EVANGELICALS broadly feel free to live out their faith, but almost half believe that it has been harder to practise it publicly in the UK in the past five years, a survey from the Evangelical Alliance suggests.
The survey, reported as Confident Faith, Contested Culture, asked a cross section of 884 Evangelicals about their experiences of engaging in public life, being a Christian in the workplace, and seeking to spread their faith. They were also asked about what forms of hostility or opposition they had encountered, and how they viewed the emerging debates around Christian nationalism and political engagement.
The responses indicate a complex picture, the survey suggests, concluding: “On the one hand, there is widespread confidence that Christians can still live out their faith openly. On the other, there was a strong perception that doing so has become more socially difficult, particularly where Christian convictions diverge from the dominant cultural norms.”
Eighty-eight per cent of respondents agreed that they were free to live out their faith — “The atmosphere seems more open” — but, of those, only 41 per cent strongly agreed. “I feel disapproved of and viewed as non-tolerant for having clear beliefs about behaviour and morality” was one response. Another responded: “I never want to offend but sometimes I know my beliefs can feel offensive.”
Seventy-nine per cent felt that they could take a public stand on issues that concerned them on account of their faith. Those who felt unable to do so spoke of fears of being misunderstood, concern about damaging relationships, and “uncertainty about how to communicate convictions without causing offence”.
Forty per cent of respondents perceived that issues such as cultural shifts, greater sensitivity around issues of sexuality and gender, increased polarisation, and a sense that traditional Christian views were more likely to be interpreted as harmful or intolerant made it harder to practise as a Christian. But society was perceived by others to be increasingly open to spiritual conversations.
In varying degrees, more than half of the respondents (53 per cent) believed that there were more challenges for Christians serving in public life. Media portrayals of Christianity were thought sometimes to be a barrier, although the UK’s Christian heritage and the presence of the Church of England (with the monarch’s position as its Supreme Governor) were considered to provide a degree of cultural familiarity and legitimacy.
Sixty per cent felt that they could be open about their faith in their workplace. Asked about talking about it with people of different backgrounds or beliefs, most felt confident about doing so with atheists, agnostics, Muslims, and Jews; confidence was slightly lower regarding Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs, “likely reflecting less frequent interaction with people of these faiths”.
Sixty-five per cent had not personally experienced non-criminal hostility: those who had done so identified hostility to beliefs, social pressure to conform, and verbal abuse. “These experiences contribute to the perception that for many evangelicals being openly Christian is becoming more socially costly, even if legal protections remain strong,” the survey concludes.
More than 64 per cent were concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism in the UK, and opinion was divided when questions turned to preferential treatment for Christianity over other religions. Evangelical voting patterns were shown to remain politically diverse and versatile.
The Evangelical Alliance’s director of advocacy, Danny Webster, said: “Evangelicals in the UK have considerable freedom to practise their faith, and to practise it in public.
“Whether that’s meeting to worship without fear of reprisals, or preaching in the street, or talking about your beliefs at work, the freedom of Christians is real, meaningful, and worthy of gratitude. And yet, there is a growing sense among many that the cultural context is changing and making things harder.”
