I wouldn't offer western Europe as an exemplar of thriving Christianity. You'd have to go to Africa, Asia and parts of the Americas for that. China numerically became the largest Christian country on the planet a few years ago.
Both of these statements are true, however more people in the UK say that they either have no/other religion than those who say that they are Christians.
It's certainly true that Sunday observance is a fraction of what it was in Victoria times, or even the 1950s. It's also the case that Britain is more materialistic, metaphysically and in terms of consumption. Neither of those detract from the Christian religious nature of governance.
At this point it might be worth pointing out that Christianity has not become a thread meme for proselytising purposes, but as a simple statement of fact that Britain as a constitutional monarchy is institutionally Christian, albeit of a particular post reformation variety. I wouldn't want moderators snipping it into a religious thread on a casual reading.
Lots and lots of things. Just two examples, the massive growth of the services industry, so many people are working in places like call centres, and more disposable income, hence the explosion in the numbers of restaurants and cafes.
To add to this, the cost of living has increased since the 1970s, which is why most families require both parents to work in reasonably well-paid jobs. If we raise our children to work in offices and earn decent wages, it's no wonder they will reject the lowest paid jobs like cleaning and picking fruit.
And not only that, the country now has this obsession with university. Kids are made to feel like a failure if they don't go to uni. Who would work for three or four years to earn a degree, and then go out into the world of employment and work on a till? Although I guess that means you'd never pay your student loan off
Has it really though? Some things are a lot more expensive in real terms, particularly housing, but food, clothing, cars, entertainment and many other things are cheaper.
Too true. I'm never going to be able to go to university, and it's very ostracising to hear everyone say "but you should". That said, there's a night stacker with a degree in microbiology at the shop I work at...And not only that, the country now has this obsession with university. Kids are made to feel like a failure if they don't go to uni. Who would work for three or four years to earn a degree, and then go out into the world of employment and work on a till? Although I guess that means you'd never pay your student loan off
And this goes back to the 'everyone wants to buy a house' argument. It is very difficult (but admittedly not impossible) to buy a family home on a single average working wage.
Perhaps instead I should have said "the cost of living to a standard to which we'd like"?
And there's nothing wrong with wanting a better standard of living than previous generations. You just have to be prepared to work harder/longer/smarter than previous generations as well.
And not only that, the country now has this obsession with university. Kids are made to feel like a failure if they don't go to uni. Who would work for three or four years to earn a degree, and then go out into the world of employment and work on a till? Although I guess that means you'd never pay your student loan off
Both are equally valuable. The economy is suffering for a lack of STEM education and skills - apprenticeships are perfect for hands-on Technology and Engineering roles, but the Science and Maths roles need an academic education.
Oh, of course not. That's why I said apprenticeships are good for hands-on Technology and Engineering roles.
Absolutely right! The 5% or 6% at university in my day was probably too small a proportion, but the Blair idea of 50% taking the same sort of traditional university courses was just daft from the start. Why oh why did we have to turn first the Colleges of Advanced Technology into pretty traditional universities and then do the same with the polytechnics? Why have we never been able to develop and value something like the German Technische Hochschulen? Why have we never properly valued the applied sciences in this country (let alone valuing the skills of the really good and well-trained craftsman)?
I don't think you're in a minority at all. The nation needs people with higher education, as I mentioned earlier industry is constantly bemoaning the lack of STEM skills in the workforce. And, as you said, the learning in university isn't all about what's in the books.
Spending 3-4 years studying something that really interests you and which you really are studying is an excellent thing to do, even if it might not be useful for work. Spending 3-4 years expecting to be taught (not the same thing at all as studying) just what is necessary to pass the examinations for a degree and no more is quite a different matter. I suppose it all depends on what you think universities are for. I think they are for people who have an interest and want to pursue that interest and feel that they have the time (and nowadays the money) to do so. The job of the university staff is to help them pursue their interest, not to act as crammers.
