Is Christianity in crisis? With Andrew Doyle and Dan Hitchens | SpectatorTV 

Welby does not lead the Church of Englsnd . He leads the Church of Anywhere but England .

I was walking down the High street the other day and happened to run into the Archbishop of Canterbury. We got to talking about religion (as one does) I mentioned Jesus, and he couldn't place the name!😂

When the Roman Catholic Church was nationalised in England by Henry VIII in 1534, part of its remit was not to preach any messages that would undermine the authority of the King. That tradition has continued.

The root problem: the CofE is embedded in secular university institutions, making it more an academic discipline than a religion. The main mistake: dumbing down to popularise, instead of retaining noble tradition.

This is a superb discussion

No mention of Christ the Redeemer? Pointless

Welby simply doesn’t believe in the bible. I appreciate most people don’t take a literal belief in it either, but you can’t just pick and choose which bits you agree with and claim it’s the actual and never changing last word of god. Either we accept the bible simply expressed the values and laws of an earlier time and needs to constantly adapt - ie it’s a man made thing or we accept it’s the word of god and immutable. Which means homosexuality is wrong. The problem is pretending it’s the last and only word of god and going against its rules. Christianity is splitting yet again. Old Christians with their old bible and a new woke version in which the individual is all important and freedom to live as we want.

confusion here with 'Papal infallibility', almost NOTHING Popes say is infallible. only when they preach ex cathedra on dogmatic or moral issues. the last time was in the 1950s when Pope Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin

Christianity the religion is dying but there will still be many people who live life with love, kindness, compassion, repentance and forgiveness as Christ taught and commanded. Much love.

The problem is: if you put unity before truth. Go back and reevaluate your doctrine of scripture.

People need novelty and will be willingly led astray to get it

Religions come and go. Christianity is just one more that will, eventually, either disappear or become a strange little anachronism.

Serves them right for believing there's a god. What a waste of their lives arguing about the mystical man in the sky.

Othodox Christianity gives Christianity hope.

Easier/quicker to ask 'what went right', surely. To me, the most obvious error was the INSTANT closure of Parish Churches when the Pandemic began. Even when the Plague of 1665 hit, they remained open to succour and comfort the distressed. Welby, however ''knew better' and [as so often] failed to trust the judgement of 'his flock', as to how best they kept a balance between physical safety, and spiritual health. l personally know MANY previously regular attendees [including my parents] who failed to see the point of going back on a Sunday, once the lack of pastoral commitment was made CRYSTAL clear That he was 'mostly on sabbatical' - 'doing HIS own stuff', yet postponed retirement so he can co-star in the Coronation speaks volumes as to why he sought the role... Can't be rid of this detestable/woke 'barely Christian' placeman SOON ENOUGH

Church of the WEF..

Well I think doing a full 180 on a load of beliefs that have been core to Christianity for over 2000 years was going to be a tough sell

Welby in my opinion isn't a Christian.

Disappointed to hear that Welby hasn't gone!

Christianity is faith in Christ alone, through grace alone, for the glory of God alone. Don’t try and introduce anything or anyone else. Read the Bible and don’t pervert it or try and adapt it to our sinful thoughts.

King Charles is no longer "Defender Of the Faith" he isn't willing to defend anything!

Welby has destroyed the COE for me. Calvin Robinson in the Free Church of England represents the Christianity I recognise & practice.

Great to see the next generation of the Hitchens family

Does Welby believe in...you know, Jesus?

Forgot to Say . Regrettably I’ve Got No Time for Justin Welby AT ALL.

I was baptised and confirmed into the C of E but now feel closer to the RC doctrine. It's so sad but I feel the C of E is slowly moving away from the teachings in the Bible.

What seems to sum up the CofE is a clip from Yes Prime Minister that tears it apart; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qUSTKisEgTo.html Welby has a problem in England as that there is now a Free Church of England which is gaining congregations year on year.

Poor old Thomas Cranmer he is spinning in Hell because of what Welby is doing.

Unsurprising in terms of the decline of the church. I was bored out of it, many simply die or are sexually assaulted out of it. Locally successful churches are normally based around charismatic clerics. There is a model for success, largely ignored generally.

