The Relationship Between Christian Nationalism and Church Attendance in England
Research by the think tank Theos reveals that Christian nationalism in Britain is primarily supported by individuals who rarely attend church.
A comprehensive study published by the think tank Theos reveals that the trend of Christian nationalism in England is fueled not by those who regularly practice religious worship, but by individuals who rarely go to church and focus on defending the country's Christian heritage.
Key Findings of the Study
The research conducted by the think tank Theos examined the population of the United Kingdom by dividing it into five distinct groups based on attitudes toward Christianity and Britishness.
Identity Integrators and Their Characteristics
The segment harboring views closest to Christian nationalism, termed identity integrators by researchers, accounted for 11 percent of the participants.
Although 81 percent of the members of this group identified as Christian, the rate of weekly church attendance remained at only 13 percent.
Anti-Immigration and Anti-Islam Tendencies
It was determined that individuals in the identity integrator group exhibited strongly distant and opposing attitudes on the subjects of immigration and Islam.
While only 19 percent of those in the group argued that Christian values require supporting refugees, 30 percent supported the equality of religions in public life.
Profile of Faith Integrators
Another group defined in the study as faith integrators made up 13 percent of participants, and this segment was observed to be much more religiously observant.
While 31 percent of those in this group attended church weekly, 46 percent stated that they prayed weekly and focused on faith rather than cultural heritage.
Cultural Identity and Broader Concerns
The findings obtained indicate that Christian nationalism in Britain is triggered by concerns over cultural change and immigration rather than a Christian revival.