« Robertson's Ignorant Remarks Caused by God’s Wrath | Main | What's so hard about being a Christian? »
January 09, 2006
Is God dead in Europe?
From USA Today; 1.9.2006
By James P. Gannon
Two snapshots from a recent tourist trip to Europe: We are in Prague, the lovely and lively capital of the Czech Republic, where the bars and cafes are full, the glitzy crystal and art shops are busy, and the dozens of historic cathedrals and churches are largely empty - except for gawking tourists snapping photos. In The Prague Post, an English-language weekly newspaper, a front-page article reports, in titillating detail, how the city has become Europe's new capital for pornographic filmmaking, while an op-ed examines why only 19% of the people in this once-religious country believe that God exists.
Change the scene to Rome. We are at the Vatican, swimming in a sea of 150,000 people waiting in St. Peter's Square for Pope Benedict XVI to appear at a special celebration for Catholic children who have made their first communion in the past year. Rock bands and kids' choirs entertain the faithful until a roar sweeps through the crowd at the first sighting of the "Popemobile," carrying the waving, white-robed Benedict down barricaded lanes through the throng. The crowd goes wild.
For an American Catholic visitor, Europe is a puzzling and sometimes discouraging place these days. Is God dead here? Many signs suggest that Europeans think so.
Decline in attendance
"Common wisdom has it that alcoholics outnumber practicing Christians and that more Czechs believe in UFOs than believe in God - and common wisdom may be correct," wrote Nate and Leah Seppanen Anderson in a Prague Post commentary; he's a freelance writer, and she's a political science professor at Wheaton College in Illinois and a specialist in Czech politics and society. Surveys show a sharp decline in church attendance and religious practice in most European countries. A series of Eurobarometer surveys since 1970 in five key countries (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy) shows that regular church attendance fell from about 40% of the population to about half that figure. Declines were sharpest in predominantly Catholic nations.
Even so, how do we account for the extraordinary outpouring of grief at Pope John Paul II's death in April and the enthusiasm that his successor seems to evoke? Are these mere public spectacles, signifying nothing about Europe's drift from its religious roots, or are they signs of yearning for something more than peace, prosperity and la dolce vita?
As only an occasional visitor to Europe, I claim no expertise in these matters. But some who do see the emergence of a post-Christian era in Europe that has profound consequences for the continent and perhaps is an ominous portend for the United States. Where Europe has gone, America could be going - and that is a prospect that is frightening Christians and sharpening the religious divide in this country.
Western Europe, the cradle of modern Christianity, has become a "post-Christian society" in which the ruling class and cultural leaders are anti-religious or "Christophobic," writes George Weigel, a Catholic columnist and U.S. biographer of Pope John Paul II. In his new book, The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God, he argues that religious differences help explain the policy tensions between Europe and the United States.
"It would be too simple to say that the reason Americans and Europeans see the world so differently is that the former go to church on Sundays and the latter don't," Weigel writes. "But it would also be a grave mistake to think that the dramatic differences in religious belief and practice in the United States and Europe don't have something important to do with those different perceptions of the world - and the different policies to which those perceptions eventually lead."
A fierce controversy over any mention of Europe's Christian heritage erupted in 2004 when officials were drafting a constitution for the European Union, Weigel notes.
Any mention of the continent's religious past or contributions of Christian culture - in a preface citing the sources of Europe's distinct civilization - would be exclusionary and offensive to non-Christians, many argued. Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who presided over the process, summed up the dominant view: "Europeans live in a purely secular political system, where religion does not play an important role."
'Demographic suicide'
Among the consequences of Europe's abandonment of its religious roots and the moral code that derives therefrom is a plunge in its birth rates to below the replacement level. Abortion, birth control, acceptance of gay marriage and casual sex are driving the trend. Europe is "committing demographic suicide, systematically depopulating itself," according to Weigel.
United Nations population statistics back him up.
