| − | Scotland, like many developed countries that have abandoned [[Christianity]], has fallen into moral decay. Church attendance<ref>[http://www.unavoce.org/scotland.htm The Once-Heroic Church in Scotland]</ref> has plummeted to an all-time low of just over 7% of Scottish adults. In 1962 Scotland had 26,015 baptisms. In 1998, there were only 9,951. Currently some 40% of births are to unmarried mothers, the trend being upwards. In 2003/4 there were 7.5 conceptions per 1000 for 13-15 year olds and 68.2 conceptions per 1000 for 16-19 year olds with over 50% of the 13-15 year olds being pressured into [[abortion]]. <ref>[http://www.brook.org.uk/content/M6_4_teenage%20pregnancy.asp Teenage pregnancy]]</ref>. In Scotland, 93% of men and 87% of women aged 16-74 drink alcohol. The proportion of [[public school]] pupils aged 12-15 who had had an alcoholic drink in the previous week has risen in the last decade from 14% in 1990 to 21% in 2000. Death rates from alcohol have risen over 100% between 1990 and 2000, the rates for women being nearer 200%.<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/docs/paap1-00.asp Statistics on Alcohol in Scotland]</ref> Abuse of [[illegal drugs]] is also increasing rapidly. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/653646.stm Drug abuse increasing]</ref> | + | Scotland, like many developed countries, has a great number of social and ethical challenges. Church attendance<ref>[http://www.unavoce.org/scotland.htm The Once-Heroic Church in Scotland]</ref> has plummeted to an all-time low of just over 7% of Scottish adults. In 1962 Scotland had 26,015 baptisms. In 1998, there were only 9,951. Currently some 40% of births are to unmarried mothers, the trend being upwards. In 2003/4 there were 7.5 conceptions per 1000 for 13-15 year olds and 68.2 conceptions per 1000 for 16-19 year olds with over 50% of the 13-15 year olds being pressured into [[abortion]]. <ref>[http://www.brook.org.uk/content/M6_4_teenage%20pregnancy.asp Teenage pregnancy]]</ref>. In Scotland, 93% of men and 87% of women aged 16-74 drink alcohol. The proportion of [[public school]] pupils aged 12-15 who had had an alcoholic drink in the previous week has risen in the last decade from 14% in 1990 to 21% in 2000. Death rates from alcohol have risen over 100% between 1990 and 2000, the rates for women being nearer 200%.<ref>[http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/docs/paap1-00.asp Statistics on Alcohol in Scotland]</ref> Abuse of [[illegal drugs]] is also increasing rapidly. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/653646.stm Drug abuse increasing]</ref> |