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Crystals versus Christ | Crystals versus Christ |
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On a mission: Mark Berry is looking for the spiritual-but-not-religiousWhile church numbers have been falling for years, these days the trend is for spirituality with no links to organised religion. Now the Church is on a mission to convert the so-called spiritual-but-not-religious, reports Jolyon Jenkins. | |
At the Mind Body Spirit Fair, held in Telford last autumn, you could consult a clairvoyant, purchase psychic healing, or stock up on healing crystals. You could also, if you wanted, talk to Mark Berry. | At the Mind Body Spirit Fair, held in Telford last autumn, you could consult a clairvoyant, purchase psychic healing, or stock up on healing crystals. You could also, if you wanted, talk to Mark Berry. |
Mark is a Christian missionary - although he doesn't like the word much - to Telford, sent there by the Church of England and the Church Mission Society, because Telford has one of the lowest church-going populations in Britain. He's set up a small church, with about a dozen members, which meets in his small house on a modern estate. | Mark is a Christian missionary - although he doesn't like the word much - to Telford, sent there by the Church of England and the Church Mission Society, because Telford has one of the lowest church-going populations in Britain. He's set up a small church, with about a dozen members, which meets in his small house on a modern estate. |
When Mark first arrived in Telford, three-and-a-half years ago, he said he wanted to connect with people who were "spiritual but not religious". It's an interesting phrase, and one you hear a lot nowadays. FIND OUT MORE... The Most Godless Town in Britain is on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, 28 January at 1030 GMTOr listen to it later on the BBC iPlayer | When Mark first arrived in Telford, three-and-a-half years ago, he said he wanted to connect with people who were "spiritual but not religious". It's an interesting phrase, and one you hear a lot nowadays. FIND OUT MORE... The Most Godless Town in Britain is on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, 28 January at 1030 GMTOr listen to it later on the BBC iPlayer |
On one of Britain's most popular internet dating sites, more people use this phrase to describe themselves than "Christian", "atheist", or "agnostic". | On one of Britain's most popular internet dating sites, more people use this phrase to describe themselves than "Christian", "atheist", or "agnostic". |
Mr Berry is very clear that he is not an evangelist, that he's not there to enrol. | Mr Berry is very clear that he is not an evangelist, that he's not there to enrol. |
"God's mission is not just about recruiting people to an institutional church," he says. "It's about wanting to bring peace, wanting to bring reconciliation, wanting to bring hope wanting to bring a kind of holistic connection with the whole of humanity as creation and all of that, and wanting to bring a restoration of relationship with God and with the spiritual." | "God's mission is not just about recruiting people to an institutional church," he says. "It's about wanting to bring peace, wanting to bring reconciliation, wanting to bring hope wanting to bring a kind of holistic connection with the whole of humanity as creation and all of that, and wanting to bring a restoration of relationship with God and with the spiritual." |
Mr Berry feels that there is a lot of "spirituality" out there, looking for a home. But can Christianity provide it? | Mr Berry feels that there is a lot of "spirituality" out there, looking for a home. But can Christianity provide it? |
At first sight, the answer is self-evidently no. Church-going has declined dramatically since the World War II and now only a million people are regular Sunday attenders, although with less frequent worshippers the figure goes up to nearer two million. | At first sight, the answer is self-evidently no. Church-going has declined dramatically since the World War II and now only a million people are regular Sunday attenders, although with less frequent worshippers the figure goes up to nearer two million. |
The Church of England clearly doesn't hit the spot for the legions of spiritual-but-not-religious drifters. | The Church of England clearly doesn't hit the spot for the legions of spiritual-but-not-religious drifters. |
Sharing a meal | Sharing a meal |
From the point of view of bums on pews, these may not be the ideal target audience anyway. Telford is part of Lichfield diocese, which has appointed a "growth officer", The Venerable Bob Jackson. His approach is very different to Mr Berry's. Building links to the spiritually inclined in the home of Ironbridge | From the point of view of bums on pews, these may not be the ideal target audience anyway. Telford is part of Lichfield diocese, which has appointed a "growth officer", The Venerable Bob Jackson. His approach is very different to Mr Berry's. Building links to the spiritually inclined in the home of Ironbridge |
He points to a survey that shows "there are about three million people in this country who would consider going to church if only someone invited them." | He points to a survey that shows "there are about three million people in this country who would consider going to church if only someone invited them." |
That's encouraged people like him to think churches just need to be a bit more welcoming, a little more inclusive to the spiritual-but-not religious brigade, and the decline could be reversed. | That's encouraged people like him to think churches just need to be a bit more welcoming, a little more inclusive to the spiritual-but-not religious brigade, and the decline could be reversed. |
