Murder mystery: what killed Christianity in Europe?

[abaris]

Sexual revolution, apathy, cohort effect. The last two are the repeating pattern, the first was one of the predominant triggers - women taking control over their sexual health, and people generally not finding the stories of the church convincing mixed with a general sense of no fucks given either way. Conservatism went out of vogue and only now is the Anglican Church catching up. Apathy has been the death of the church in England and Wales, and will see some sects (eg - Methodism) go extinct within the next couple of decades.

Yeah, but that started way earlier. The major european breakpoint was the end of WWI, when people were fed up with authority and had an insatiable hunger for life. You may not forget that the german emperor, similar to his english cousins, was head of church. That's also difference between Europe and the States. State sponsored religion. Funny as that may sound, the non establishment clause in the American constitution may be the main reason for every crackpot brand of christianity running rampant. In Europe, people grew apathetic towards authority that led them into two world wars. And by association, they grew apathetic towards the churches.

Same as Hitchens I see the main reason for religion growing less important in the two wars. But as opposed to Hitchens, I don't think it's because god wasn't there. It has much more to do with authority losing credibility. And churches were supposed to represent the ultimate authority. Another major difference to the States.