God has not problems only plans. There is NEVER a panic in heaven!

I love Andrew Doyle. If you've not read The New Puritans, it is WELL worth picking up. Not just informative, but readable and, in places, fall down funny!

I must get Doyle's book.

"We champion the authority of God. His authority and Commandments should be recognized, deferred to, and respected....I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition and I hold the belief of the Fathers in the charism of Truth...not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems...suited to the culture of each age...." But that: "The absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different and may never be understood in any other way." My love to all as I await, in vigil, the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy Easter!

Welty has been absolute disaster for Christianity in the U.K.

The scriptures are absolutely crystal clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, and the Pope, the C of E and any other church leaders are completely aware of this. I'm not sure how Christian the Catholic Church, or the C of E are anyway. I'm sure that I'm not alone in thinking this, or am I being a bit pedantic?

I’m 35, I have a young daughter. With all the madness going on in the past few years I’ve been looking for a refuge in which I can raise my daughter without all of the smut and ignorance of the current work culture. I was Christened but never went to church regularly, I hoped I could turn to the C of E but all I see is the same infection I see in the mainstream. I don’t want to look to Catholicism for moral grounding given their mass cover up of child abuse but where can I turn for traditional values. In my view the church needs to return to its roots, if they do they’ll have us in a pew.

I was uplifted when your title implied Welby’s reign had ended? He should have gone a long time ago he has neglected religion in this country. How dare he close churches during Covid when people were at their lowest ebb. Big mistake 👎🏻

I reiterate. Christians must stand against Evil, not embrace it.

I have lost all respect for Welby. Ditto for the Church in Uganda. Both tolerate hate. Uganda, including the Church, Hate gays. Welby tolerates the SJW who hate all who disagree with them. But Pope Francis I love and admire. I don't understand why he wants to ban the wonderful Latin mass, but I feel his reasoning won't come from a place of hate. He seems to me to be a humble loving man.

The Church has always been an integral part of geopolitical strategy

Super discussion. Nice Men respectful and intelligent. Unfortunately, everything I have seen recently (50) years for Anglican church and now the Catholic Church points at division and more division and more division. Uri Besminov warned us.

Its quite simple really, you either believe in your god and assossiated holy book of laws and guidlines, or you dont, if you believe you are a christian, if you dont you are not, if you want gay marriage and female priests, despite your god and holy book specifically saying no, you are not a christian, it means you either think you know better than your god, dont believe your god exists but quite like aspects of christian lifestyle but want to change bits you dont like.

What I, as a continental European, don't understand is why the church of England has done in such that islamic sharia courts were allowed to be installed in Britain!?

Great Easter day offering: hope for the Church and for society! Thank you.

A religion of social justice? This has always been an important part of Christian religion. When Christianity stays loyal to its roots then the social justice issues will always be important for Christianity. Anything else is not Christianity. However, what is social justice must be understood correctly and debated without fear to avoid ideological one way streets. Plus, Marxist manifesto predicted these fancy ideologies like gender, etc., as the eventual outcome of Capitalist society. So, this is not leftist take over although it looks like it, it is the extreme levels of decadence brought about by the neoliberal consumerist mentality.

Those speaking in this video seem to believe that Christianity in the UK is a binary choice between Anglican and Catholic Churches They also see the only choices as Liberal/progressive or Conservative/traditional They also seem oblivious to the growth in radical Bible believing Evangelical/Charismatic churches often among the African, West Indian, Middle Eastern or Far Eastern communities of Britain That is where the growth is Everything else pretty much is just counting the decline in numbers of nominal church attendance

The Church of England needs to return to its conservative roots. No one wants a church that follows the whims of the day. The entire point is that you can rely on God - an unchanging constant. God can support you throughout your entire life. Everything around you might change dramatically over the course of your life, but God remains the same. People cannot do without this. The more the CofE tries to entertain modern sensibilities, the more damage it will do to itself.

The Anglican Church in Uganda is not happy

I was expecting a discussion about Christians bring a minority for the first time, according to the latest census rather than a commentary about how various factions perceive a fairy tale.