But however welcoming churches are, the conventional Sunday service won't appeal to everyone, and so the CofE, in association with the Methodists, also has a programme called Fresh Expressions aimed at finding new forms of church for those reluctant to set foot in a traditional building. | But however welcoming churches are, the conventional Sunday service won't appeal to everyone, and so the CofE, in association with the Methodists, also has a programme called Fresh Expressions aimed at finding new forms of church for those reluctant to set foot in a traditional building. |
This can be a social event - meeting at someone's home to share a meal and to talk - or it can mean social work, getting out in the community to make connections. | This can be a social event - meeting at someone's home to share a meal and to talk - or it can mean social work, getting out in the community to make connections. |
"We think of it as our R&D department", says Archdeacon Jackson. "We want church to be a verb not a noun," is a favourite phrase from Fresh Expressions enthusiasts, who often talk of "emerging churches" | "We think of it as our R&D department", says Archdeacon Jackson. "We want church to be a verb not a noun," is a favourite phrase from Fresh Expressions enthusiasts, who often talk of "emerging churches" |
Among the initiatives are "Rezurgence", a Christian "extreme sport'' ministry in Surrey, which describes itself as "a unique first that brings mountain biking, BMX and faith into one'', and a Christian skateboarding park in Essex. | Among the initiatives are "Rezurgence", a Christian "extreme sport'' ministry in Surrey, which describes itself as "a unique first that brings mountain biking, BMX and faith into one'', and a Christian skateboarding park in Essex. |
Rules and dogma | Rules and dogma |
Mr Berry's own interpretation is a social centre next door to a night club for people who just want to drop in for a chat. It's his group's way of reaching out to the community.Can skateboarding really bring new religious blood? The Church thinks so | Mr Berry's own interpretation is a social centre next door to a night club for people who just want to drop in for a chat. It's his group's way of reaching out to the community.Can skateboarding really bring new religious blood? The Church thinks so |
But are such efforts to re-cast religion in a more everyday context going to reach out to the spiritual-but-not-religious masses? After all, what separates them from Christians is not so much their taste in worship style as their wish to construct a belief system built on their own preferences, lifestyle and desire for personal growth, rather than submitting to the authority and rules laid down from on high. | But are such efforts to re-cast religion in a more everyday context going to reach out to the spiritual-but-not-religious masses? After all, what separates them from Christians is not so much their taste in worship style as their wish to construct a belief system built on their own preferences, lifestyle and desire for personal growth, rather than submitting to the authority and rules laid down from on high. |
It's a fact for many paid-up church members that religion involves at least some rules and dogma, and spiritual development requires a certain degree of commitment and hard work. | It's a fact for many paid-up church members that religion involves at least some rules and dogma, and spiritual development requires a certain degree of commitment and hard work. |
So can emerging churches bridge that gap? | So can emerging churches bridge that gap? |
Ian Mobsby, an emerging church guru, argues we live in the age of the "spiritual tourist"; a "world driven by individualism... where people want to experience something that brings peace, centredness and depth." | Ian Mobsby, an emerging church guru, argues we live in the age of the "spiritual tourist"; a "world driven by individualism... where people want to experience something that brings peace, centredness and depth." |
He sees parallels between today's post-religious culture and the early days of Christianity, a time of prevailing mysticism in Europe. | He sees parallels between today's post-religious culture and the early days of Christianity, a time of prevailing mysticism in Europe. |
"We are entering a world where people aren't interested in whether something is true or not, or whether they believe it or not, but whether it works," says Mr Mobsby. | "We are entering a world where people aren't interested in whether something is true or not, or whether they believe it or not, but whether it works," says Mr Mobsby. |
In other words, if an emerging church can offer a sense of community and give a feeling of inner peace, that may be enough - belief will follow. | In other words, if an emerging church can offer a sense of community and give a feeling of inner peace, that may be enough - belief will follow. |
But three years into his mission in Telford, Mark Berry's core community is not spiritual-but-not-religious recruits, but already-committed Christians who use his gatherings to deepen and provide a new perspectives on their faith. | But three years into his mission in Telford, Mark Berry's core community is not spiritual-but-not-religious recruits, but already-committed Christians who use his gatherings to deepen and provide a new perspectives on their faith. |
There may be a hole in people's lives, but there's not a great deal of evidence that it is God-shaped. | There may be a hole in people's lives, but there's not a great deal of evidence that it is God-shaped. |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |