One of the greatest mediums which can be used to gain perspective on a new culture is the local press. These articles have been taken from Scotland’s local newspapers. These quotes have been taken from the articles and not quoted in entirety.
Article Links
- Churches in Crisis
- Migrants fill empty pews as Britons loose faith
- Christianity will die out in 40 years
- Why Christian leaders are failing Scotland
- Italian Atheist Sues Priest Over Jesus' Existence.
- Is God Dead In Europe?
- Blessed Are The Neds
- Same Sex Marriages Arrive In Scotland
- Britons Branded Cocaine Kings of Europe
- One in Three Clergy Believe in Damnation
- Bible to be Banned From Student Halls
- Faith in God Declining Faster Than Church Visits
- Is Christianity Facing a Slow, Inevitable Death?
- Kirk Membership: a 'Catastrophic' Record Low
- The True Meaning to Life
- Churches Act to Keep Their Flocks
- Scots Losing Their Religion
- Converting a Nation of Agnostics
- University Scraps Prayers at Graduation
- Scots Death by Drink Rate Fastest in Europe
“Churches in Crisis ”
“What does the future hold for the 300 places of worship Scotland no longer needs? It’s a very crude choice, but if the churches aren’t converted into something else they will be left to go to ruin. Is it sacrilege to transform former places of worship into bars, clubs and shops –or just a necessary sacrifice?“At one time the building, now home to 100,000 books, was primarily devoted to just one – the Bible. Leakey’s bookshop is one of hundreds of former churches to have been converted from its original use to something very different.
As church-going in Scotland declines, the number of church buildings following the same route as Leakey’s’ is growing – as is the amount of religious buildings at risk. According to The Scottish Civic Trust there are at least 300 churches on the “at risk” register. This is a register of buildings in danger of falling into serious disrepair because they are no longer used. Next month the trust is to publish a report most likely to be called - 101 Uses for a Redundant Church.
This report is a culmination of a year-long research project designed to assess the state of the nation’s stock of religious buildings, which is so considerable there is no official figure. Churches, although old and often costly to convert, can be used for a variety of purposes. Extensive list including art and cultural centres, pubs, restaurants, bars and residential flat will encourage property developers as well as individuals, to take on churches and save them from ruin.”
(The Hearld, Tuesday, August 15, 2006)