Post-Christian Europe at Risk

This article from Brussels Journal deals with the apparent collapse of European society from within, as Europe leaves its Christianity behind:

"By subverting the roots of its own Judeo-Christian culture – a process that started with the French Enlightenment (as opposed to the Scottish Enlightenment, which was not anti-religious) – a religious and cultural vacuum was created at the heart of European civilization. The collapse of faith in its own values has, not surprisingly, led to a demographic collapse because a civilization that no longer believes in its own future also rejects procreation. Today, a new religion and culture is supplanting the old one. There is little one can do about it, but hope for a miracle."

"In Europe a secularized post-Christian culture is facing a Muslim one. The secularized culture is hedonist and values only its present life, because it does not believe in an afterlife. This is why it will surrender when threatened with death because life is the only thing it has to lose. This is why it will accept submission without fighting for its freedom. Nobody fights for the flag of hedonism, not even the hedonists themselves."

"....America, unlike secular Europe, has remained rooted to a larger extent in traditional Christian values. I do not doubt that if these values continue to decline in the U.S., American culture will collapse as European culture and civilisation have collapsed. However, America can learn from the impending European catastrophe, and avoid a similar fate."

I do wonder why Christianity has apparently largely died out in Europe.  It seems that the great cathedrals in France are thronged with tourists, but not with worshippers going to Mass, much like the beautiful cathedrals in Montreal.  Does this decline in religiosity reflect a fundamental weakness in the religion?  How will Christianity survive another millenium? Will Christianity light up again somewhere else in the world?  Once a society is post-Christian, is there anything that can bring it back? 

I think that Christianity (and its predecessor- if that's the right word- Judaism) are the very backbone and nerve system of our modern civilization.  But the secular folk, the "progressive humanists" so absorbed in their self-actualization, seem ignorant of the contributions of Judaism and Christianity to the modern world.  The way we think, what we value, how we structure our government, how we conduct business, if we feel a twinge when we tell a lie, the kinds of art we create, the music we listen to - these things didn't come from secularism or paganism, they came from the Church.  While non-religious people are only too eager to tally the misdeeds of the Church over it long history, they  are oblivious and unappreciative of its many contribution to the modern world and their very own free-thinking mindset.   

Comments

[arturo paulino]

I love this article. We are getting ready to serve in Rome, IT as missionaries and the christian vacuum has become more and more evident to us. Great article!

[Miss Kelly]

Thanks for coming by the blog. I hope you have a wonderful time in Rome! Good luck and God bless!