Why is Europe seen as a particularly difficult terrain?
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Though there have been periods of great growth since WWII, most churches are still quite small.
As you know, most European countries were, at one time, governed by royal families. Much of their authority came from organized religion. When the French “secularized” during their revolution (1789), enlightenment had forcefully intruded upon Europe. It was out with tyranny and out with organized religion. In many ways, royalty was not the only victim of newfound freedom. God (as viewed by many) was dethroned too.
Interpreted through the Enlightenment, religion had brought the people wars, feudal societies, the darkness of superstition and enslavement to tyranny.
A century of “freedom” brought about the same problems as before, though much magnified. Empires collided in World War I, spurred by survival for some (France and Belgium), “God and country” for others (England). The USA was mostly spared the horrors of that war. The European intellectuals who had discarded God now claimed that his “absence” (how could a loving God—even a rejected god, at that—permit such a thing?) was proof of his non-existence.
Communism and fascism spread across Europe (not just Russia and the Axis), the one denying the existence of God and the other using him (in Germany) to defend nationalism. Once again, on its own territory, the USA was largely spared the horrors of war. Existentialism grew out of the European ashes. The war had proven, once again, that God was dead and that, above all, fanaticism must be avoided at all costs. Tolerance became the chief virtue. There was no room for absolutes for they lead but to destruction.
As you know, most European countries were, at one time, governed by royal families. Much of their authority came from organized religion. When the French “secularized” during their revolution (1789), enlightenment had forcefully intruded upon Europe. It was out with tyranny and out with organized religion. In many ways, royalty was not the only victim of newfound freedom. God (as viewed by many) was dethroned too.
Interpreted through the Enlightenment, religion had brought the people wars, feudal societies, the darkness of superstition and enslavement to tyranny.
A century of “freedom” brought about the same problems as before, though much magnified. Empires collided in World War I, spurred by survival for some (France and Belgium), “God and country” for others (England). The USA was mostly spared the horrors of that war. The European intellectuals who had discarded God now claimed that his “absence” (how could a loving God—even a rejected god, at that—permit such a thing?) was proof of his non-existence.
Communism and fascism spread across Europe (not just Russia and the Axis), the one denying the existence of God and the other using him (in Germany) to defend nationalism. Once again, on its own territory, the USA was largely spared the horrors of war. Existentialism grew out of the European ashes. The war had proven, once again, that God was dead and that, above all, fanaticism must be avoided at all costs. Tolerance became the chief virtue. There was no room for absolutes for they lead but to destruction.
