[Culturechat] Re: Church and community in Europe

[Vance Roy]

Interesting questions. I can only speak for Sachseln where I live, and
probably even then, with only some ideas and no proof.

In CH, church attendance has steadily fallen over the years. There is
also an under supply of ministers, priests, nuns, and the monks most of
all. I think the youngest monk in Sarnen is in his fifties. I won't
elaborate the possible reasons for the decrease in clergy, but the drop
in church attendance is not due to that. I am not sure, but it is my
impression, that on a percentage basis, the protestants are better at
going to church than the catholics. This is surprising to me because
Obwalden is a catholic kanton.

By catholic kanton, I mean that religion is a part of the school system.
All children, unless they specifically opt out, are exposed to the
catechism in school. I do know that children are a rarity in the local
catholic church except when the Sunday for first communion arrives. The
local protestant church is in Sarnen with a minister who circuit rides
between the church there, Alpnach, and Giswil. This church has a lot of
young people and children. I would say the majority are of those age
groups. Why? I don't know.


 >
 > 1.) Is the church truly the social center of a small European village
 > such as it might be (and certainly was a century ago) in Small Town,
 > America?

It is to some. It is often the cultural center.

 > 2.) What about in the big cities?

Don't know, but I would bet that it is even  more evident there that the 
churches are looked upon as cultural centers, not only for religion.

 > 3.) Does this differ for predominantly Catholic countries -- or for
 > those formerly behind the Iron Curtain?

Really don't know about this. I have been to tiny churches that were 
packed and cathedrals that were mostly empty. May be that this a 
function of the space and not actual numbers.

 > 4.) Does much evangelizing go on -- at least among the Protestants?

Probably around here, the opposite is true. I think the priests make 
hospital rounds, whereas, the protestant minister comes if called. This 
may be just him. I think religious guidance is left more to the parents 
than the church.

 > 5.) And, is it thought that some of those Europeans who do attend
 > services of any sort do so more for social reasons rather than spiritual
 > fulfillment -- as some members of our churches are accused of doing?

Speaking only for myself, I can say that when I go to the church here, 
it is a social or cultural thing. No surprise to some who know me, but I 
speak with God a lot better on my balcony or in the hikes to the high 
places than I do in a church. Others do as they wish. Having said that, 
I hope we don't get caught up in any soul saving here. I abhor 
proselytizing in any form. I know that there are some older folks who, 
as they seen the evening of life approaching, decide they had better get 
all the bases covered. I hope this doesn't happen to me, as I do not 
think the Boss is going to be happy when I compromise my principles.


Vance Roy
gigli.saw@dplanet.ch.