BBC vox-pops

Spent today doing the final filming with the BBC... we were asking Teens/20/30's in Telford Shopping Centre : "Do you believe in God?" ... "If so do you go to Church... why/why not?".. "if not do you think you are spiritual?" :

Fascinating stuff, only one out of around 30 did not believe in anything, all others talked about either believing in God or that they didn't think they believed in "God" but did believe in something 'other', a 'supreme' being, quite a few felt that the term/name God was a problem, it was too tied to Religion... a human name for a divine/supernatural being/presence... and that Church humanised and limited God!  A good percentage (the majority) said something along the lines that Church was OK for the festivals (Weddings, Christmas etc.), but that it had turned God into rituals, rules and observance and that in doing so it has lost sight of the the bigger picture of God, made God theirs instead of the other way around (plus the usual stuff about wars and suffering)... There was an incredible sense of hope... for the future, both in life and after life.  Even a young couple who said they did not believe in God, or think they were spiritual said that they both believed in something or someone beyond humanity and that there had to be something more now and beyond death.  A number said that though they believed in God, Church just did not fit in with the rhythm and pattern of their lives, though a few said that they may go when they have children.  The BBC producer seemed quite surprised that what we heard actually backed up what we had been talking about.

Incidentally though they were all aware that it was the BBC filming, none of them knew who I was/what I do until afterwards, they all assumed I was simply a reporter.

Technorati Tags: Culture: Spirituality

Comments

[Existential Punk]

This is exactly the lind of stuff i encounter here in the states when i meet people and this topic comes up. Christans don't want to face this truth that is glaring so brightly at us. Christians want to believe people are so open to jesus and Christianity when they really aren't. Why re Christians so afraid to be honest and recognize this?

[Mark Berry]

Indeed Adele, the flip side is that there seems to be a general awereness/hope of a god... a creator, an otherness etc. So my observation would be that there is a real sense of Acts 17... unkown Gods... rather than simply identifying the true messiah... so I guess it may be possible to say we are not in an Acts 2 situation (preaching to the Religious) but we may be in an Acts 17 one (speaking with those who have a vauge sense of the spiritual)