The Advantages of a Weak Established Church Grace
Description: The Advantages of a Weak Established Church Grace Davie University of Exeter The argument in outline Long-term thinking about religion in Europe More recent prompts The context in which we find ourselves cultural institutional The
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slide1. The Advantages of a Weak Established Church Grace Davie
University of Exeter<br>
slide2. The argument in outline Long-term thinking about religion in Europe
More recent prompts
The context in which we find ourselves
cultural
institutional
The consequences for ‘establishment’<br>
slide3. Religion in Europe Several decades of research and writing in this field
An expanding canvas
Liverpool (FiTC); Britain; Europe from within; Europe from without; the US; global perspectives
A distinctive pattern emerges (see below)
what religion in Europe is; what religion in Europe is not
paying attention to absence as well as presence<br>
slide4. More recent prompts September 2017
Protestantismes, Convictions & Engagements
500 ans de Réforme
Marie de Paris
November 2018
After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches
Lambeth Palace<br>
slide5. The context in which we find ourselves<br>
slide6. The factors to take into account 1. Cultural heritage (time and space)
2. The historic churches (a public utility)
3. A shift from obligation to consumption (a market)
4. New arrivals (increasing diversity)
5. Secular reactions<br>
slide7. Is Europe an exceptional case? What Europe is not?
it is not a vibrant religious market as is found in the US
it is not a part of the world where Christianity is growing exponentially, often in Pentecostal forms
it is not a part of the world dominated by faiths other than Christian, but is increasingly penetrated by these
it is not for the most part subject to the violence often associated with religion and religious difference in other parts of the globe – the more so if religion becomes entangled in political conflict<br>
slide8. The implications for Britain Best summarized as ‘a persistent paradox’
Hence the subtitle of my 2015 book<br>
slide9. A continuing/remorseless process of secularization bringing with it a worrying loss of religious literacy
The increasing salience of religion in public as well as private debate, a tendency encouraged by:
increasing diversity at home and
the ever more obvious presence of religion in the modern world
A challenging combination, that occurs right across Europe but is differently engaged in different places Specifically<br>
slide10. The consequences for establishment The English case<br>
slide11. Religious affiliation by year of birth (five year cohorts) Source: British Social Attitudes surveys 1983-2011, pooled (Siobhan McAndrew, British Religion in Numbers)<br>
slide12. Revisiting the Church of England Does it still have a role to play in 21st century Britain?
The difference between a strong and a weak established church
The advantages of a weak established church in the management of pluralism
in sustaining a constructive conversation about faith at the centre of British (more properly English) society, noting that most religious minorities – as opposed to secularists – are, very largely, supportive of the Church in question<br>
slide13. A distinctive past Four religious cultures in the UK
The particular nature of the English Reformation
A limited monopoly – a ‘state church partially counterbalanced by a substantial bloc of dissent dispersed in the population at large’ (Martin 1978: 20)
The Church of England – both Catholic (in structure) and Reformed (in theology)
A via media – an essentially English church designed to meet the needs of the English people
still true?<br>
slide14. A comparative perspective What Britain/ England is not?
France versus Britain; democracy versus tolerance
Strong state churches
Worrying tendencies in Poland and Hungary – a shift seen even more clearly in the Orthodox world (Russia and Serbia)
‘Conservative ecumenism’<br>
slide15. Democracy and tolerance 1 France is markedly more democratic than Britain: in terms of its Republican ideals, its elected second chamber, and its developed laïcité
the absence of religion in the public sphere
Britain in contrast has retained its monarchy, its unelected second chamber, and its established church
Paradoxically, however, Britain is – or has been until very recently – noticeably more tolerant than France.<br>
slide16. Democracy and tolerance 2 It is, moreover, the apparently ‘undemocratic’ institutions outlined in the previous slide that are of particular importance in underpinning tolerance
in the sense of sustaining a relatively secure place for religious minorities in British society
The three institutions will be taken in turn – noting however that the arguments are necessarily interlinked<br>
slide17. The monarchy The monarch as Supreme Governor of the Church of England – but in addition – Head of the Commonwealth
implications of the former (see below)
implications of the latter
The Queen (and Prince Charles) know at first hand the very varied nations that make up the Commonwealth – and thus the religious cultures from which many of our migrants come
hence their well-informed, and highly-respected, support of interfaith activity<br>
slide18. The House of Lords Difficult to describe and even harder to justify
Heavily weighted in favour of the established church – a situation that is difficult to defend given the declining numbers of Anglicans in British (English) society
That said, the quality of debate in the House of Lords is frequently higher than it is in the House of Commons
a forum in which the voices of religious minorities are present (for example the former Chief Rabbi – a highly respected public intellectual)<br>
slide19. The Church of England 1 Affirming the advantages of a weak established church
The following statement made by the Queen at a multi-faith reception (2012). Speaking of the Church of England, she says:
‘Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions. Instead, the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.<br>
slide20. The Church of England 2 It certainly provides an identity and spiritual dimension for its own many adherents. But also, gently and assuredly, the Church of England has created an environment for other faith communities and indeed people of no faith to live freely. Woven into the fabric of this country, the Church has helped to build a better society – more and more in active co-operation for the common good with those of other faiths.’
