In the US, a battle is still raging over the sanctity of life, the right to speak about and post God's name in public buildings and institutions, the right to broadcast and propagate pornography etc.
In Europe, the patient is comatose. There never was a fight. It surrendered gladly. In the US, the patient is strapped to a bed and an executioner stands over her with a needle poised to deliver the same narcotic which has subdued Europe but she refuses to be still. She is still kicking and screaming.
One minor point. The author does not distinguish between Eastern and Western Europe. This article really applies to the west. I believe that the east, which suffered under atheistic persecution for three quarters of a century is a different story. In time, I believe that missionaries from the formerly atheistic east will re-evangelize the newly atheistic west.
Very good article.
Implied at the end of the article (and very true): The decline of Christianity is one of the reasons the Muslims have decided NOW is the time to make their move.
Baker added, "I've had people tell me, when they come off the plane getting into Belgium, it's as if there are spiritual hands around their throat. They just can't seem to breathe. It's a very heavy, heavy thing, a hopelessness."
Wow. That was the impression I had when I was there.
Very opressive and ugly Soviet style artwork on buildings, especially around the city of Shape.
"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
"Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures."
Romans 1 is often used dealing with homosexuality, but it is so much more than that - it explains the depravity and inevitable degression in a culture that apostasy leads to.
Bump.
Elgood said, "I actually think we don't understand it [American Christianity] at all, and it's one of these gaps between our cultures, that actually leaves us scratching our heads at each other. We don't understand it. It hasn't been a part of our life here for 40 years."
It hasn't been a part of their lives for far more than 40 years, it also accounts for the decline in Euro wealth and power and France's quips about our "primitive notions of morality". Europe has entered a dark age of animal/humanism, and is ripe to fulfill the prophecies of the last days. The previous president of the E.U. made the statement that the EU needs a leader of such magnatism and persuasive abilities that be he the devil or God they would follow him.
He will get his wish, no doubt about it.
The Belgian businessman he speaks of at the end understands life at a profound level. Without the God of the Bible there is NO hope!
It's time to write off Western Europe. If it can't make even an effort to save itself, no one else can save it.
This would be the best time to clear out the museums and cathedrals and send their contents here, before the Muslims destroy their contents as "infidel graven images and sorcery".
Makes sense to me. The Namby-pamby, I'm-ok-you're-ok, kumbaya churches that comprise most of the major denominations attract no one. They're convinced that they are far more suitable for the modern world than those which maintain their rigid old ways, and no plummetting attendance figures will convince them otherwise.
Along comes Islam, which takes itself seriously. The contrast is pretty clear. You'll not find God in a Church that is so obsessed with fitting into the modern world that God becomes their secondary concern.
Nietzsche pronounced his death a little more than a century ago, and as far as his Europe was concerned, he was right.
"There is a real worry that if Europe tires of this spiritual chaos, then the religion they will turn to is Islam"
Oh please. No atheist or agnostic is going to choose the ignorant shackles of Islam. No European woman will choose Islam as her solution to 'hopelessness'.
While there appears to be a ton of Muslims in Europe (no argument there), the opinion that non-Muslims will rush to convert is ridiculous.
Maybe the Europeans should apply for US statehood. That's what would give them hope. They are corrupt people living in a corrupt system with no faith in themselves or their historical achievements or the God of their ancestors. That's pretty pathetic.
Sad but true. Just got back from Europe. My observations just that. The church I visited in Vienna was 1/3 Austrian, 1/3 African, and 1/3 Filipino. But the Sunday School was only about 10% Austrian.
In France I listened in astonishment as a pastor told me about applying for a building permit for a new church building as they had outgrown their old one. It was the first new church build in that area in 200 years, since before the revolution that killed what there had been of Christianity in France.
There are a few flickering flames left. But the smothering feeling is very real. I have never felt such darkness. Not in Africa, not in South America, not in Asia.
Maybe Africa can send them some missionaries.