Sad but true. The one city I know well is Prague--zlata, stovezata Praha. Like Rome, you can scarcely throw a brick without hitting a church. But the only people who go in those churches anymore are Japanese touists, elderly Czech women, and crazy Americans like me. Of course, the Czech Republic is an especially secular place, sort of like Sweden. It's been that way for a century now.
Still, it's an amazingly beautiful place. If you can love a city like a woman, that's the way I loved Prague.
Yes. I have also spent a bit of time in Europe and her cathedrals are among my favorite places to visit. They speak of a different age now become little more than museums in most places.
Not too long ago, I was in Canterbury at the Cathedral. Simply magnificant! But when the hourly prayers were read by the vicar, it was no different than somebody reading a laundry list of artifacts. It was pure rote. The tourists were hushed for a moment, but nobody else was there to actually participate, just gawkers paying their fee and coming only to stare at the stained glass and handiwork. It was just depressing, depressing like a cold, dead thing.
On the other hand when I attend my church here in America, it invigorates the soul and is full of life, preaching, enthusiastic singing, and the Spirit of God.
God does not push Himself upon us, but goes where He is welcomed. In much of Europe, He is not welcomed but scorned. But in those places - even in Europe - where He is welcomed, He gladly goes.