Belief in God in Great Britain 1945‐1996: Moving the Scenery Behind Classroom RE

Abstract

This paper summarises figures relating to belief in God in Britain in the years 1945‐1996. While acknowledging interpretative and methodological difficulties it concludes that, in the time span reviewed here, belief in a personal God has declined, atheism has increased and a generalised theism has remained roughly constant. Several implications for religious education in England and Wales are drawn out on the basis of the continuance of these trends into the next millennium.