Once religion was universally respected as part of the core of our way of life. Today only 8% of Britons attend church. Cristina Odone investigates why the church’s role in society is weakening, and asks what are the consequences of the absence of moral leadership and cohesion the Church once brought to society? Many people claim they find religion increasingly irrelevant in their 21st century lives. Traditional teachings on divorce, homosexuality and women priests are regarded by millions as alienating. In an earlier God-centred world there was a strong sense of mankind being humble in the knowledge that they were not of supreme importance. In a man-centred universe, everything revolves around me, myself and I. The world has become too secular, too demystified. Is this why we’re increasingly turning to alternative medicines and lifestyles? Are we searching to put the spirituality back?