English Clergy Doubt Resurrection, Survey Shows

Reuters via NYTimes.com ^ | 7/30/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 9:31 p.m. ET

LONDON (Reuters) - A third of Church of England clergy are unconvinced by the basic Christian belief in the physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to a survey published in British newspapers Wednesday.

The poll found a third said they doubted or disbelieved the Biblical story that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

Only half of the 2,000 clergy questioned believed in the Virgin Birth, the survey for the traditionalist British think-tank Cost of Conscience also found.

``There are clearly two churches operating in the Church of England: the believing church and the disbelieving church, and that is a scandal,'' think-tank spokesman Reverend Robbie Low was quoted in the paper as saying.

Low said doubts over central Christian tenets was higher among women priests than their male counterparts. Only a third of the few women priests questioned said they believed in the Virgin Birth.

There was less skepticism over the Trinity, the Christian belief that God is a union of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, with three quarters of those surveyed saying they accepted the principle.

The Modern Churchperson's Union told the paper the church had to reassess complex doctrine in the face of increasingly educated congregations.

[cactusSharp]

cafeteria religions will find the fire of God's promises
funny how "thou shall not kill" is revered as well as
others but those really tough ones are so easily dismissed
you know,like the flood....

[Restorer]

The poll found a third said they doubted or disbelieved the Biblical story that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. . .There was less skepticism over the Trinity, the Christian belief that God is a union of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, with three quarters of those surveyed saying they accepted the principle.

How can I put this politely?

These two beliefs are incompatible. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, the second person of the Trinity is still dead, which make God a duality.

Perhaps they believe God the Son is someone else?

[Pyro7480]

This is ridiculous. If I may paraphrase C.S. Lewis (I think he was the one who said something along these lines), if Jesus didn't rise from the dead on the third day, then the Christian religion is a sham. Either He did, or He didn't. That's the bottom line. If you don't belive in the physical Resurrection of Jesus, then you're NOT Christian!

[TheDon]

"If you don't belive in the physical Resurrection of Jesus, then you're NOT Christian!"

Some anti-Christs sneaking into the Christian Church.

[LiberalBuster]

I might believe in a 2-day resurrection (Fri-Sun). But three? ;-)

[Brett66]

I guess they can go to hell then.

[Texas Eagle]

Shhhhh.......do I hear a cock crowing?

[uncbob]

I am willing to bet if the USA Cardinals were put under truth serum it would revealed that they don't believe in the tenets of their faith-- Holy Communion-Assumption as well as the Resurection etc etc

[yendu bwam]

The Church of England is well on its way to becoming an English Unitarian Church - that is, one which has absolutely no underlying belief of any sort. At that point, it will be completely and totally irrelevant.

[Buggs]

From Sheldon Vanauken's "Under the Mercy"

There was a young man of divinity
Who could not believe in the Trinity
But he won his degree
And episcopal see
By fixing his eyes upon finity

[Doctor Don]

I have difficulty with the idea of anyone ending up in hell.
However, if anyone deserves eternal punishment,it is those who pretend to serve God and in the process send earnest seekers to hell as a result of their false teachings.

[narses]

Ping

[rmlew]

No resurrection, no virgin birth. They might as well admit that they don't beilive that Jesus was teh Messiah.

These Anglicans don't seem very Christian.

[justanotherfreeper]

I am willing to bet if the USA Cardinals were put under truth serum it would revealed that they don't believe in the tenets of their faith

You are probably right. I don't understand this at all, why bother to be a religion you don't believe? I have an easier time understanding Muslims who really think they are going to get their 72 virgins, and atheists who think their isn't a God, than ministers and priests who dedicate their entire lives to a religion they don't think is true! It makes no sense to me at all.

[sinkspur]

"If Christ did not rise from the dead, then our Faith is in vain."

St. Paul spent a good part of his life denying Christianity, and the last part of it affirming the Resurrection.

I'll stick with Paul.

[far sider]

This is so sad. CS Lewis was a member of this church. How far it has fallen!

[madprof98]

Lewis was probably quoting Saint Paul:

If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. For if the dead aren't raised, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

1 Corinthians 15:14-19

[uncbob]

It makes no sense to me at all.

they are seduced by the power and prestige

Besides what else are the qualified to do ?

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Interesting..

So now do they believe in the Euro or the UN?