May 10, 2006
NO PRAYER, NO EUROPE:
Does God have a prayer in Europe? (Tom Hundley, 5/10/06, Chicago Tribune)
From Ireland to Italy, church attendance across Europe is down drastically, and apart from Western Europe's rapidly growing Muslim communities and the staunch piety of Poles in the east, religion as a moral force in public life continues to wane.By all accounts, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is a devout Christian. But when Blair recently told a TV interviewer that his religious faith informed his world view, he was lampooned and lambasted from the left and right. The message for British politicians was clear: If you have a religious urge, keep it in the closet.
Europeans and Americans share a civilization and many values. But in matters of faith and religion, Europe and the United States appear to be headed in opposite directions.
...and into opposition to one another. To pretend that Europe can be secular and still be said to share our civilization is obvious nonsense. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 10, 2006 9:23 AM
There seems to be a great "business model" in for American Christians. Mixing early retirement with tourism and "mission work" in Europe.
Talk to youth about Christ during the day, while sipping wine on the Danube in the evening.
Life is good.
Posted by: Bruno at May 10, 2006 10:28 AMThe pentecostal church my parents attend plans on building 5 churches in 10 years, starting in Scotland.
They're hungry there and looking for guidance.
It's going to be a shock to the elderly, though.
We're about ready to shake them up again.
Posted by: Sandy P at May 10, 2006 2:19 PMI should say, IIRC, that the Irish guy they sent over couldn't make it to the church on time, so he started his preaching on the streetcorner. By the end, he had a big crowd.
They should build the church next to a mosque and pipe out the songs they sing.
Posted by: Sandy P at May 10, 2006 2:21 PMIn Belgium, they are turning churches into mosques.
Posted by: ic at May 10, 2006 4:32 PMPhony aristocrats steeped in the double-speak diplomatese and the mullahs. Talk about odd couples.
Posted by: erp at May 10, 2006 5:17 PMa bit over the top reaction there guys.
firstly its not like religion is disappearing, instead religion is being (imo rightfully) consigned to the private part of peoples lives.
secondly we europeans have plenty experiance being defacto ruled by religion, and in my case in ireland that history is well within my living memory. my own opinion is that atleast 50% of all worship was done for the sake of "appearances". as i see it we are merely getting rid of that element of hypocrocy in religion.
i would take issue with equating relgion with civilization, civilization is far broader than a mere religion, or indeed a "moral code". i suspect that american and european though processes are quiet close but there is a large difference in how the world is percieved.
Posted by: oscar at May 12, 2006 4:13 PMIreland is American as regards religion, not European.
Posted by: oj at May 12, 2006 4:18 PM