943 – sang by The King's Herald.
2 R.E.M.'s biggest hit from album Out of Time, released as a single in February 1991.
3 Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval, research by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), 2023.
