Author Archives: Clive D. Field

Putting Christ into Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Clive D. Field

In addition to ongoing daily Christmas polling for its own advent calendar (as covered in our previous post – http://www.brin.ac.uk/news/?p=739), YouGov has conducted a more extensive survey (running to 19 questions) into attitudes to and the observance of Christmas on behalf … Continue reading →

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University Students

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Clive D. Field

Three-fifths of UK university students claim to belong to some religion, but most do not regard themselves as particularly religious. And although three-quarters accept that there are clear ethical principles differentiating right from wrong, only one-third think they should always … Continue reading →

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Pastor Jones Unwelcome in the UK

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Clive D. Field

According to media reports, and its own Facebook page, the English Defence League (EDL), a right-wing group opposed to so-called Muslim extremism, has apparently withdrawn its acceptance of an offer by the American Terry Jones to speak at an EDL … Continue reading →

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‘Religious Swearwords’

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Clive D. Field

The ancient common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel, which made it illegal to insult Christianity, were abolished two and a half years ago in England and Wales by Section 79 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. … Continue reading →

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ET

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Clive D. Field

It seems a fair bet that Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster 1982 film ET will be on the television schedules this Christmas, but how many of us actually believe in extra-terrestrials? Some answers to the question can be found in a newly-released … Continue reading →

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Christmas Present

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Clive D. Field

Further to our recent post on the religious meaning of Christmas in contemporary Britain, as recorded by GfK NOP/The Children’s Society (http://www.brin.ac.uk/news/?p=744), additional insights are provided in a poll released by the theological think-tank Theos on 8 December. The study … Continue reading →

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Hate Crimes

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Clive D. Field

Data on the number of hate crimes reported to and recorded by the police across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were published for the first time on 30 November, partly with the intention of encouraging people to come forward with … Continue reading →

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Religious Meaning of Christmas

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Clive D. Field

A new poll, published by The Children’s Society on 1 December, suggests that the religious side of Christmas is struggling to get a hearing as Britons prepare for the festive season. The survey was conducted online by GfK NOP among a … Continue reading →

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Gender Balance in the Methodist Ministry

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Clive D. Field

The Free Churches have been pioneers of women’s ministry in this country, as can be seen in the collection of essays This is our Story, edited by Janet Wootton (Epworth Press, 2007). The Methodist Church of Great Britain has been … Continue reading →

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YouGov’s Advent Calendar

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Clive D. Field

Last Sunday, 28 November, marked the start of Advent and thus the beginning of the ecclesiastical year in Western Christianity. Derived from the Latin Adventus, meaning coming, Advent has for Christians traditionally been a penitential season leading up to the … Continue reading →

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