ABSTRACT
Dramatic changes in the religious landscape over recent decades (Woodhead, 2012) in both the UK and elsewhere are unlikely to go unobserved by young people. Perfect (2011) presents British statistics to show, among other things, how there has been a marked overall decline in belief in God over the past20 years and changing patterns of religious affiliation: proportions of Christians have gone down and other groups, including people saying they have no religion, have become more numerous. Within Christianity there has been change with a decline in Catholic and Anglican churchgoing but an increase in attendance at Pentecostal churches. Population change is also reflected in different religions showing differing levels of active practice, ranging from 80% of Muslims to 32% of Christians. Changing patterns of affiliation and practice have been accompanied by attitudinal shifts, and adults in England and Wales are likely to suggest that religious prejudice is on the increase. Nonetheless, age, disability and ethnic origin are seen as more likely bases for discrimination than are religion and belief.
