[Culturechat] Church and community in Europe

Thu, 3 Jan 2002 13:11:39 EST

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Recently I've been in discussion with some friends about churchgoing habits 
in the USA vs those in Western Europe.  Surveys show, I believe, that among 
those of the Christian faith, a much higher percentage attend regular 
services here than in Europe.  Our limited observations over there were that 
very few young people attend.  Other than for weddings (and funerals, I 
suppose) we saw mainly the ubiquitous old ladies entering the churches.  

I would be interested in Vance's views, as well as the observations of all 
others about the scene both at home and in Europe, on this. Some questions 
that come to mind are:

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?  
2.) What about in the big cities?  
3.) Does this differ for predominantly Catholic countries -- or for those 
formerly behind the Iron Curtain?  
4.) Does much evangelizing go on -- at least among the Protestants?  
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?  

Irv Smith
Missouri City TX

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<HTML>Recently I've been in discussion with some friends about churchgoing habits in the USA vs those in Western Europe.&nbsp; Surveys show, I believe, that among those of the Christian faith, a much higher percentage attend regular services here than in Europe.&nbsp; Our limited observations over there were that very few young people attend.&nbsp; Other than for weddings (and funerals, I suppose) we saw mainly the ubiquitous old ladies entering the churches.&nbsp; 
 
I would be interested in Vance's views, as well as the observations of all others about the scene both at home and in Europe, on this. Some questions that come to mind are: 
 
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?&nbsp; 
2.) What about in the big cities?&nbsp; 
3.) Does this differ for predominantly Catholic countries -- or for those formerly behind the Iron Curtain?&nbsp; 
4.) Does much evangelizing go on -- at least among the Protestants?&nbsp; 
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?&nbsp; 
 
Irv Smith 
Missouri City TX</HTML>

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