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Losing Faith: Germany’s Christian Population Declining at Record Rate
Pravmir ^ | 7/22/17

Posted on 07/24/2017 9:00:55 PM PDT by marshmallow

The number of Christians in Germany decreased dramatically in 2016, largely driven by demographic changes, the German press reports.

The number of Catholics and Protestants in Germany sank to a new low in 2016, with the latter hemorrhaging almost 1.6 percent of members in comparison with the previous year, according to recently released figures.

According to the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD), at the end of 2016 there were around 22 million evangelicals in Germany. Demographics played the biggest factor in the change: in 2016, approximately 340,000 evangelicals passed away while there were just 180,000 baptisms. Some 190,000 people left the church and just 25,000 people chose to join it, the German newspaper Die Zeit reported.

A similar situation is seen in the Catholic Church, which lost 162,093 members last year, as reported at the German Bishop’s Conference in Bonn on Friday. However, the Church took solace in the fact that the rate of decline has slowed from the 181,925 loss that it suffered in 2015.

While the number of people describing themselves as Christian declined, the number of regular churchgoers also decreased. In 2015, 10.4 percent of Catholics attended a weekly church service, which declined to 10.2 percent in 2016, or 2.4 million people.

The Catholic Church numbered around 23.6 million followers last year, slightly more than the 21.9 million evangelicals. Including Orthodox Christians and other smaller churches, the proportion of German Christians was 58.3 percent. This figure has been steadily decreasing in recent years. In 2012, 62 percent of Germans were Christian and in 2013 the proportion was 61.6 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at pravmir.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture
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1 posted on 07/24/2017 9:00:55 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

When the cold war was at arguably its most dangerous, and many Christians were under the thumb of Soviet Communism, the Church answered the call and gave us John Paul II. We are in an equally dangerous, maybe more dangerous place in history, and need the same kind of spiritual leadership.


2 posted on 07/24/2017 9:40:00 PM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: neverevergiveup

Good point.

Saint John Paul The Great was a man who provided inspirational spiritual leadership in his time.

I daresay that Pope Francis is no Saint John Paul The Great.

Such leadership will need to be found elsewhere in these times.


3 posted on 07/24/2017 9:47:43 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: marshmallow

i used to think that people drifted away from churches and synagogues because they came to question certain theological doctrines

which they do... but I now see that many people leave...and would stay away even if the churches were to change their theologies completely around or let parishioners believe whatever they want

the problem is that churches and synagogues carry a MORAL message for daily life, too. THIS is the issue. More and more people want to do whatever they feel like....without being told that certain things are off limits or should limited or only done in certain ways. If you’ve ever had a 3 or 4 year old child you’ll understand this “I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it in the manner I want to do it, now...and I don’t want anyone telling me otherwise” attitude. It is a 3 year old mentality (in adult bodies, but still a very immature and completely self-centered attitude)

Trinitarian or Unitarian, Blessed Virgin Mary or just a nice Jewish mama, God Incarnate or just another well-intentioned Jewish rabbi running around Israel/Judaea, resurrection or just someone moved the body.............all the doctrines are NOT the main issue. The main issue is that many people nowadays resent and do not want any moral guidance or “parenting” of any kind. “If it feels good, let’s do it in the grass”

I have no idea how to remedy this...any constructive ideas will be MOST welcome


4 posted on 07/24/2017 10:40:51 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicans are not born, they're excreted." -- Marcus Tillius Cicero)
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To: marshmallow
"In 2015, 10.4 percent of Catholics might be able to actually call themselves Catholic since they attended a weekly church service"

Fixed
5 posted on 07/25/2017 2:19:37 AM PDT by ReaganGeneration2
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To: neverevergiveup

How can the Church compete with Islam, Latte Coffee and Smartphones?

Europe is not yet dead but it is approaching a comatose state and when the time is ripe and the Islamic Trojan Horse opens up (fully - where not there yet) they will have nothing to fall back on except Espresso machines...


6 posted on 07/25/2017 2:27:12 AM PDT by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: Netz

>How can the Church compete with Islam, Latte Coffee and Smartphones?

They could rediscover their roots as a masculine religion of patriarchs instead of the soft leftist famine religion they’ve become.

Islam is growing by leaps and bounds in Europe, not just from immigration. The primary converts to Islam are western women searching for masculine men to marry.


7 posted on 07/25/2017 2:32:51 AM PDT by JohnyBoy
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To: faithhopecharity
People have been pounded with anti-G-d, anti-religion doctrine since the end of WWII. It's possible that there was a crisis of faith due directly to the war.

Communism, Socialism, Atheism and Humanism swept the Western world as well.

The Jews asked themselves, where was G-d when His people were being gassed. So then they said, the heck with the synagogue.

Christianity has undergone massive attacks as well and has not answered the call. The opposite is true. All the sex sandals in the Church have blown away support.

It takes a lot of work for Jews to observe the “Mitzvot” or commandments on a daily basis.
It takes a lot of work for a Christian to function as a Christian under constant ridicule and scorn.

Islam on the other hand DEMANDS absolute surrender amd personal freedom. One must SUBMIT or die. It's easy to see why they are a growing faith...

The answer to the West's problems is to adapt. That means bringing Judaism or Christianity forward but not necessarily meaning they support things which are an anathema to them, such as LGBT Rabbis or Ministers.

There has to be a better way of bringing Judeo-Christian values back into play. I guess it starts at home, with the individual working on his/her self and living by example.

8 posted on 07/25/2017 2:37:54 AM PDT by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: JohnyBoy

Yes, after Western women emasculated their men they were appalled.

Now they look for rough and tumble, bearded men who will abuse them....go figure.


9 posted on 07/25/2017 2:41:14 AM PDT by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: JohnyBoy

Yes, after Western women emasculated their men they were appalled.

Now they look for rough and tumble, bearded men who will abuse them....go figure.


10 posted on 07/25/2017 2:41:15 AM PDT by Netz ( and looking for a way ti IMPROVE mankind.)
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To: marshmallow

The State churches are in a death spiral. Catholic, Protestant, ect. are all losing members. Some of it is because of the tax. The Free Churches (of which I seem to remember that there are a few Catholic ones), are gaining in many places.

Overall a decline. People are not even pretending anymore. But the remnant is strong.


11 posted on 07/25/2017 5:39:16 AM PDT by redgolum
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To: marshmallow

The horror here is that the non practicing Christians will help the muslim animals eat up Eurostan and destroy the whole continent including the faithful Christians. By 2030 they will all be hiding in basements.


12 posted on 07/25/2017 5:41:28 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: marshmallow

the mainline churches in germany are declining and really dead, actually. they are much further along than the mainline protestant churches in the usa.
however the small evangelical congregations in germany are healthy an growing as they are in the USA.

However, the overall numbers of real christians in germany are just too small effect events there.


13 posted on 07/25/2017 7:38:34 AM PDT by ckilmer (q e)
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To: marshmallow

I fail to see what difference it makes how many Christians there are.

If there are a hundred million or just a hundred when it all comes to an end will be all the same, the believers will be saved.

Many will be called but few chosen.


14 posted on 07/25/2017 11:45:34 AM PDT by ravenwolf (If the Bible does not say it in plain words, please don`t preach it to me.)
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