It is a myth that the English nation as a whole has gone off Christianity. The anti-Christian agenda of the "commentating classes of north London", to use the Archbishop of Canterbury’s phrase to describe the current powers-that-be, is not shared by the population as a whole.
According to the 2001 census, 37.3 million people in England and Wales stated their religion as Christian compared to 7.7 million who stated that they had no religion.
Most people living in this parish of Oughtibridge, Worrall and Wharncliffe Side would certainly identify in some sense with the Christian faith – in fact many of them would still identify with the Church of England.
So, there is a still a seam of goodwill towards the Christian faith that the Church needs to be tap into. But it is also true to say that since the 1960s anti-Christian elements in the political, media and educational establishments have been pretty successful in lowering the general level of Christian knowledge amongst the population. I left school in 1982 and might have been able to recite the Lord’s Prayer and name one or two of Jesus’ parables and miracles. But the inescapable fact was that I knew a lot less than a lad who left school in the 1950s.
The wonderful thing about Christianity Explored is that it is based on one of the foundational documents of the Christian faith, the Gospel of Mark. Mark presents the eye-witness evidence of the fisherman Peter whom Jesus called as one of his first followers and so this is first-hand information about what Jesus taught and said and did.
Christianity Explored uses a DVD talk followed by discussion questions to introduce Jesus as he walks off the pages of Mark’s Gospel. It addresses the key questions – who is Jesus? Why did he come? Why did he die? What should I do about it?
We plan to run the course in April & May on five Tuesday evenings initially. Mr Stavros and Mrs Gina Flouris are very kindly making their home available for us to meet in - 54 Dixon Drive, Wharncliffe Side. We kick off on Tuesday April 24th at 8pm.
Anybody of any faith or none is very welcome to join us but if you’re one of the majority of the UK population majority who still identifies with the Christian faith, Christianity Explored is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the living Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and for ever.
With all good wishes in His service,
Julian Mann
Vicar – e-mail julianlisa@oughtimann.freeserve.co.uk