There’s been a lot of excitement about a recent report from the Bible Society claiming that the church in the UK is undergoing a “Quiet Revival”. The report is, on analysis, unconvincing, drawing bombastic conclusions from meagre evidence. Here’s why. 🧵 /1 - ThreadSky

croftspeaks.bsky.social • 69 days ago

There’s been a lot of excitement about a recent report from the Bible Society claiming that the church in the UK is undergoing a “Quiet Revival”.

The report is, on analysis, unconvincing, drawing bombastic conclusions from meagre evidence.

Here’s why. 🧵 /1

Comments

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

First, let’s acknowledge that the Bible Society has a direct interest in spinning the evidence in a way that promotes the idea of a Christian revival. While the survey on which the report is based is a good bit of research, the report itself is not an academic work and is clearly biased. /2

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

Throughout, the evidence is interpreted in the way most flattering to their preferred conclusion: church attendance is “exploding” and the church is “transformed”, the report says - but even if we take its results at face value they do not warrant such enthusiasm. /3

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

We’re still talking about a tiny percentage of people attending church *monthly* or more - the UK is a deeply secular country and these results do not challenge that perspective at all. These results, if true, would for many churches mean one or two more young people attending. Some “explosion.” /4

acarpen.bsky.social•69 days ago

Recalling the comments from former ABC Rowan Williams in 2014: "Britain is a 'post-Christian' country says former Archbishop" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27177265

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

Furthermore, results that count against the “revival” narrative are underplayed. The report found that the percentage of people in the UK identifying as Christian is DOWN from even the 2021 census: the percentage of people who identify as Christian is now 39%, and 29% among 18-34 y/os. /5

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

This is mentioned in the report but doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves - in the 3 years since that census these Bible Society figures show Christian identification dramatically DOWN - what sort of Christian revival results in a smaller percentage of people being Christians? /6

croftspeaks.bsky.social•69 days ago

Worse, the report ignores more reliable and more objective data that conflicts directly with its results. The Anglican and Catholic Churches actually count how many people attend directly, and they are recording DIPS in attendance, not growth. Over the same years. This isn’t mentioned. /7

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