Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was once asked a question concerning his Christianity and religion. Before he could answer, Alastair Campbell, director of strategy and communications, interrupted and said, "We don't do God." Fast forward to a separate situation. Blair was told by his advisors not to end one of his speeches with "God bless you."
The connection between that statement and how the majority of people feel about religion in England didn't really connect until I decided to investigate the churches in England.
The first real journey to an actual church occurred when I went to Canterbury and toured Canterbury Cathedral. I was astounded at how huge and magnificent the cathedral was, with its long pillars lining rows that extended into a never-ending ceiling and hundreds of coat of arms that were engraved and woven together on the walkway path and ceilings.
The following week I went to Westminster Abbey, and I was beyond impressed with the architecture, intricate details on the wall, statues and rich niceties on every inch of the church. Next, I went to Peterborough Cathedral, to a tiny church in Rye, then to St. Mary Magdalen Church in Oxford, onward to the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford, then back to London where I went to the New West End Synagogue at St. Petersburgh Place.
However, there seemed to be a common trend in all the churches. Aside from many tourists roaming about, the churches were essentially empty. And upon talking to the staff in three different churches in Oxford, I was told there were only about 10 people who attend each service each night.
The notion that churches are essentially empty because people are not attending services says a lot about the British culture. About 66 percent of the British population has no connection to any religion or church. On the surface, the absence of British people from religious services implies that British people don't really believe in God.
Earlier this year, there were 800 buses sponsored by the British Humanist Association rolling through England with the words "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." Instead of an angry response from those who were religious, the Methodist Church actually thanked the British Humanist Association for "encouraging a continued interest in God." Churches were actually happy with the idea of a sign against God because at least it gets people thinking about God, as opposed to most people in England who are so caught up in their lives they don't have time to dwell on God.
The idea of churches being empty and British people not attending services also conveys that British people don't feel the urge to have a common interest and gather with one another to practice this interest. They don't believe or have a want for a sense of that kind of community.
I looked at some of the churches' Web sites. Their mission statements had nothing to do with the American idea of churches being a second family, feeling at home or meeting friendly people. Its vision was "to be a church that loves and serves God." It was all about worshipping God, but nothing to do with connecting with other people.
I've noticed by watching people on the tube or walking down the street, that people are in their own world and do not interact with one another. People are still respectful, civil and polite, but nobody needs anybody else to feel satisfied inside. This is a complete dichotomy of the American culture. Americans love to feel a sense of connection with each other. People can't stand to be alone, so they rush into relationships and marriage, only ending up in divorce.
In one of Tony Blair's speeches he made the comment, "I do not want to end up with an American style of politics, with all of us going out there beating our chest about our faith."
The differences between British and American views on religion vary greatly. And I can't help but like the British notion better. The idea of being so ferociously independent that you don't need anyone to feel content, yet the country can still be unified, is appealing to me. Yet, it is America that is one the most powerful countries in the world, so maybe our notion of having God on our side seems to be working for the country.
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