The problem with ALL of the churches is that so many of their members tend to worship our 'scriptures'; rather than the God they help to reveal. Their stance is that of the devout Muslim toward his scriptures (on the basis of such as Koran: The House of Imran: vv 5 ff), rather than that of the twenty-first century believer in the God of Israel, who was embodied in the tyoung male Jew, Jesus of Nazareth, who taught, was crucified, and rose from the dead. If our scriptures are viewed as "just ancient texts", like any other (except that their topic is God's Covenant with Israel), then we are free to use contemporary texts, which seek to inform us about, and on, the scriptures: but - more importantly - about how our scriptures help to teach about GOD. The activity of God did not stop at around 250 AD (roughly when the New Testament content was determined); so that he is able to reveal "nothing new" (a charge often levelled by 'scriptural literalists'). God is active today. Thank God! Andrew's explanation at 16:00 encapsulates the problem perfectly. Unfortunately the Church Universal is destined to retreat into a 'scriptural literalist' belief-system which is so much on a par with Islam: that history is bound to repeat itself, when the two meet.

Extraordinary that society is yet again going through an orthodox/conservative vs progressive confrontation in Christianity. All is cogently explained and conjectured upon by the trio of speakers in the video who each has a measured approach based on an understanding of history and church doctrine. Listening to the discussion has decided me that I shall now renew my subscription to the Spectator ... if any of the speakers read this I hope it will give encouragement.

I noticed some time ago that Welby was embracing the new negation of reality and immediately lost all respect for him and, unfortunately, also for the CofE. One of my best friends is in a gay partnership. He refuses to get married at all as he acknowledges that he is an aberration. He is not ashamed of himself but he believes he is not the norm. Unfortunately , he also believes that God does not love him so is an atheist. I am gradually persuading him that God loves everyone as God is synonymous with Love. But we live in Africa, so there is always a worry about being gay. That should not be the case, and the Ugandan Church is a disturbing one as it Hates gays as does the law. The church should not hate anyone in my opinion. Gayness is something you are born with. It is not a choice anyone wants! But Welby has gone too far. When he used a rainbow as an altar cloth, I was finished with him. Next, I wouldn't be surprised if he supported abortion!

Neither God nor the Devil care about intellectual spasticity on the level Welby displays.

Andrew Doyle…the hero our crazy times requires!

No. Real Christianity thrives under pressure. Look at the underground church in China for example. Persecution, according to the Maker's Instructions, is the normal Christian life.

Don’t you Anglicans know about 50% of your ministers are gay? Maybe the question to ask yourselves is, while we figure out whether God is anti-gay or not, how do we treat each other? There was a time when the early church had to figure out that it was ok for gentiles NOT to be circumcised.

The Jesus story is about the frailty of human nature and selfish conformism. Welby is an example (but not to us). Get some real priests. I was in a church in Surrey a few days ago the vicar reminded people that the church for centuries was the village hall. Why are they now separate?

Dan Hitchens definitely has his dad's eyebrows. 🤨😅

I am saving this one. It gives ME hope. Maybe I can share it.

Oooh the Gendered Soul, I am still trying to find out when that starts, Birth or Conception.

Papal infallibility formally only refers to dogmas. Popes can contradict their predecessors otherwise.

