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The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority. / Woodhead, Linda Jane Pauline.
In: Journal of the British Academy, Vol. 4, 08.12.2016, p. 245-261.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Woodhead, LJP 2016, 'The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority', Journal of the British Academy, vol. 4, pp. 245-261. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/004.245

APA

Woodhead, L. J. P. (2016). The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority. Journal of the British Academy, 4, 245-261. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/004.245

Vancouver

Woodhead LJP. The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority. Journal of the British Academy. 2016 Dec 8;4:245-261. Epub 2016 Jan 19. doi: 10.5871/jba/004.245

Author

Woodhead, Linda Jane Pauline. / The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain : the emergence of a new cultural majority. In: Journal of the British Academy. 2016 ; Vol. 4. pp. 245-261.

Bibtex

@article{62aa7afb017143648eb411983f941073,
title = "The Rise of {\textquoteleft}No Religion{\textquoteright} in Britain: the emergence of a new cultural majority",
abstract = "This paper reviews new and existing evidence which shows that {\textquoteleft}no religion{\textquoteright} has risen steadily to rival {\textquoteleft}Christian{\textquoteright} as the preferred self-designation of British people. Drawing on recent survey research by the author, it probes the category of {\textquoteleft}no religion{\textquoteright} and offers a characterisation of the {\textquoteleft}nones{\textquoteright} which reveals, amongst other things, that most are not straightforwardly secular. It compares the British situation with that of comparable countries, asking why Britain has become one of the few no-religion countries in the world today. An explanation is offered that highlights the importance not only of cultural pluralisation and ethical liberalisation in Britain, but of the churches{\textquoteright} opposite direction of travel. The paper ends by reflecting on the extent to which {\textquoteleft}no religion{\textquoteright} has become the new cultural norm, showing why Britain is most accurately described as between Christian and {\textquoteleft}no religion{\textquoteright}.",
keywords = "Religion, Religious , Spirituality , “no religion”, “nones” , Secular , Pluralism , De-differentiation , Liberal values ",
author = "Woodhead, {Linda Jane Pauline}",
year = "2016",
month = dec,
day = "8",
doi = "10.5871/jba/004.245",
language = "English",
volume = "4",
pages = "245--261",
journal = "Journal of the British Academy",
issn = "2052-7217",
publisher = "British Academy",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Rise of ‘No Religion’ in Britain

T2 - the emergence of a new cultural majority

AU - Woodhead, Linda Jane Pauline

PY - 2016/12/8

Y1 - 2016/12/8

N2 - This paper reviews new and existing evidence which shows that ‘no religion’ has risen steadily to rival ‘Christian’ as the preferred self-designation of British people. Drawing on recent survey research by the author, it probes the category of ‘no religion’ and offers a characterisation of the ‘nones’ which reveals, amongst other things, that most are not straightforwardly secular. It compares the British situation with that of comparable countries, asking why Britain has become one of the few no-religion countries in the world today. An explanation is offered that highlights the importance not only of cultural pluralisation and ethical liberalisation in Britain, but of the churches’ opposite direction of travel. The paper ends by reflecting on the extent to which ‘no religion’ has become the new cultural norm, showing why Britain is most accurately described as between Christian and ‘no religion’.

AB - This paper reviews new and existing evidence which shows that ‘no religion’ has risen steadily to rival ‘Christian’ as the preferred self-designation of British people. Drawing on recent survey research by the author, it probes the category of ‘no religion’ and offers a characterisation of the ‘nones’ which reveals, amongst other things, that most are not straightforwardly secular. It compares the British situation with that of comparable countries, asking why Britain has become one of the few no-religion countries in the world today. An explanation is offered that highlights the importance not only of cultural pluralisation and ethical liberalisation in Britain, but of the churches’ opposite direction of travel. The paper ends by reflecting on the extent to which ‘no religion’ has become the new cultural norm, showing why Britain is most accurately described as between Christian and ‘no religion’.

KW - Religion

KW - Religious

KW - Spirituality

KW - “no religion”

KW - “nones”

KW - Secular

KW - Pluralism

KW - De-differentiation

KW - Liberal values

U2 - 10.5871/jba/004.245

DO - 10.5871/jba/004.245

M3 - Journal article

VL - 4

SP - 245

EP - 261

JO - Journal of the British Academy

JF - Journal of the British Academy

SN - 2052-7217

ER -