See https://www.royal.uk/queens-speech-lambeth-palace-15-february-2012<br>
slide21. The Church of England 3 How long can this delicate arrangement last?
Difficult to say, but in the meantime, be clear that in the continuing debates surrounding establishment, it is seldom the other faith communities that argue for the separation on church and state
It is rather a growing, and and at times vocal, secular lobby which argues for the exclusion of faith and faith communities of all kinds from public life – as in France<br>
slide22. French parallels An aside on President Macron’s visit to the the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF) at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris (April 2018)
the first time a head of State in France had accepted such an invitation
Extreme reactions on both sides
More constructive is to grasp the need for the French Catholic Church to discover its rightful place in an increasingly pluralist society
no longer hegemonic, it still has much to give in the form of penetrating questions rather than definitive answers
faith cannot be totally privatized<br>
slide23. The seductions of a strong state church Right wing/ nationalist politicians appropriate Christian values
The use of such values to set an agenda, including the exclusion of minorities
The state church in question runs the risk of becoming excluding and exclusive
The Polish and Hungarian cases; Orthodox examples<br>
slide24. Conservative ecumenism A new idea reflecting what are sometimes seen as ‘European culture wars’
traditionally an American term to describe an American situation
In the last decade or so, the culture wars appear to have also taken root in Europe, with Russia becoming a principal champion: arguing for traditional values over and against liberal democracy and human rights
- a traditionalist family agenda
- hostility to in-migration and minorities/ rising nationalism<br>
slide25. In conclusion<br>
slide26. A personal view The maintenance of a tolerant and pluralist society is enhanced rather than undermined by an established church
an historically privileged but numerically eroded institution is uniquely placed to do this
The aftermath of the 2016 referendum – a cautionary tale.
It is one thing to decide by a narrow majority to leave the EU; it is quite another to find a way forward acceptable to all parties
might the same things happen in the case of disestablishment?<br>
slide27. Democracy and tolerance 3 I am frequently asked whether I ‘prefer’ the French or the British case
This is the ‘wrong’ question
The current situation in each country derives from a specific and non-transferable history
Each society should strive to understand this history better in order to become a more ‘complete’ (or better) version of itself
the place of the established church in this process<br>
University of Exeter<br>
slide2. The argument in outline Long-term thinking about religion in Europe
More recent prompts
The context in which we find ourselves
cultural
institutional
The consequences for ‘establishment’<br>
slide3. Religion in Europe Several decades of research and writing in this field
An expanding canvas
Liverpool (FiTC); Britain; Europe from within; Europe from without; the US; global perspectives
A distinctive pattern emerges (see below)
what religion in Europe is; what religion in Europe is not
paying attention to absence as well as presence<br>
slide4. More recent prompts September 2017
Protestantismes, Convictions & Engagements
500 ans de Réforme
Marie de Paris
November 2018
After Brexit: European Unity and the Unity of the European Churches
Lambeth Palace<br>
slide5. The context in which we find ourselves<br>
slide6. The factors to take into account 1. Cultural heritage (time and space)
2. The historic churches (a public utility)
3. A shift from obligation to consumption (a market)
4. New arrivals (increasing diversity)
5. Secular reactions<br>
slide7. Is Europe an exceptional case? What Europe is not?
it is not a vibrant religious market as is found in the US
it is not a part of the world where Christianity is growing exponentially, often in Pentecostal forms
it is not a part of the world dominated by faiths other than Christian, but is increasingly penetrated by these
it is not for the most part subject to the violence often associated with religion and religious difference in other parts of the globe – the more so if religion becomes entangled in political conflict<br>
slide8. The implications for Britain Best summarized as ‘a persistent paradox’
Hence the subtitle of my 2015 book<br>
slide9. A continuing/remorseless process of secularization bringing with it a worrying loss of religious literacy
The increasing salience of religion in public as well as private debate, a tendency encouraged by:
increasing diversity at home and
the ever more obvious presence of religion in the modern world
A challenging combination, that occurs right across Europe but is differently engaged in different places Specifically<br>
slide10. The consequences for establishment The English case<br>
slide11. Religious affiliation by year of birth (five year cohorts) Source: British Social Attitudes surveys 1983-2011, pooled (Siobhan McAndrew, British Religion in Numbers)<br>
slide12. Revisiting the Church of England Does it still have a role to play in 21st century Britain?