The Apostle Paul pronounced a curse on most churches today because the main Christian denominations of today preach a different gospel than what Paul preached. To quote exactly what Paul said, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8). Both apostle Paul and Peter preached the same gospel and quote from the prophet Joel (2:32) saying, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of Yahweh shall be saved." (Romans 10:13 and Acts 2:21). The English translations say “Lord” instead of “Yahweh.” But “Lord” does not translate “Yahweh” it is a substitution of a totally different word altogether. This substitution activates two additional curses because if you substitute a word you are both adding and subtracting at the same time. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18, 19) We are commanded by Messiah that, “...repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47). In other words, we are supposed to preach the gospel that came out of Jerusalem and not preach the gospel that came out of Antioch, or Rome, or England, or New York, or Chicago, etc. By the time the gospel got to Antioch it had already been perverted as we read, “...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26). The problem with this is that YHWH spoke of a people called by His name (Deuteronomy 28:10; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 43:6, 7; Daniel 9:19; Amos 9:12; Acts 15:17). YHWH did not choose the name “Christian” for Himself. The people of Antioch chose that name and all the so called main denominations of today embrace that name “Christian” for themselves. When Peter and Paul preached the gospel they quote the prophet Joel, “Whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be saved.” (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13). The English word "Lord" is not a translation for the name YHWH but is a substitution. I ask you, how many of the church fathers and so called main denominations of today preach that gospel? None of them. Absolutely none! “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He comes shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” Some people say that they are watching all the time but they overlook verse 38. “And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.” (Luke 12:37-38). Under normal circumstances people are sound asleep during the second and third watch. Therefore Luke 12 is not talking about watching in a figurative way. The LORD is talking of a literal watch. There are appointed times in the scriptures for us to fulfill a literal watch. In fact, all of the appointed times of holy convocations (moedim) listed in Leviticus 23 are watches and vigils of Yahweh. Each one of them are fulfilled by both an Old Testament and corresponding New Testament historical event. In other words they will be assembled together in a holy convocation and not out and about driving cars and flying airplanes. Like the 120 were assembled in the upper room Acts chapter 2 for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Unfortunately, because of a man-made ecclesiastical calendar many will not be watching at the appointed time when He comes.

“That’s Rowan Williams with his wretched horde, The day when England died was on his watch He led the people so far from the Lord. Can you believe the words: ‘I renounce Satan’ Were excised from the service of baptism? 11 “But Satan did not think to renounce them. So much so that the cleric in the flesh Was not himself: the devil lived through him. Like Tudor kings they claimed that they were Welsh But could not help abuse, and wrecked their home So the appearances they gave were false. They preached that to be a true Christian Was just to ask: ‘So, what would Christ have done?’ 12 “That creed throws darkness over everything. The truth is, of Christ’s actions one alone Has any application: look within, With stillness and the desert be at one. But there’s no time, the undead are coming.”

When a church does not stick to the Bible, it loses it's authority.

He was a Banker, not a spelling mistake but unfortunately still thinks like one. What was it that Jesus said about money lenders!

Progressive movements have always been authoritarian. And extremely conservative denominations have never been immune from liberals taking them over. The Salem Puritans belonged to the Congregationist denomination which on little over 100 years had gone full Unitarian. The Southern Baptists are the result of split after split.

No. If it is working for individuals as Jesus the physical embodiment of the Christ spirit intended it to be, no. A search for the kingdom of God within each person, then I would say everything is fine. If you mean is Christianity failing as a power and control system used by various churches to limit our spiritual growth and make money from us, yes it has failed, because people are sick of not being told the truth and being gaslighted in such a way as to make life miserable.

Interesting topic & guests - Thanks

I am surprised to hear that the idea of women bishops and same sex marriage are put in the same bag as social justice (men can be women, kids can change their gender, everything's racist all the time). Those topics predates social justice by decades.

We’re a Protestant country though, why is it so important to have a Catholic Church system? Also, aren’t most people in Great Britain non religious now anyways?

Once the revelation 3-9ers became worshipped and began to write all books for education only a matter of time until "christians" wake up to the fact they are them.

This is why after a lifetime of being exposed to Christianity I cannot be a believer. God is love? Such a hippy sentiment.

Ian Banks , We're you aware that Welby was a CEO at a big oil Company before he took to the frock and pulpit ? So they say ?

The Anglican Church has no theological reason to exist anyway. Social Justice is moronic beyond description.

Because it has been about WELBY,not the religion

Nowhere near as much as the rest of the world will be in crisis when the Messiah returns to judge the nations?! Simonline 🇬🇧🤔🙏

Justin Welby the church of British Petroleum or any highest bidder with 30 pieces of silver

This discussion should be about the people and what they think and believe. It's as if the pope or other religious leaders can change this.

A circle with jagged points on it is the essence of a powersaw.

I will not comply In the UK Islam will be the dominant religion in 22 to 23 years if current trends continue

I’ve left the Anglican Church. Far too woke under Welby.

welby is not a Christian, try Anglican unscripted YT for what is actually going on.