Not a single Western European country has a fertility rate sufficient to replace the current population, which demographers say requires 2.1 children per family. Germany, Russia, Spain, Poland and Italy all have rates of about 1.3 children, according to the U.N. The Czech Republic's is less than 1.2, and even Roman Catholic Ireland is at 1.9 children. (The U.S. rate, which has remained stable, is slightly more than 2 children per woman.)
Fifteen countries, "mostly located in Southern and Eastern Europe, have reached levels of fertility unprecedented in human history," according to the U.N.'s World Population Prospects 2004 revision.
As children grow scarce and longevity increases in Europe, the continent is becoming one vast Leisure World. By 2050, the U.N. projects, more than 40% of the people in Italy will be 60 or older. By mid-century, populations in 25 European nations will be lower than they are now; Russia will lose 31 million people, Italy 7.2 million, Poland 6.6 million and Germany 3.9 million. So Europe is abandoning religion, growing older, shrinking and slowly killing itself. These are signs of a society in eclipse - the Roman Empire writ large. Is this any model for America?
In his 2001 book, The Death of the West, conservative commentator Patrick Buchanan argues that a European-style "de-Christianization of America" is the goal of many liberals - and they are succeeding.
Court decisions that have banned school-sponsored prayer, removed many Nativity scenes from public squares, and legalized gay marriage are part of that pattern, as is the legal effort to erase "In God We Trust" from U.S. currency and "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Europe is showing us where this path leads. It is not the right path for America.
James P. Gannon is a retired journalist and author of A Life in Print: Selections from the Work of a Reporter, Columnist and Editor.
Posted by at January 9, 2006 08:47 AM
Comments
I have just read the article entitled "Is God dead in Europe ? " and I think some precise points need particular attention.
As an 18 year-old French christian who studies English and American culture at university (please forgive me if I make mistakes for I am not fluent)I have often been lead to think of the obvious differences between the american and european's conceptions of religion, belief, and Christianity.I don't claim to have an entire and complete knowledge about this complex matter nor do I pretend not to be influenced by my cultural background but I definitively think that this article lacks a deeper and wider sense of analysis.
Indeed,it is certainly accurate to say that there is a kind of fear and even disgust towards religious beliefs developping in most Western European countries. People don't talk about God much and it is hard not to notice your classmates'ironic smiles when you 'confess' your christian faith.This might be due to the historical misbehavings of the Catholic church that really established the concept of religion as a fake empty and profit making institution(I guess this is a very important idea in France ).Nevertheless, I don't think we could claim ( as the journalist does here)that there is a direct link between European countries'growing "immorality" (a notion that would also need to be debated) and the decrease of practising christians or practising members of other religions.First of all because such a statement undoubtedly questions the possibility of being able to be a good and healthy human being without beliving in God ( everybody shares the same values whether people are religious or not ) as well as the existence of christians who don't belong to any community and don't go to church (which must be a difficult thing to grasp for Americans ).Therefore we can't really assure Religion is totally dead in Europe,it may be truer to say the former way of refering to religion is being by a new one, less attached to rites and community sense.Moreover, what does the increase of 'immorality 'and the decrease of big families have to do with Religion ? These are the matters of all the develloped countries, they are not specific to Europe.
There is also something to be said about Europe being deprived of links between Politics and Religion: this separation ( which has been official in France since 1905) doesn't prevent anybody from believing in what they want. On the contrary, it makes sure that every faith is tolerated. I am Christian and I personnaly think a capitalist government can't really be a Christian government and that it's pretty dangerous to be willing to change society imposing our faith to the others.Christianity should struggle against this profit making system, this poverty and inequality making system instead of compromising with political leaders or unfair economical plans.Being Christian means resisting.
