Decline of Christiany in Europe Essay -- Religion

IntroductionThe decline of Christianity in Europe did no happen spontaneously. It was a process which took place everywhere umpteen years. Further, it would be impossible to identify any one origination for the decline. Numerous factors have combined to erode Christianity in Europe. Changing governmental parties, with varying tolerance towards Christianity, have been a major factor in the decline. In addition, new ideas about the ability and goodness of man to take a shit a good society, without the need for God, served to undermine Christianity. Finally, the failure of the church to suffice firmly to the crises of the modern world significantly accelerated its decline. While legion(predicate) of these factors have roots going back as far as the seventeenth century, many came to a head in the twentieth century. semipolitical PartiesIn the nineteen hundreds, many European countries were being swept by changing political tides. This era saw the rise of socialism for many Europe an countries. Some of these new governments discriminated against Christianity. Education and even some professions were unlikeable to Christians. Some countries were harsher in their anti-Christian policies, and others merely neglected the church.1 The church was in a dangerous position it was expected to comment on the political posture of Europe, but in grave danger if it did so.2 Furthermore, Christianity was generally seen as inappropriate to the ideology of these governments. At worse, Christianity was seen as a threat to Marxist ideals. At best, it was seen as silly superstition, an unnecessary crutch.3 While some Marxists respected Christianity and perchance even learned from it, many felt that religion was primarily a tool of oppression which should be banished in the name of so... ...and Biography, July 18, 2003. http//www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2003/jul18.html? assume=2 (accessed February 1, 2012).Hindson, Ed, and Ergun Craner, eds. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, OR. Harvest House Publishers, 2008.Kannampilly, Vijaykumar. Marxism and Christianity. Social Scientist 3, no. 3 (October, 1974) 57-63. http//www.jstor.org/stable/3516372 (accessed February 1, 2012).Pauck, Wilhelm. National Socialism and Christianity Can They Be reconcile? The Journal of Religion 20, no. 1 (January, 1940) 15-32. http//www.jstor.org/stable/1198646 (accessed February 1, 2012).Tolson, Jay. European, Not Christian. U.S. news show and World Report 138, no. 20 (May 30, 2005) 52-53. http//search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mth&AN=17115426&site=ehost-live&scope=site (accessed February 1, 2012).