Four in ten Christian Brits prefer not to tell people about their faith
A recent survey has found that nearly 40% of British Christians prefer not to disclose their religious beliefs. This trend of religious reticence in the U.K. is attributed by experts to factors such as a rise in antisemitism and a "self-confidence crisis" among British Christians.
The survey, commissioned by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) and conducted by Whitestone Insight, also revealed a similar reluctance among Jewish respondents, with 38% agreeing with the statement, “I prefer not to tell people about my faith or religious belief.”
Jake Scott, the secretary of IIFL, suggested that the hesitation among Christians may be due to uncertainty about their religious identity. He noted a high correlation between “exclusivist” Christians—who comprised 28% of the surveyed Christians and are those who believe their religion is the only true faith—and their willingness to discuss their beliefs.
Scott also linked the self-confidence crisis to cultural Christians—those baptized but infrequently attending church and not strongly identifying with the faith. These individuals may avoid discussing their religion due to a lack of confidence in their Christian identity.
The survey also highlighted generational differences in attitudes towards faith. While 50% of those aged 65 and older believed people should not talk about their faith in the workplace, only 30% of 18- to 24-year-olds shared this view. Moreover, younger people were generally more enthusiastic about their faith in other contexts, with 72% of 18- to 24-year-olds stating that religion helped them find purpose in life, compared to 47% of those aged 65 and older.
Source: christianpost.com