Belief

Apparently several hundred applications have been received recently from people keen to join the Progressive Christianity Network. As fewer Britons turn away from traditional Christian belief (Daily Telegraph September 29 2011)  they may not be abandoning every form of spirituality, but interested in it via other faiths systems, or no system at all. PCN doesn't ask newcomers to spell out their beliefs, which is as well, because chairman John Churcher says  every member will probably have a different understanding of what Christianity is about and  which bit of it really matters. My experience of churches is that very few of the people who attend could give you a coherent statement of personal belief. And those who are most certain are not necessarily the ones you might like to spend eternity with. A review of the BBC One programme (Sept 28) 'What's the point of Religion' suggested that 'Belonging matters more than believing'. That  is certainly true of most churchgoers, who like to see familiar faces in familiar surroundings, and enjoy routine forms of worship. They do not like change! Does 'belief' matter? Of course it does. Come right down to it, faith needs a reasonably firm foundation and PCN suggests ditching a lot of inherited medieval beliefs in favour of serious commitment to the life and teaching of Jesus, sans virgin birth, miracles and bodily resurrecvtion. It may never be popular in a culture than demands b&w certainties.  But certainty - about anything - is a mirage. Ask the Hydron Collider scientists!