The development and public prominence of the ‘New Atheism’ in the West, particularly the UK and USA, since the millennium has occasioned considerable growth in the study of ‘non-religion and secularity’. Such work is uncovering the variety and complexity of associated categories, different public figures, arguments and organizations involved. There has been a concomitant increase in research on youth and religion. As yet, however, little is known about young people who self-identify as atheist, though the statistics indicate that in Britain they are the cohort most likely to select ‘No religion’ in surveys. This article addresses this gap with presentation of data gathered with young British people who describe themselves as atheists. Atheism is a multifaceted identity for these young people developed over time and through experience. Disbelief in God and other non-empirical propositions such as in an afterlife and the efficacy of homeopathy and belief in progress through science, equality and freedom are central to their narratives. Hence belief is taken as central to the sociological study of atheism, but understood as formed and performed in relationships in which emotions play a key role. In the late modern context of contemporary Britain, these young people are far from amoral individualists. We employ current theorizing about the sacred to help understand respondents’ belief and value-oriented non-religious identities in context.Keywords: Atheism, Youth, UK, Belief, Sacred
This article reports on the inception and work of the first multi-faith chaplaincy team in a general hospital outside of London. The problematic beginnings are described as the team, previously run by and based on Anglican Christian ministry expanded to multi-faith care. The importance of the chapel/worship space in such a project diminished and chaplains and volunteer visitors of all faiths and none now minister in more secular spaces throughout the hospital and outside its walls. This is a reflection of their work becoming more interfaith as chaplains ministering to those of different faiths from their own evolved to a more spiritually rather than religiously oriented focus in generating patient-centred care in the context of a changing British culture, now considered simultaneously Christian, religiously plural, and secular.
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