I heard something else that I found interesting in the lecture. The speaker was talking about the separation of church and state. He noted that in Europe, they have state churches and they are almost completely dead. Here in America there is a separation, and the level of people's religious activity is much higher in the states.
He suggests the reason for this is not the condition of the churches, but the state of politicians. He said that no one trusts politicians. The minute they get in the middle of something, it gets corrupted and people don't want to have anything to do with it anymore.
He suggested that if we created a God-centered state in America, that people would flee from it because the politicians would pollute it. He suggested that we celebrate our system as it is.
I am thinking about this.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Jeff: While it is true that State sponsored religion is dead/dying in Europe (for example the Anglicans in Great Britain), it is also true that Christianity in general is in extreme decline throughout Europe.
Europeans see Jesus as irrelevant and faith as a crutch. Secularism has completely won over European culture replacing Christianity as Europe's worldview.
And, as a result, thousands of empty churches litter the European landscape while their culture shifts evermore towards secularism. We know this to be true because we have traveled extensively in Europe over the last 10 years and have made it a point to attend church where we are on a Sunday morning.
Not only this but Islam is quickly replacing Christianity as minarets tower over church steeples from Hadrian's Wall to the beaches of Sicily.
I think there many forces at work here beyond that state sponsorship of of religion.
We might also include economic affluence, the sex scandals in the Catholic church, rapidly declining birth rate, fewer wars, vast increase in knowledge and intellectual achievement all come to mind.
Sadly, some of those forces are at work here in the United States as well.
I can't begin to describe the joy I have on a Sunday morning getting up and coming to church. WCC's focus on love and grace are truly an anchor in my life and the lives of many others. I pray a continued blessing on you and the staff at WCC for your dedication to the work of Jesus Christ. You've made an enormous difference in our faith community.
My view for whatever it is worth. Thank you for listening. :-)
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