Q for Christian cystas in the UK (kinda long)

oohmercyme · 10-11-2004, 12:03 PM

Good morning ladies! I am hoping you can help me with a few questions.

I am moving to London in November (YEAH!) and have been chatting with various people (men) in the UK via chatrooms and IM's.

Once these people find out I am a CHristian (I say right of the mark that I am a Christian, but once they realize I actually "practise" it) they go absolutely haywire.

2 guys that I chatted with briefly and now someone I have been chatting with for several months and quite fancied have become completely insulting and offensive regarding my faith. Of course the 2 I chatted with briefly really didn't bother me much, but this guy I have been talking to for months suddenly becoming so intolerant really threw me for a loop.

All 3 of them have said (aside from general insults of CHristians) that England is not a very CHristian place and that "practising" CHristians are considered nutters.

I cannot live without a good church and a spiritual community (particularily since I have never been to ENgland and don't know ANYONE!), am I going to find this in the UK? Or have I just run across a few intolerant dongdongs who don't know what's happening outside their tiny little worlds?

I have been looking up churches that are smiliar to my denomination here and there appear to be quite a few, but as they say, going to church doesn't make you a CHristian anymore than going to McDonald's makes you a Big Mac.

Appreciate any insight!

paddy · 10-11-2004, 12:59 PM

Hello Lori

Firstly let me say congratulations on your move to London! I'm sure it's a really exciting time for you.

I'm Irish and moved to the UK two years ago. I'm a Christian and have a very strong faith in God. I may not go to church EVERY week, but I would consider myself a practicing Christian. I would not be me without my faith and my belief in Him.

As with any move there are going to be lots of changes; new job, new friends, new place....new church. It's all very scary. My experience with finding a church was a really positive one, but I did do a fair bit of church shopping! I visited lots of Christian churches, not necessarily of my own denomination and there are some really great churches where I live. Now I have two churches that I go to regularly.

Practicing Chrisitians are in the minority but there are lots of us and I do not believe we are considered nutters. If its any consolation I do not feel isolated in my faith whatsoever. And for me church was an excellent way to integrate into my new community.

I would suggest that your internet 'friends' do not have the ability to look wider and embrace the diversity this world offers...I feel sorry for them!

I wish you the best of luck in your move!

Paddy

clarabell55 · 10-11-2004, 01:05 PM

Hi,

I am sorry you got those sort of reactions from the men from the UK. But in my experiance what you have been told is a bit like it is.

There are many people here in the UK that practice religion and there are many, many churches but it does seem generally that being religious or at least admitting to it is a bit old fashioned, if i can put it like that. Don't get me wrong these are not my beliefs just of my experiance locally where i live.

I think a lot of the younger generation are teased about following a religion, you know the usual stuff.
I personally do not attend a church but i do know people that do and they tend to just get on with it and not really mention it to the people that don't, i think they have good relationships built with other people at the church and that is where they discuss their beliefs.

I think thought there are still many people accepting of people practicing religion in the UK, i think you have been unfortunate to talk to people with such narrow minds, many people in the UK will accept you for who you are, i think some people just think they are going to have religion pushed upon them so they are quick to throw insults.
Try not to worry, once you are here i am sure you will find a great church with a warm communtiy, especially in such a big place as london.

Hope this answers your question any more questions just pm me or post, I live just outside Liverpool so not really near london but probably similar type of community, some of the other girls may have different experiances depending where they live so it would be interesting to hear their experiances too.

Good Luck

Clara x

alex · 10-12-2004, 12:22 PM

Hi there!

I'm not a Christian, but I have a lot of friends who are. In my opinion - and bearing in mind I've never been to the States, but I do know quite a few Americans! - people are a lot quieter about their religion than in the US. Perhaps being very devout is just not as publicly acceptable. Also, religion is much more muted in public life. It is unheard of to have the ten commandments in court rooms here, for example, as I believe happens in some places in the US. Tony Blair is a practising Christian, but he never, ever, brings that into his speeches or election campaigns.

I'm not suggesting for a moment that you should be ashamed of your religion or keep it a secret, just bear in mind that to avoid reactions like the ones you have noticed, it's one of the things we tend to be rather reserved about! When you've found a friendly church you'll meet lots of people that you can discuss it with to your heart's content!

Good luck,
Alex

yukabee · 10-14-2004, 05:05 AM

hi
i agree with most of the others. People here get the wrong idea of what a christian is they seem to think oh born again or fanatic or fundamentalist when in reality most of the white people are christian C of E. of course in london we also have a huge muslim and hindu population as well as others so it is not like you will be discriminated against. but be prepared as many people are ignorant of religion here. i have a young friend claiming she is catholic because she knows part of the lords prayer and has taken to wearing a rosary she got from top shop when i have asked her about being catholic she recites the portion of the lords prayer she knows. now since i know the whole thing does that make me a catholic?
dont worry too much you will meet plenty of people and find many churches but do try to remember that we react differently to talking about religion and faith...and for that matter alot of things stiff upper lip and that sort of thing. hope that helps a bit and i am sure the guys just panicked and thought oh great psycho cult member here to convert me. never mind you might meet some nicer guys at church

oohmercyme · 10-14-2004, 06:56 PM

Thanks for replying ladies!

I posted this on Lonely Planet travel forum and got a similar response.

OK- I am less panicked now!

MrsBeavs · 10-25-2004, 11:27 AM

Hi ya Lori

Wow, you're going to be here soon, how exciting!

Listen, there are lots of great churches in the UK. A lot of what you have been told is true, especially in London. But you know, we have a prayer group at my office (4 regular attenders out of 650 staff!) and we're a mixed bunch, Baptist, C of E, and two Catholics (me being one of them!) and we all go to different churches which all have lots of programmes for study groups and get togethers. I am sure you will have no problems finding a nice church to go to.

If you have a specific denomination let me know and I will ask my friends at work if they have any recommendations.

I know for a fact that All Souls is a very popular C of E church and is attended by many people our age and they have lots of activities for single people. One of the lawyers in my office attends there (he's training to become a minister) and he says its a very young and vibrant Christian community. If you want to check out their website go to www.allsouls.org

Remember, just pm me if you have any questions about moving over here, happy to help

And don't lose hope, I found myself a wonderful handsome British Christian boy and we've been happily married the last 3 1/2 years!!!

Take care,

Eloise

oohmercyme · 10-25-2004, 07:39 PM

MrsBeavs!

I have not seen hide nor hair of you in ages! Thanks for posting! I still have not managed to get myself to England! The Council's Occupational health officer seems to think I have Ebola or something and has been dragging her feet fro 3 long months! ACK!

Hope you didn't snatch the last Christian boy in Britian!