More or Less: Behind the Stats Is the UK seeing a Christian revival?
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Jul 2, 2025 An intriguing discussion examines the surprising bounce-back of church attendance in the UK, diving into conflicting statistics and potential implications for faith in society. The podcast also unpacks the rising claims for Personal Independence Payments, highlighting mental health trends. Safety stats for the elderly concerning falls are shared alongside a humorous take on heights. Finally, the capabilities of the Vera Rubin Observatory are explored, showcasing its potential for astronomical discoveries while acknowledging the challenges of observing the moon.
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Church Attendance Trend Debated
- Church attendance appears to have increased in a 2024 Bible Society survey compared to 2018, but other surveys contradict this trend.
- The rise might reflect post-pandemic recovery or survey anomalies rather than a true revival in churchgoing.
Official Data Undermines Revival Claims
- Official Christian denomination attendance counts show post-pandemic churchgoing remains lower than pre-pandemic levels.
- Independent surveys like British Social Attitudes confirm no large attendance rebound since 2018.
Survey Baseline May Skew Results
- The Bible Society survey may have underestimated 2018 baseline attendance, making 2024 figures look like a big increase.
- Post-pandemic attendance rebound may just be a return to pre-pandemic levels rather than a surge.