December 2022
At the end of November 2022, more of the 2021 census results were published. (Christmas is the best time for a census conversation. For a few reasons.) In this case, our very own oppressive Government (who had sat on the results for a long time and made everyone else wait for their findings), somewhat gleefully stated:
‘For the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1 percentage point decrease from 59.3% (33.3 million) in 2011; despite this decrease, “Christian” remained the most common response to the religion question.’
The results also showed that every other faith and none had
increased in number.
It was the year of the Qatar world cup. We were not winning. Discontent filled the air. The streets felt oppressive. Strikes of all kinds were happening. And the cost-of-living crisis had become an official recession, looking likely to become a depression. And then there was Christmas, which many of the poor simply could not afford (yet still celebrated without any discernible reward).
The Conservative Government, at least being led by the first
Prime Minister of colour (though not entirely because of the wishes of the
party), knew that their time was short. There were protests - except,
protesters rights had already been limited. Every day was a case of, ‘And what
are we not allowed to do today?’
Government very much thought that issues of faith and spirituality should be
delegated to the faith communities. Muslims, in particular, were still treated
badly. Christians had received some much-needed kudos when Queen Elizabeth
died, because the people respected her faith. That’s maybe a bit cynical, but
as someone once said ‘What is actually wrong with cynicism?’ (Or, for that
matter, naivety?)
It was very hard for anyone to claim that the UK was a Christian country
anymore. Reasons for people ticking the Christian box on the census vary. But
we were nominally Christian up until then, whatever you think of the real state
of the country. Now were we Babylon?
As for the Government’s perspective on all this? I’m very sorry, but I’m afraid there are those who really don’t deserve their side of the story to be told. They didn’t lift a finger to help and, in many ways, hindered things. The charities largely helped, others helped. But the Government? No. Even their report that Christians in the UK really were discriminated against was tucked away. And they continue to complicate and make the lives of so many people, so much more difficult.
Or, to quote Fiddler on the Roof:
“Rabbi, may I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“Is there a proper blessing for the Czar?”
“A blessing for the Czar? Of course. May God
bless and keep the Czar… far away from us!”
