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So it's happened then. The CofE have finally dragged themselves into the 20th century good and proper. As they should.

Most of the Abrahamic religions are as sexist as hell, mind. It just stung more with the CofE being an established church that took our money, whether we were CofE or not.

Now I'd like to see the privileged position of the CofE taken away so we have no state-supported church, all the Bishops kicked out of the House of Lords. Hopefully in my lifetime.

You are obviously entitled to your opinion but since I'm guessing that you don't belong to the Church of England, why do you care whether they have female bishops or not?

Isn't the major problem with the Church of England not that it has approved women bishops but that it admits anyone including those it would appear to not believe in God (they usually end up as Archbishop of Canterbury)?

Gays? Come on down.
Pagans? Come on down.
Agnostics? Space for you, too.
Women priests? Yep we got 'em.

Perhaps if the Church of England stood up for what it is supposed to believe in, it wouldn't face empty pews every week (except when Songs of Praise is in town).

If women want to be bishops why don't they form their own church where they can run the show if they want? Why belong to an organisation they have/had fundamental disagreements with?

The two biggest faiths in the world Islam and Roman Catholicism are strict about what their adherents can and cannot do. I don't think we will see a Imamess in our lifetimes or our great-grandchildren's for that matter.

Yet Roman Catholicism is not seeing its congregation diminishing as quickly as the established church and Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world...

[quote]You are obviously entitled to your opinion but since I'm guessing that you don't belong to the Church of England, why do you care whether they have female bishops or not?[/quote]

Because it's unneeded discrimination and being an established church, some of my and your money goes in to paying for it.

The social class and education of the people who are in the CofE plays a part in the empty pews.

"So it's happened then. The CofE have finally dragged themselves into the 20th century good and proper. As they should."

Agreed except i think you mean 21st Century??

"Perhaps if the Church of England stood up for what it is supposed to believe in, it wouldn't face empty pews every week (except when Songs of Praise is in town)."

Most people's belief is that God or a superior being doesn't exist. That's why they don't to Church plus it's hella boring.

"Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world..."

Not because it's believable (to most people). Most probably due to birth rate.

No..........I deliberately said '20th century' to make the point that the church was, is still, and always will be lagging behind the society it leeches off.

cockneygeezer2009 wrote:

> "Perhaps if the Church of England stood up for what it is
> supposed to believe in, it wouldn't face empty pews every week
> (except when Songs of Praise is in town)."
>
> Most people's belief is that God or a superior being doesn't
> exist.

Not according to the last census when 58% of people said that they are Christians.

That's why they don't to Church plus it's hella boring.

Well, anything is boring if you don't take an interest.
>
> "Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world..."
>
> Not because it's believable (to most people). Most probably due
> to birth rate.

No, there are millions of converts to Islam.

On the other hand, the Catholic church can now say "Paedophiles, yes we have them!" So do you think they are better off than the C of E having woman bishops?

[quote]Not according to the last census when 58% of people said that they are Christians.[/quote]

How the question is phrased can alter many people's answers (esp people who don't hold any strong opinions on religions either way).

The census form asks, "What is your religion?". Though there is a 'no religion' answer on the form, the question is phrased so it assumes everyone has a religion.

The British Attitudes Surveys asks the same question differently: "Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion? If yes, which?" There is no assumption here and the surveys give a marked difference in the nations religiosity.

Depending on how the question is asked, here are the results of how many considered themselves to belong to no particular religion:

Q: "What is your religion?" A: 25.1% = 'no religion'.

Q: ""Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion? If yes, which?" A: 46.1% = 'no'.

As you can see, a 21% difference. One asks -and assumes- you are religious. One asks if you "belong to any religion." This gives clues to how people think about themselves. For many, they won't see themselves as 'belonging' to the CofE or Catholic church, but might consider themselves 'Christian' because they were reared in a Christian family, or just tick 'Christian' because they were baptised, despite no belief in God or the New Testament and never entering church outside weddings, christenings and funerals.

That still leaves 54% who regard themselves as "belonging" to a religion and 74.9% of people who have a religion.