The "Withering" of christianity in Europe

[brazen]

headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/142003b.asp



The 'Withering' of Christianity in Europe

By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
October 14, 2003

(AgapePress) - The New York Times has taken a look at the fading away of Christianity across Europe.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law against sodomy. In writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy suggested that it might be time for the U.S. to start adopting a more European view of what constitutes right and wrong.

That comment from the high court justice alarmed many Christians in America, given the state of Christianity in Europe. The Times story seems to confirm those fears, referring to the "withering" of the Christian faith there.

Writer Frank Bruni says Europe "seems more and more like a series of tourist-trod monuments to Christianity's past." For example, in France only one in 20 people bothers to go to church anymore; in the U.S., that ratio is one in three. The story quotes a pastor in northern France who says, "What's interesting isn't that there are fewer people in church, but that there are any at all."

In England, there are 25 million people who identify the Church of England as their denomination, but only slightly more than one million go to church every week.

And in Italy, although 85% of the population call themselves Roman Catholics, as few as 15% bother to attend church.

The Times quotes David Cornick of the United Reformed Church in Britain, who says "the fact is that Europe is no longer Christian."

Bruni notes indications of the diminishing influence of Christianity in Europe, such as the removal of crosses from the walls of public schools throughout Western Europe -- and the fact that many congregations have been forced to either shut down or combine operations, or make do with part-time or imported pastors.

But perhaps the most noteworthy development surrounds the impending European Union. Despite strong objections from Pope John Paul and Christian leaders around the continent, the draft of the proposed constitution for that political coalition omits any mention of Christianity or God as having any cultural influence in shaping Europe.

© 2003 AgapePress all rights reserved

[buddy]

Very revealing article. I'm living in America and I call myself Catholic, but I must say that I don't really attend services except for around the holidays. My family is the same way. Without a doubt, the most religious Christians in America are found in the red states of the South and Midwest. It's amazing how it's turned out this way. My theory is that people living in the South and Midwest are largely descended from people who came to America searching for religious freedom, and as such, they've clung to their traditional ways far more than many other immigrants who came over. Because these areas remained more agricultural and less industrial for a longer period of time, conservatism has prevailed there, and change has come much more slowly.

[Mike the Jedi]

Surprise, surprise.

But I don't count going to church every week as a prerequisite for being a Christian. Sitting on a pew isn't going to save your soul, if you know what I mean. I know some old folks who have been goin' to church all their lives and they still have not a clue. They'd just as soon complain about long hair and tatoos than read the Bible for themselves.

[buddy]

^Neither do I, one can still go to church every week but still be a hypocrite in some way.

[murphee]

True, there are many people who adhere to the Christian faith who do not attend church.

[Jack Reed]

I think that America tends to be more religious than Europe. I think that this influences the ways in which we view each other. Americans are sometimes seen as backwards. Europeans are sometimes seen as decadent and socialist.

[asdf]

^Neither do I, one can still go to church every week but still be a hypocrite in some way.

I don't see how that's even relevant.

Do we want to talk about exceptions or generalizations and signs?

Yes, there is only one prerequisite--of course. But if they don't seek some sort of fellowship, there's really little doubt they're not Christians. That's clearly the reason why almost no one attends any sort of service. Since the World Wars and the Great Depression, which hit Europe more than here (and the holocaust in the case of the Jews) atheism has prevailed, despite atheistic regimes being the cause of most of that.

I can't judge a society based on their church-attendance, but I basically can in this situation, because I know they do nothing in its place.

Look at Jews. Same thing. Only attenting temple just in case on special days once a year. Not acceptable.

Again, it boils down to what are they doing in place of church?

Look at European culture. It, not just the people in the government, are as secular as it gets on the planet.

Yes, of course church-attendance is no prerequisite, but it's a sign. (In a sense it is a prerequisite, since aside from church there really is no way of fellowship, and you all know full well Bible study, missions, etc, is as dead as anything in Europe).

Instead, Europe (and I assume Australia and Canada along with her) is the beacon of atheism. Of progressive liberal atheism.

True, there are many people who adhere to the Christian faith who do not attend church.

Whatever that's supposed to mean. Most of the people who "adhere to the Christian faith" are just saying that, if they're not going to church.

Yes, they're nominal Christians. But does that matter? Is that even relevant? Atheists who call themselves Catholics, etc, are common. Mestizos who check "white" on the census approach 50%. The Lebanese like to pretend Christian Lebanese are Spanish and French descended, and that Muslim Lebanese are Arabian descended. Americans (Khangard) like to pretend their husbands aren't white ;D

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

[tonynatuzzi]

The only regions in the world where you will find true hardcore devotees of Christianity and Catholicism is in Latin America and the red states here in the U.S.The people in these 2 regions still take their religion very seriously.

[murphee]

What surprises me is that my state has a low record of church attendance yet there are churches everywhere. My town has many; there are some corners which have a church on each side.

[Educate Me]

in the catholic church, missing church on sundays unless you have a very serious reason, is mortal sin.

[tonynatuzzi]

I was watching the O'Reilly Factor where Bill mentioned that there are over 65 Million Catholics in the U.S but I wonder how many of those 65 Million Catholics go to church almost every Sunday.

[Jack Reed]

I'm bothered by a certain doctrine of many Christian denominations. I almost changed religions because of it. The Catholics and the Evangelicals teach it, but many other churches don't. I'll leave it at that because I don't want to affect anyone's faith.

[asdf]

I was watching the O'Reilly Factor where Bill mentioned that there are over 65 Million Catholics in the U.S but I wonder how many of those 65 Million Catholics go to church almost every Sunday.

I'm sure a good 10% are atheists.

[Educate Me]

almost all catholics go to church for marriage, for baptizing their kids, and in funerals.

probably more than half, also go for easter and christmas

some also go for important days like ascencion of the virgin

very few go every sunday

[Educate Me]

f*ck, it is "assumption"