Posted by: El Khaffafi Alia at January 22, 2006 06:51 AM
I'm a French-Canadian (so mabye some spelling errors), and I have to say that what this author is saying is absolutely true. In my country, Christianities roots have been shrinking for some time. The Anglican church projects that by the year 2065, they will have 1 member left if current trends continue. I have to say that I believe that the reason that the Western world has drifted so far from Christianity is due to the realitivism derived from the 18th century. The idea that a countries native religion can thrive in a staunchly secular environment is flawed. Whether or not people want to believe it, hard-secularism implicitly suffocates religion. Christianity is a religion that requires a person to constantly live and breath it. In an environment though, where its traditional avenues of growth have been stomped out ie school, culture (multiculture), and the so called inclusive community, its impossible for it to thrive. This stomping out of Christianity has ultimately been brought about by realitivism and secular/atheism. It is very interesting though to fathom the implications of Christianities shrinking roots in Europe combined with self-inflicted genocide. Its also interesting that this event coincides with Europe becoming ever more irrelevant in the world(perhapes the EU fiasco is an attempt to postpone the inevitable). And off topic, the reason why muslims are appear so unsupportive of the Wests effort to spread democracy is that muslims know that realitivism will ultimately break the back of Islam the same way Christianities has been broken in the West.
Posted by: Dan at February 15, 2006 12:21 AM
I remember feeling the same when I was in Edinburgh. The sight of hundreds of old soot covered cathedrals reminded me of the faithfulness of missionaries that ventured to our part of the world (Singapore) in centuries past to bring us the good news of Jesus. I owe my salvation to our brothers-in-Christ from Europe.
But in the midst of my sadness, the Lord assured me that He is still the Lord and still in absolute control. It took 5000 years for the world to witness the birth of the savior. Now 2000 years later, we are awaiting his return. God works in mysterious ways -- and I might add-- usually slower then we like.
While Christianity is dying in Europe, it is flourishing in our part of the world especially countries like China and even in muslim dominated countries like Indonesia. In fact there are now Chinese preachers bringing the fire of the Spirt to Europe. There are Nigerian preachers bringing the Word of God to South East Asia. There will come a time when every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. And we shall behold Him in all His Glory. Yes even in Europe. Praise the Lord.
Posted by: Leslie Tay at February 21, 2006 07:47 AM
Jesus is not the lord. There is no lord and there never will be and the sooner people come to realize that the sooner the world will be a better place to live in.
Why is everyone so easily brainwashed? Religion is the only thing in life people accept without a shred of proof.
I honestly can't understand how supposedly intelligent people can believe in such sillyness and waste such a large amount of time following a myth.
Posted by: a at June 21, 2006 11:22 AM
TELL ME THIS IF GOD EXISTED HOW THEN CAN THE EARTH CONTAIN CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TEMPATURES TO SUSTAIN HUMAN LIFE. YOU SEE THE EARTH WAS CREATED IN 7 DAYS ARE REALLY METOPHORICALLY! IN GOD'S TIME HE MAY CREATED IN 7 BILLION YEARS! IF GOD DIDN'T EXIST THEN OUR SOULS DON'T EXIST? CAN YOU EXPLAIN HUMAN EMOTIONS? IF GOD DIDN'T EXIST THEN HOW CAN HUMAN BEINGS ARE ONE OF THE SMARTEST CREATURE IN THE PLANET? IF GOD DIDN'T EXIST THEN HOW AMAZINGLY DID WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN ADVANCEMENT TO CREATE MEDICINES TO CURE SICKNESS TO GO INTO OUTER SPACES? CAN HUMAN BEINGS DO THINGS IN THEIR OWN?
Posted by: Mark at June 19, 2007 12:38 AM
After a brief visit to Europe, it's easy to understand how and why the citizens are duped or taught (by the state based upon history) fall away from God.
Jesus is Lord, and he love's you even though you reject Him.
The Catholic church could fix this, but they would loose their funding in Europe. Now that is evil.
Pray to a Pope? Wow. How ignorant can you be about what the good book teaches.
Read, learn and love. It's your only hope.
GB
Posted by: Faithful at October 4, 2007 10:59 PM
