A great article....

http://apnews.excite.com/article/2013031...7K301.html

Quote:Across large swaths of Europe, empty pews and empty pulpits are the stark reality of centuries-old churches in a continent where, not so long ago, the village spire was the main point of reference for society. In Italy, the Vatican's own backyard, being Catholic often seems more a cultural trait than a way of worship. Traditionally Catholic France and Ireland are also turning away from the church. Even in deeply devout Poland, the nation of the widely beloved Pope John Paul II, faith is starting to waver.

Of course, there are still some catholics who still hang on to the old delusions.

Quote:"For the first time in decades we have someone with a new outlook on the world," he said. "We haven't had that in a long time."

A- They said the same shit when Herr Von Popenfuhrer took over from the Pollack and,

B- This clown is the same old shit as all the rest of them.

Granted it doesn't take a lot to fool catholics but they do seem to be a dying breed.

Institutions will usually reform rather than die and usually won't reform until they face death. The RCC will be around for awhile yet, and although it probably won't regain everything it's lost, the new, improved version may be more stable. The worst-case scenario for the church is they wait too long and die of reform when they attempt it after the critical mass of people who crave reform have given up and left, or die a slower death of excess conservatism if they decide to hang on to what's left by not changing.

Yes, Christianity has withered in Europe. Question is, what will replace it - atheism or Islam?

(March 19, 2013 at 11:34 am)John V Wrote: Yes, Christianity has withered in Europe. Question is, what will replace it - atheism or Islam?

Going by numbers, atheism is clearly in the lead. There's no EU country more than half Muslim.

Religion has made itself irrelevant to modern life. No one - except the incredibly stupid - buys their happy horseshit any more.

Min, there are still too many of those "incredibly stupid" people around.

Time is helping....

(March 19, 2013 at 11:36 am)Mister Agenda Wrote: Going by numbers, atheism is clearly in the lead. There's no EU country more than half Muslim.

In the lead now, certainly. The question is really about birth rates and migration. Note that I plainly say question. I'm not making an argument one way or another, as there are just too many variables and no way to know whether current trends will continue.

let's see, what does atheists churches offer compared to belonging to a theists church.

"rich", less need for focusing on others and more on yourself.
"Poor" , less focus on me, and help us all.

List the risks vs. benefits, then decide for yourself
the word balance comes to mind.

me, being athiest, don't much care either way.

(March 20, 2013 at 12:09 pm)archangle Wrote: let's see, what does atheists churches offer compared to belonging to a theists church.

"rich", less need for focusing on others and more on yourself.
"Poor" , less focus on me, and help us all.

List the risks vs. benefits, then decide for yourself
the word balance comes to mind.

me, being athiest, don't much care either way.

Seriously, you are a christian passing for atheist, simply because you are fundamentally wrong about what atheism is, but for the nth time I'll repeat: Atheism is the rejection of claims that god or gods exist. That is all you can derive from that notion.