Opinions about Jesus

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Opinions about Jesus

• Who do men say that I am ?
• MARK 827-30

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Mr Mrs U.K. Secular

• The UK population - did you know ? Source
  Tearfund Survey 2007
• 26.2m of adults (53) describe themselves as
  Christian (70 in the 2001 census)
• 39 state they have no religion and 6 have an
  affiliation to another faith
• Women are more likely to align themselves to
  Christian faith 66 as opposed to men at 47
• 67 believe in God and 66 Pray
• 47 believe that Jesus rose from the dead 36 do
  not and 15 didnt know (Daily Telegraph 2003)
• 53 believe in an after-life

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Mr Mrs U.K. Secular

• The UK population - did you know ? Source
  Tearfund Survey 2007
• 7.6m (15) of UK population attend church monthly
  and 4.3m at least once a week. A further 7.3
  million attend less regularly.
• 32.2m (66) have no connection with a church and
  the vast majority (29.3m) are unreceptive and
  closed to attending BUT 3m said they would go if
  asked (BY A PERSON!)
• Most secular region lacking church attendance
  is the North East (76 de-chucrched or
  non-churched) BUT has the highest open
  non-church group (3 compared with 1
  nationally)

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Mr Mrs U.K. Secular

• Underlying philosophies include
• SECULARISM
• CONSUMERISM
• INDIVIDUALISM
• SCIENTIFIC
• Spirituality is on the rise while religion is in
  decline
• New Age Spirituality
• Godless Spirituality

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Islam

• Muslims believe God sent a number of prophets to
  mankind to teach them how to live according to
  his laws - Muhammad was the final Prophet
• Muslims believe - Allah is the one and only God /
  in Angels / in a Holy Book / in a day of
  judgement / in Predestination
• There are 5 pillars of Islam - declaration of
  faith / prayer (five times a day) / giving money
  to charity / fasting / and a once in a lifetime
  pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Islam was revealed 1400 years ago by Muhammad
• There are currently over 1 billion followers
  worldwide / 1,591,000 in UK (2001 census) ie.
  2.7 of the population
• The Qur'an is the holy book for Muslims, revealed
  in stages to the Prophet Muhammad over 23 years

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Judaism

• Judaism was founded by Moses but with its roots
  dating back to Abraham.
• Jews believe there is only one God and that they
  have a covenant. with him.
• In exchange for all the good that God has done
  for the Jewish people they keep Gods laws and
  try to bring holiness into every aspect of their
  lives.
• Judaism is 3500 years old
• There are currently 12 million Jews worldwide
  based mainly in the USA Israel / 267,00 in UK
  (2001 census) ie 0.5 of population
• The central religious text is the Torah / Law
  of Moses

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Buddhism

• A spiritual tradition that focuses on personal
  spiritual development and the attainment of a
  deep insight into the true nature of life - all
  life is interconnected.
• The path to Enlightenment is through the practice
  and development of morality, meditation and
  wisdom - compassion is highly valued.
• Buddhism is 2,500 years old
• There are currently 376 million followers
  worldwide / 151, 816 in UK (2001 census)
• Buddhism arose as a result of Siddharth Gautamas
  quest for Enlightenment in around 6BC
• There is no belief in a personal God. It is not
  centred on the relationship between humanity and
  God

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Sikhism

• There is only one God / God is without form, or
  gender
• Everyone has direct access to God / Everyone is
  equal before God
• A good life is lived as part of a community, by
  living honestly and caring for others
• Sikh spirituality is centred round this need to
  understand and experience God, and eventually
  become one with God.
• Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no
  value

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