Theos report examines Christian nationalism and British identity

A new report by the think tank Theos, titled ‘Beyond “Christian Nationalism”: Measuring attitudes to Christianity and Britishness today’, examines the relationship between religious belief and national identity in the United Kingdom.

Research conducted via RED C polling suggests that individuals who hold Christian nationalist views—such as the belief that one must be Christian to be truly British—are often “nominal” in their religious practice and represent a “deeply anxious” demographic. Approximately 8% of UK adults strongly agree with this sentiment, while 9% slightly agree.

The report categorizes UK society into five distinct groups:

• Committed Separatists (34%): Highly educated individuals who believe Christianity and Britishness should remain entirely separate. • Cultural Separatists (16%): Individuals who do not want Britain to be a Christian nation but express hostility toward other religious identities, such as Islam, occupying cultural spaces. • Values Integrationists (26%): Often older and sympathetic to right-wing politics, this group views Christianity as a vital cultural and historical value to be preserved, though they are not necessarily active practitioners. • Identity Integrationists (11%) • Belief Integrationists (13%)

The authors, Dr. Nick Spencer and Dr. Yinxuan Huang, aim to provide nuance to a topic often characterized by polarized rhetoric, suggesting that discussions should explore the underlying anxieties driving these views.