In his book, Welby depicts Britain as a country that has become embarrassed by its Christian roots. Since 1983, the proportion of Britons affiliating with the Church of England has halved to one in five. In the US, 28 per cent of people say that the pandemic has strengthened their faith. In the UK, it\u2019s just 10\u00a0per\u00a0cent. Joe Biden mentioned God four times in his inauguration address, while in Britain the Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,200 food banks, no longer talks about its church origins. The footballer Marcus Rashford has won the support of millions by calling for free school meals for children during lockdown, but who knows he has \u201cGod puts you on a path in life\u201d tattooed on his chest? \u201cOh, it doesn\u2019t surprise me at all,\u201d says Welby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Does it sadden him that people aren\u2019t more open about their faith? \u201cIn some cases, it does. In one sense the pendulum has swung so far that you have to justify to people the idea that it\u2019s remotely a good idea to do any work with you at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
But \u201cin one sense it doesn\u2019t matter because God sees, and that\u2019s the key thing. I mean, we\u2019re not Unilever \u2014 we don\u2019t have to put the brand on every bit of product.\u201d In most of the world, he emphasises, faith is still the default. \u201cFor over 80 per cent of the world\u2019s population, the idea that someone is not to be trusted because they hold a faith is just bewildering. They just think that\u2019s bizarre!\u201d<\/p>\n
As God has been pushed from public view, Britons have seemed to cast around for replacements: pets, yoga, the philosophy of Jordan Peterson. \u201cHe\u2019s a really good writer. And a really good speaker. I think he\u2019s fascinating,\u201d remarks Welby. Are people trying to compensate for a God-shaped hole?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s an anxiety caused by the fact that it\u2019s very \u00addifficult to discern the rules and values [of society]. And in one sense I\u2019m not really worried about that, because the rules and values were extremely hypocritical in many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a> (from the long line of should-have-already-been-posted material).<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a monumental thing that\u2019s overhanging us. We have a national case of PTSD in one sense, which will show itself.\u201d @JustinWelby<\/a> <\/p>\n A fascinating & wide ranging interview of the Archbishop of Canterbury by @henrymance<\/a> via @FT<\/a> #COVID19<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/SLO1fhaBnU<\/a><\/p>\n — James S Thambyrajah (@JThambyrajah) April 8, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n