Here in Victoria B. C. CHINADASTAN the local Library was closed Friday 7 - open Sat. Sun. 8 9 - closed Mon. 10. Being Non Religious, I still feel an OBVIOUS DISREGARD- DISRESPECT Towards the Country that EVERY ETHNICITY FLOCKS TO that was built with a strong Christian Value as a Spiritual Moral Compass ! 🧐

Papal infallibility just means the papacy wont fail and wont fall it doesn't mean the pope is always right.

Andrew Doyle does not understand the notion of Papal Infallibility on a basic level if the thinks that every Pope is speaking infallibly all the time. Does the Pope speak infallibly when he mumbles in his sleep? Infallible Papal statements are very limited and require the Pope's clear declaration that he is speaking ex Cathedra on a matter of dogma. This doesn't happen by accident and has only happened a few times, making contradiction much less of an issue.

Welby is trying to do a deal with the Churches in Africa. He offers support for 'racial justice' if they will bend on homosexuality and women bishops. Why is there not a split in the Anglican Church between the liberals and conservatives ? Money and power as always. Not just the wealth of the Church of England which would have to be divided but the seats in the House of Lords for 21 Bishops which would probably be threatened. Then there are other questions such as who will anoint Charles III.

When your whole livelihood relies on the Universe and all in it being made by an unseen entity,who watches over all,for eternity( apparently nothing better to do),You are on shakey ground.Ane one step away from the looney bin.

A big problem for the Catholic Church, is that a lot of its members, and those outside it too, tend to think of the Pope as *the* church, so whatever he says - or implies, or fails to say - is "policy". This is even more the case in the modern world, because of the ease with which mass media can focus on one man. Local bishops in fact are *not* branch managers for the Holy See. The Pope is not even an archbishop, and he cannot reverse any infallible church teachings, such as on marriage. Nor can he make any arbitrary new 'ex cathedra' pronouncements. Local bishops, grow a spine and actually teach the Catholic faith, come down to us from the Apostles!

What Faith is our king ? In the coronation is he going to acknowledge he is head of the faith ( Christian ) or of a faiths (Muslim ) or all faiths ?

Having been raised a devout Catholic (at least one of my parents still goes to church without fail, going on almost 80 years old), I see no reason to return. I've never been against Christianity or indeed Catholicism. On the contrary, I would much rather this country be a Christian one than a secular or Muslim one. But they've lost their nerve, albeit not as much as the shameful and embarrassment that is Church of England. I get the sense that my very socially conservative views are not only not particularly welcome amongst the congregation (a number of whom I know locally to be socialist politically) but hostile, ironic in an institution that is supposed to defend traditional values.

Many years ago become I became an Episcopalian, I asked some (Episcopal) friends what exactly I would need to believe. One friend said that for the bare minimum, I should study the creed. Of course, this was back in the late 70s, when the church was becoming very liberal. Interesting having Andrew Doyle on.

Wah wah wah 'cancel culture' or, as we normal people call it, the consequences of your actions

I think it’s gone way beyond a crisis, corporate church of any breed is now irrelevant. With all the talk fests I haven’t heard much about Jesus. Jesus urged us to ‘Stay in the vine, without me you can do nothing’. Only those close to Jesus, those who are led by Him day by day will be in place to usher the seekers into His kingdom.

Christianity has been in crisis since Jesus took on the establishment. He taught compassion and love, but the establishment didn't want that, they preferred conflict and control over the people. Strange how that's never changed. Christianity will survive it's the unbelievers that die. Rome died. This is Easter, a special time for us all. He gave his all, we sure can give him our all

I find it amazing that in this day and age,anyone believes in any religious mumbo jumbo

I don't think I've ever met a vicar that i would say actually believes in Christian teachings, which is why i don't go to church but i do consider myself a Christian and have a strong faith. I think the numbers going to church are falling because the CoE is promoting everything except Christianity.

Man made religions and God's have been the curse of humanity since day 1

If you travel around the American continent, Africa, Asia, a lot of Eurasia, Christianity is a mighty, and ever rising, power. Only here do we see what liberalism can really do to a country.

This discussion just reminds us why so many people and especially young people are leaving religion and belief altogether. You can say young people are conservative Christians, but the numbers point in the opposite conclusion.

Surprised any educated person has belief in the supernatural, let alone claim to understand the wishes of the supernatural being that is alledgedly beyond space and time. As my granny said ,' takes all kinds '.