The difference between a strong and a weak established church
The advantages of a weak established church in the management of pluralism
in sustaining a constructive conversation about faith at the centre of British (more properly English) society, noting that most religious minorities – as opposed to secularists – are, very largely, supportive of the Church in question<br>
slide13. A distinctive past Four religious cultures in the UK
The particular nature of the English Reformation
A limited monopoly – a ‘state church partially counterbalanced by a substantial bloc of dissent dispersed in the population at large’ (Martin 1978: 20)
The Church of England – both Catholic (in structure) and Reformed (in theology)
A via media – an essentially English church designed to meet the needs of the English people
still true?<br>
slide14. A comparative perspective What Britain/ England is not?
France versus Britain; democracy versus tolerance
Strong state churches
Worrying tendencies in Poland and Hungary – a shift seen even more clearly in the Orthodox world (Russia and Serbia)
‘Conservative ecumenism’<br>
slide15. Democracy and tolerance 1 France is markedly more democratic than Britain: in terms of its Republican ideals, its elected second chamber, and its developed laïcité
the absence of religion in the public sphere
Britain in contrast has retained its monarchy, its unelected second chamber, and its established church
Paradoxically, however, Britain is – or has been until very recently – noticeably more tolerant than France.<br>
slide16. Democracy and tolerance 2 It is, moreover, the apparently ‘undemocratic’ institutions outlined in the previous slide that are of particular importance in underpinning tolerance
in the sense of sustaining a relatively secure place for religious minorities in British society
The three institutions will be taken in turn – noting however that the arguments are necessarily interlinked<br>
slide17. The monarchy The monarch as Supreme Governor of the Church of England – but in addition – Head of the Commonwealth
implications of the former (see below)
implications of the latter
The Queen (and Prince Charles) know at first hand the very varied nations that make up the Commonwealth – and thus the religious cultures from which many of our migrants come
hence their well-informed, and highly-respected, support of interfaith activity<br>
slide18. The House of Lords Difficult to describe and even harder to justify
Heavily weighted in favour of the established church – a situation that is difficult to defend given the declining numbers of Anglicans in British (English) society
That said, the quality of debate in the House of Lords is frequently higher than it is in the House of Commons
a forum in which the voices of religious minorities are present (for example the former Chief Rabbi – a highly respected public intellectual)<br>
slide19. The Church of England 1 Affirming the advantages of a weak established church
The following statement made by the Queen at a multi-faith reception (2012). Speaking of the Church of England, she says:
‘Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions. Instead, the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country.<br>
slide20. The Church of England 2 It certainly provides an identity and spiritual dimension for its own many adherents. But also, gently and assuredly, the Church of England has created an environment for other faith communities and indeed people of no faith to live freely. Woven into the fabric of this country, the Church has helped to build a better society – more and more in active co-operation for the common good with those of other faiths.’
See https://www.royal.uk/queens-speech-lambeth-palace-15-february-2012<br>
slide21. The Church of England 3 How long can this delicate arrangement last?
Difficult to say, but in the meantime, be clear that in the continuing debates surrounding establishment, it is seldom the other faith communities that argue for the separation on church and state
It is rather a growing, and and at times vocal, secular lobby which argues for the exclusion of faith and faith communities of all kinds from public life – as in France<br>
slide22. French parallels An aside on President Macron’s visit to the the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF) at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris (April 2018)
the first time a head of State in France had accepted such an invitation
Extreme reactions on both sides
More constructive is to grasp the need for the French Catholic Church to discover its rightful place in an increasingly pluralist society
no longer hegemonic, it still has much to give in the form of penetrating questions rather than definitive answers
faith cannot be totally privatized<br>
slide23. The seductions of a strong state church Right wing/ nationalist politicians appropriate Christian values
The use of such values to set an agenda, including the exclusion of minorities
The state church in question runs the risk of becoming excluding and exclusive
The Polish and Hungarian cases; Orthodox examples<br>
slide24. Conservative ecumenism A new idea reflecting what are sometimes seen as ‘European culture wars’
traditionally an American term to describe an American situation
In the last decade or so, the culture wars appear to have also taken root in Europe, with Russia becoming a principal champion: arguing for traditional values over and against liberal democracy and human rights
- a traditionalist family agenda
- hostility to in-migration and minorities/ rising nationalism<br>
slide25. In conclusion<br>
slide26. A personal view The maintenance of a tolerant and pluralist society is enhanced rather than undermined by an established church
an historically privileged but numerically eroded institution is uniquely placed to do this
The aftermath of the 2016 referendum – a cautionary tale.
It is one thing to decide by a narrow majority to leave the EU; it is quite another to find a way forward acceptable to all parties
might the same things happen in the case of disestablishment?<br>
slide27. Democracy and tolerance 3 I am frequently asked whether I ‘prefer’ the French or the British case
This is the ‘wrong’ question
The current situation in each country derives from a specific and non-transferable history
Each society should strive to understand this history better in order to become a more ‘complete’ (or better) version of itself
the place of the established church in this process<br>