In what ways is Europe post-christian?

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2 Europe is not post Christian in the strict sense of the term Christianity is not relegated to the past Beware of idealising the past in contrast to the present Has Europe ever been Christian? (Anton Wessels) So Europe is post what? 1. Post-Christianised (in the process of ) In the past: Christianisation of values, cultures and social institutions, rites of passage Society held together by church-related times and seasons Now: De-Christianisation in these areas

3 2. Post-Constantinian or Post-Christendom Christendom (English) = chrétienté, Christenheit Christianity (English) = christianisme, Christentum After his victory in 312, attributed to the help of Christ, emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and introduced the alliance between the throne and the Christian altar (empire and church) Divine right for the ruler (reigns by the grace of God ) The Church becomes official and privileged religion Emperor Theodosian (380) introduces the established state church, and Christianity becomes the only legalised religion.

4 In Christianised Europe, there has always been a certain distinction between church and state Spiritual and temporal realm. Each have their limits Development of nation-states, related to a certain form of Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) Counter movements (non conformist) Religious wars in Europe and the call for tolerance and freedom of conscience Enlightenment, French Revolution, spread of same ideas to other countries: Sovereignty of people instead of divine right of the prince Separation of (institutional) Church and State. State takes over social tasks of the church (education, health care, civil registration) Religion is a personal, private matter N.B.Radical strand: separation of public sphere (civil society) and religion Or even attempts to suppress religion altogether

5 In most European countries: formal separation between Church and state But vestiges of the alliance between throne and church remain. Tax privileges, subsidies for private religious institutions, chaplains, In some countries partial separation UK, queen is head of Anglican church. Bishops in parliament Greece, some Scandinavian countries, have a state church But the political realm is largely independent from the Church Monarch subject to the law / constitutional monarchy

6 3. Post-religious (secularised) Secularisation can mean: (1) Church property under regular or canonic authority taken over by worldly (secular) state and institutions (2) Non religious worldview (3) Absence of religious practice (4) Decline of church membership (5) Decline of influence of religion on society and politics Nowadays, secularisation usually means all of that, except (1)

7 Secularisation: In what ways is Europe post-christian? A society and a state without religion giving cohesion (religio = that which binds together by connecting all to the divine world) A novelty in the history of mankind A European phenomenon No outside pressure but development from within the Christian world Alternative to Christianity: no religion at all It is the secularisation of Christianity: secular humanism, rationalism, and scientific positivism bear the mark of Biblical and Christian values taken out of their religious envelope Minority of atheists (c. 15%) Most seculars are agnostic ( something-ism )

8 4. Post-modern A philosophical reaction to scientific rationalism, its truth claims and the belief in progress, typical of modern thinking (Enlightenment) Critical of meta-narratives because they (often) serve as instruments of power and manipulation. Cf. the horrors of Auschwitz and Gulag... Applied to architecture, arts (mingling of styles instead of unique style) In a certain sense, postmodern outlook is also a reaction against the Christian religion: (a) relativism with respect to revealed absolute truth and exclusive views (such as Jesus is the Christ, the only Saviour) (b) subjectivity openness for non rational and religious experiences from below but critical towards rules from above (such as the Bible or church doctrine) (c) individualism problem with commitment (e.g. to a church)

9 1. Post-Christianised 2. Post-Constantinian 3. Post-religious (secularised) 4. Post-modern 5. Post-evangelised Despite ongoing evangelism, a majority of Europeans does not respond to calls for a personal faith commitment to Jesus Christ. Murray: Evangelism perceived of as an attempt of the church to regain lost territory, to return to former times, to restore the Christianised society He calls for new forms of evangelism, based on the post-christendom situation this situation offers opportunities to present the Gospel in fresh ways