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Europe

There are two ways of looking at the religious situation in Europe: The first considers the features that are common to Europe as a whole; the second looks at the differences across the continent. This entry begins by looking at a range of factors that can be found throughout Europe. The second section develops a series of variations based largely on the different confessional blocs—that is, Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant. It also considers the contrasts between what is commonly known as West Europe and the parts of the continent that were under communist domination from 1948 to 1989. In the latter, the religious trajectory is noticeably different. The final section points to the current paradox: On the one hand, there are the relatively high levels of secularity in most if not all of Europe, but on the other, there is the marked resurgence of religion in public debate—a combination that was not anticipated.

Common Factors

There are six very different factors, which—taken together—contribute to a better understanding of the place of religion in modern Europe. These factors change and adapt over time. Currently, they are interacting in new ways to produce distinctive formulations of religion in Europe, some of which are unexpected. The six factors are as follows:

  • The role of the historic churches in shaping European culture
  • An awareness that these churches still have a place at particular moments in the lives of modern Europeans, though they are no longer able to discipline the beliefs and behaviors of the great majority of the population
  • An observable change in the churchgoing constituencies of the continent, which operate increasingly on a model of choice rather than a model of obligation or duty
  • The arrival in Europe of groups of people from many different parts of the world, with very different religious aspirations from those seen in the host societies
  • The reactions of Europe's secular elites to the increasing salience of religion in public as well as private life
  • A growing realization that the patterns of religious life in modern Europe should be considered an “exceptional case” in global terms—that is, they are not a global prototype

Cultural Heritage

The starting point reflects the undisputed role of Christianity in shaping European culture, bearing in mind that other factors (notably Greek rationalism and Roman organization) must also be kept in mind. One example will suffice: The Christian tradition has had an irreversible effect on the shaping of time and space in this part of the world. Both week and year follow the Christian cycle, even if the major festivals are beginning to lose their resonance for large sections of the population. The same is true of space. Wherever you look in Europe, there is a predominance of Christian churches, some of which retain huge symbolic value. This is not to deny that in some parts of Europe (notably the larger cities), the skyline is becoming an indicator of growing religious diversity. Europe is evolving, but the legacies of the past remain deeply embedded in both the physical and cultural environment.

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