Is Europe Still Christian? Exploring Religious Trends & Cultural Shifts in Modern Europe | Faith & Society Analysis

"He is a university graduate, husband, father, even an exceptionally competent public officeholder, a respectful father, pleasant company, very gentle to his wife, solicitude personified to his children. And Christian? -- Well, yes, he is that too, but prefers not to talk about it, although with a certain wistful joy he likes to see that his wife is occupied with religion to her upbuilding. He rarely attends church..."Søren Kierkegaard, The Sickness Unto Death (1849)In Is Europe Christian?, Oliver Roy provides and informative and incisive discussion on the status of Christianity (and faith in general) in Europe. Roy primarily concentrates his study on Western Europe. Concerning Christianity, Roy discusses the differing stances of European Christians, secularists, and populists.In Europe, the Catholic church acts as the primary defender of Christianity. State church Protestants have largely "self-secularized," embracing secular stances on abortion and same-sex marriage. European evangelicals remain unfocused on Europe's Christian identity.A reference point in the Catholic defense of Christianity is the address of Pope Benedict XVI to the European Parliament in 2006. Benedict XVI affirmed "the protection of life in all its stages," marriage "between a man and a woman," and "the right of parents to educate their children." The Pope noted that these truths are "not truths of faith...though they receive further light and confirmation from faith" but "are inscribed in human nature."European secularists see Christianity as an aspect of European "heritage." They see "religious norms" as "backward or contrary to human rights." They view Islam as a "form of the religious absolutism that Europe fought against and vanquished in the past."Populists in Europe promote Christianity from a cultural standpoint as a buffer to Islam. French populist leader Marine Le Pen defended churches as "historical monuments." Hence, the value of churches "lies in their stonework, not in the work of their ministry."Throughout the book, Roy emphasizes that European efforts to promote or protect Christian symbols have removed the faith aspect of those symbols. In 2009, the Italian government defended the display of the crucifix in school classrooms, since state attorneys viewed it as "a national symbol of Italian culture" that had "nothing to do with faith."Efforts to combat Islamic radicalism in France have produced a situation in which "transgression of religious norms is viewed as a sign of moderation" and "intensity of religious practice is considered a sign of radicalization." Muslims applying as baggage handlers at Charles de Gaulle airport "spontaneously mention drinking alcohol" during their job interview as a way of improving their chances of obtaining employment.Much more could be said about Roy's book. It isn't long, but he covers a lot of ground. Well recommended.