[kromike]

Perhaps, but methinks the Germans have found religion only because they're faced with that Thin-skinned, perpetual-grievance Death Cult known as Islam.

[zerosix]

Doesn't answer it all.

Merkle was born and grew up in East Germany under the Godless Communism. After the fall of the Wall, Christian Missionaries have been flocking inside, (as well as to other Soviet satellites) thus generations born after Stalin takeover, who never had been exposed to faith except faith of government (which they new was never to be trusted) embraced not only freedom and democratic forms of government but also are flocking to Evangelical congregations springing up as a result of American Evangelical Missionaries.

These are the people and countries that President Bush refers to as "The New Europe" as opposed to "The Old (still atheistic) Europe.

[RightWhale]

Same as in America, religion is still there, the churches are still there. The infrastructure has been maintained for the day that everybody looks up from their TV football games and notices the building over there and asks what that is.

[Chaguito]

Better than nothing. The threat of violent death, out of my control, has a way of making people see that God is better (especially in the long term = ¥) than people, especially "thin-skinned, perpetual- grievance Death Cult" people