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Ironically, I think that Catholicism began to lose its influence since the Second Vatican Council. It appear to lose some distinctive elements such as the masses in latin and the priest prayng towards the altar, and not to the people. Pope John XXIII and Paul VI tried to make the church "closer to the people", but - for a non-obvius reason, maybe just coincidence - people began to leave it.
It's not a purely European phenomenon. Brazil, once proud of being the largest catholic nation worldwide, has only just 64% of adherents today. The difference is that Europeans are migrating towards secularism, and brazilians towards pentecostal churches.
The Catholic Church can't get with the modern times, that's why they lose followers. You go to Church to get lectured, not for spiritual enrichment.
Ironically, I think that Catholicism began to lose its influence since the Second Vatican Council. It appear to lose some distinctive elements such as the masses in latin and the priest prayng towards the altar, and not to the people. Pope John XXIII and Paul VI tried to make the church "closer to the people", but - for a non-obvius reason, maybe just coincidence - people began to leave it.
It's not a purely European phenomenon. Brazil, once proud of being the largest catholic nation worldwide, has only just 64% of adherents today. The difference is that Europeans are migrating towards secularism, and brazilians towards pentecostal churches.
Even among people that never go to church, the church has gained authority and reputation leading charitable organizations such as Caritas and helping people in need. The Church has regained reputation and respect (not attendance) as politicians become more and more corrupt.
All festivities here are religious in origin since Christians replaced pagan goods with saints, but enjoying those festivities that are only mostly civilian is not being religious.
In Latin America, the Catholics did the same that Romans, replaced local deities by Saints. For example, behind Santiago or Virgen de Guadalupe there's always an older deity.
North America. Canada is more religious then most of Western Europe too.
That's true. We are less religious than the US, but the difference seems greater than it is because our political culture has strong secular mores compared to down south (yes I get they're officially secular). We are more religious statistically than Western Europe by a significant margin, especially when compared to our strongest cultural relatives in the British Isles and France.
That's true. We are less religious than the US, but the difference seems greater than it is because our political culture has strong secular mores compared to down south (yes I get they're officially secular). We are more religious statistically than Western Europe by a significant margin, especially when compared to our strongest cultural relatives in the British Isles and France.
Yeah and both the US and Canada vary quite a bit from region to region. New England is a less religious then Quebec, but most of the US is more religious then Canada.
Yeah and both the US and Canada vary quite a bit from region to region. New England is a less religious then Quebec, but most of the US is more religious then Canada.
New England is not really less religious than Quebec. Quebec has the lowest rate of religious practice in Canada-USA.
But the religious affiliation "Catholic" still shows up in Quebec at a fairly high level as a cultural thing. Kind of like it does in Argentina and a number of other countries that are cultural Catholic without being religiously devout.
As others have noted, European religion tends to be a cultural identity and a veneration for tradition. America on the other hand is deeply suffused with a personal, experiential piety. Consider for example European countries that are widely reputed for religiosity – say, Poland, Portugal or Greece. Ask the random “man on the street”: “Sir, how would you describe your relationship with Jesus Christ, as your personal Lord and Savior?” I’d suppose that most people in these countries would be flustered by the question, even if they regard themselves as being committed Christians. But the plurality of Americans would respond along the lines of “My heart wholly belongs to Jesus”.
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