A recent study of religious trends in the UK indicates more and more people are becoming openly godless rather than sticking with any form of Christianity.
It was conducted by Stephen Bullivant, senior lecturer of theology and ethics at St. Mary’s Catholic University.
The study notes Christianity still thrives in some places outside Europe, but also reveals that, “The number of people who say they have no religion is rapidly escalating and significantly outweighs the Christian population in England and Wales.”
This is no surprise to many ministers and churchgoers who could not have failed to notice the dwindling numbers in their congregations, especially in the traditional Christian denominations.
Faced with empty pews on Sunday, churches have had to amalgamate, among other strategies.
One interesting finding is that Christian churches hardly recruit any newcomers or outsiders who have “seen the light” to their faith.
Rather, almost all of the small number of converts come from other Christian denominations.
In this secular age, Christianity has had to become more fluid, and for the past century or so has tolerated many new forms of worship.
Yet this study tells us such flexibility has not been enough to stop the loss of believers.
In that context, it’s useful to compare the state of belief in Islam today with Christianity.
The prevailing belief sentiment among Muslims today seems to be heading in the opposite direction of Christianity.
The rise in Islamic fundamentalism suggests the most prominent doctrine is now one that strives to encompass the world.
The cultural restrictions that prevent Muslim apostates from declaring their doubts are stifling within Islam.
Family pressures often discourage non-adhering Muslims from openly declaring disillusionment with their religion.
Muslims brave enough to go public with their doubts, face bigger risks.
Secularists, for example, have been hacked to death in Bangladesh and the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is being harshly punished by the Saudi regime for alleged blasphemy against Islam.
(Badawi’s family resides in Canada, and his case has been taken up by former Liberal MP Irwin Cotler.)
While Islam appears unshakeable for the moment, there are some subtle changes occurring within it that are harder to spot.
Professed belief continues through prayer and ritual, but what is said in the mosque and at the dinner table of Muslim families may indicate the way things will head in the future.
For example, the appearance of a number of Muslim humanistic groups suggests some secular tendencies are starting to emerge within Islam.
Could these be the first indications that the orthodox Muslim world view could one day silently implode in ways few could imagine today?
Some secular websites have been gaining traction, such as the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, Faith Freedom International and the Facebook pages of Pakistani atheists and agnostics.
These emerging movements suggest pressure is building under the surface of orthodox Islamic faith.
Few people seem aware of this because of the more obvious and sometimes violent movement towards its polar opposite: fundamentalism.
But many young, educated and inter-connected Muslims are quietly reviewing the tenets of their faith, refusing to be defined by unquestioning belief.
Granted, few have the courage and commitment to express their doubts openly for now, but the narrow restrictions imposed by culture and repressive laws cannot last forever.
Who knows? One day the Saudis and the Pakistanis may become as godless as the English and Welsh!