German point of view

[Andreas]

New Guy here

For a better understanding of religious People from US i have chosen this Forum here, hoping the majority of Users are from te US . Working near a US Army Installation here in Germany i am dealing with a lot of people from the US asking me Questions about this and that on a Daily basis. 
I am glad to help in any way i can - but today i a Family of 5 was in our Shop, getting their car released after shipping from the US and after that asking me about where they can go " for Sunday Service"
Sooo,i did not get that straight right away, telling them almost all stores in Germany are closed sundays ....
The Women than said " no, i mean church service "
I did not know what to answer, me knowing nothing about churches, not even where one might be located. I did a quick google search - in german language - just to see that the next church still operating is about one hour drive from here.
" how can that be ? " She said - with a disappointed look on her face...." You should know better ! "
When i told her that i really dont know, that i have never been to a church nor i do know people who have been or wich i can ask....
They all left te Office mumbling to eachother....

Now i begin to understand that this might be an issue for a lot of people from the US.

[Angrboda]

Here in the U.S., you can't swing a dead cat but it intersects with a church. What proportion of them have closed in recent years, I couldn't tell you, but it's increasing.

[Fireball]

A lot of military personnel come from red states (here, that means supporting Republicans, which are politically right-leaning). And a lot of those people will be religious. It's typical for those who are deeply religious to ask for your religious affiliation, and shame you if you are not a believer. #uglyamericans

[brewer]

I believe that most all US military bases have religious chapels and some form of clergy/religions support officers. Probably the best response is to direct them back to their contacts at the base.

[Andreas]

A lot of military personnel come from red states (here, that means supporting Republicans, which are politically right-leaning). And a lot of those people will be religious. It's typical for those who are deeply religious to ask for your religious affiliation, and shame you if you are not a believer. #uglyamericans

I believe that most all US military bases have religious chapels and some form of clergy/religions support officers. Probably the best response is to direct them back to their contacts at the base.

Maybe i was a bit too surprised tat people start tis topic in a non private environment, as long i can remember i never heard people talking about religious questions in public....

@ brewer :

That sounds like a good idea, will do exactly that the next time ! Thanks !

( btw, its a strange concept for me that anything religious is allowed to happen on government property, as fa as i know we have regulations in 15 of 16 federal states that bans the use of religious symbols in federal , state, and community buildings...)

[arewethereyet]

It's common, especially in the American South, to meet someone new and their first question is something along the lines of -Who is your church family. It's a thing and it's annoying.

[Nay_Sayer]

gutentag and welcome to forum

[Deesse23]

Moin Andreas

[Thumpalumpacus]

Wait, don't we already have our quota German?

Anyway, hiya and welcome, Andreas.

I believe that most all US military bases have religious chapels and some form of clergy/religions support officers. Probably the best response is to direct them back to their contacts at the base.

Exactly.

[Deesse23]

Cant go wrong with having a spare one.