Summary B: Social developments in religious thought - migration & Christianity in the UK
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Course
Unit 4 - Biblical Studies Christianity
Institution
WJEC
Book
WJEC/Eduqas Religious Studies for A Level Year 2 & A2 - Christianity Revision Guide
Providing an indepth, detailed and clear overview of part B to Theme 3 in the Christianity specification for Religious Studies, A Level. This resource will guarrantee a grade A/A* to any student who studies from it, as it has broken down the complicated textbooks into a simplified form for everyone...
Theme 3: Significant social developments in religious thought
Migration and Christianity in the UK
Migration & Immigration
United Nations declared number of people currently displaced by conflict is higher than
ever recorded
Here in UK - aware of needs of many Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq seeking refuge & asylum
Forced migration due to humanitarian crises, however, only one aspect of immigration
Those come to Great Britain from EU, Commonwealth countries & elsewhere seeking
economic opportunities
Others arrive from countries which aren’t war, but find oppressive for variety of reasons
from religious discrimination to lack of educational opportunity
Christianity: a story of migration?
Christians involved in welcoming migrants to country & churches believe that many biblical
passages support their work
Story of Israel’s faith begins with call to Abraham & Sarah to leave land & make journey to
Canaan
Later, Jewish tribes suffered oppressive regime in Egypt & wandered decades without homes
o During period, Bible say received command to treat those from other places with
equality
Gospels relate that Mary & Joseph were uprooted from community 3 times; from Nazareth
to Bethlehem, Bethlehem to Egypt & Egypt to Galilee
Parable of Good Samaritan – irony of story strange who acted compassionately from group
despised by many of Jesus’ contemporaries
Passages inform conviction of many Christians as they offer humanitarian aid to refugees &
extend welcome to migrants – looking for church home no matter what culture they’re from
Importance of Christian outreach to migrants reflected – Catholic Church celebrates,
annually, The World Day of Migrants & Refugees
Congregation = assembly of people of worship, usually in church building
Denomination = autonomous religious organisation composed of many congregations
Independent Churches = congregation that doesn’t belong to denomination
Pentecostalism = worldwide Christian movement composed of many denominations &
independent churches that focus on experience of worshipper & miraculous gifts of Spirit of God
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, Theme 3: Significant social developments in religious thought
Migration and Christianity in the UK
The challenges of Christian migration to the UK
Christianity is religion with largest representation amongst immigrants to UK, who have
religious affiliation
o Means 10 of 1000s of ‘new’ Christians joining churches each year – some of these
will attend churches that long been in Britain & also in their country in origin
[Anglican, Catholic, Methodist churches]
o Others will join new denominations/independent churches with significant
immigrant population
Large influx of Christians caused traditional churches to reflect on how
effectively they welcome & integrate newcomers into communities
Some Christians who are new to Britain will be familiar with many aspects of worship &
church life in their new church – doesn’t mean that it’ll be easy to integrate into worshipping
community
E.g. Catholic Church in Britain has had influx of believers from EU countries [Poland &
Lithuania] – has raised several cultural issues on which Church actively seeks to help
congregations
o Large influx of worshippers who may just be learning English – make pastoral care a
challenge – had led to appointment of ‘immigrant chaplain’/’episcopal vicar’ who
take responsibility for migrant community within church
o Language barriers also hinder teaching of catechism, confirmation class &
preparation for sacraments
Older migrants/others with relevant language skills seen as invaluable
church resource
o Can be significant differences in worship styles – even when immigrant is attending
same denomination in Britain as in their country origin – Churches attempt to
respect diversity & encouraged to incorporate different forms of worship
Overall challenge = maintain both sense of community cohesion & openness to traditions &
preferences of those who are new
Pentecostalism in the UK
Largest influx of Christians in Britain has come from Caribbean & West African countries
where Pentecostal Christianity is pervasive
o Led to thousands of new churches in Britain, reversal of overall church decline in
some regions & even to active outreach from migrant communities to what’s viewed
as secular, atheist Britain
Pentecostalism = movement in Christianity that emphasises experience of worshipper
o Makes constant reference to powerful experiences of early church in Acts chapter 2
– reported that Spirit of God came upon followers of Jesus, enabling them to speak
in other languages & perform acts of healing
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