What do you think about the way my country is?

Question

I live in Denmark in Europe, and the church attendance here is 2.5%. In other words, 975 out of every 1000 people do not attend church. As a Dane myself, I can tell you that the Danes do not substitute churchgoing for other kinds of religious activity. I personally don't know a single person who prays. People simply aren't religious at all.

I have never once been asked what church I go to, how I worship or anything like that. I can get asked "are you religious?" which is almost an embarrasing question - because what if the guy you are asking IS religious? That would be really awkward - because it's generally assumed that you're not.

Referring to the Bible in any kind of spiritual way is almost guaranteed to create an awkward silence in conversation. if you claim that God created the world, that evolution didn't happen because the Bible says otherwise, or that Adam and Eve really existed will cause people to think you are, well, weird.

What is your opinion about all this?

Answer 1

Reading your explaination about your country came as quite a shock to me. For some reason, I was under the impression that Europe was quite religious, but maybe it is just certain parts of Europe. Do you have Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Halls in Denmark? Are they as unpopular there as they are here? Please tell me about the morals of people in your country and the crime rate. I am really curious.

Answer 2

Denmark is one of the best Countries in the World to live, Don't knock it.
I have lived in Britain, The USA & The Netherlands and aside from the Netherlands (Holland) none can hold a candle to Denmark.
for example, everyone in Denmark gets 5 or 6 weeks holiday from work, compared to the UK's 4 or 5 weeks and the USA's 2 weeks, but then that's a whole other subject.
Crime in Denmark is very low and quality of life is generally high, even though Denmark is an expensive Country to live in, that alone is it's only negative feature.

Answer 3

I have visited Denmark twice. It is a lovely country with hospitable people. In all honesty, though, it seems quite hedonistic, even moreso than the rest of Europe, except The Netherlands, of course. Pornography, child pornography, drugs, and prostitution seems to be the state religion in both of these countries. It is also the source of much of their tourism, so this is no wonder.

I enjoyed my stays in Denmark and would love to return. But you can't get around without at least passing by some business of very ill-repute it seems, at least not in Copenhagen. Aarhus and Odense seemed to have less of the smut traffic.

America does have a significantly larger percentage of people who attend church, even regularly. However, many of our churches preach a watered-down Christianity and have an underinvolved congregation. Often church is an 1 to 2 hour show to attend and return to in a week. For that reason, it would be disingenuous for me to suggest that our country is better off spiritually. We are on the decline spiritually as well. Abortion is rampant, we are growing more cocooned and far less social, we care less about each other each year it seems.

I think we are seeing the decline of western civilization. I'm not a doomsayer, though. It could take centuries for a radical change, and things may gradually improve at some point, but we are definitely going the wrong direction now.

Postmodernism, unless it becomes more moderate will be the undoing of much of our social and scientific advances. Each generation becomes more self-absorbed than the previous one. This has been going on since WWII, IMHO.

OK, that's enough. Love your country. Sorry to hear about the spiritual condition and I will be praying for you and yours. God bless you and your service for His kingdom.

Answer 4

Very interesting!
I believe that religious believes are part of the cultural and social aspect of a country. Spirituality goes up and down according to specific historical periods.
Seems that Denmark has always been ahead when comes to "social self-analysis" and created a popular believe that religion and faith are an impediment to emancipation and individualism.
It has been a kind of rebellious contrast to some countries based on religion, where just declaring that you don't believe in god would be considered "weird" and heretic.
Perhaps in the future, Denmark will have a spiritual revival.

Answer 5

I think Jesus faced the same sort of ridicule and degradation... to the point of death. Make up your mind whether or not you believe. Study what you know. Read the Bible and learn it well enough to discern what the Holy Ghost reveals to you. When you know what you know, no one will shake you. If you aren't comfortable with that, make friends with those 2.5% who support your belief. It could be worse: 975 people who go to church and don't really believe or practice what they believe is a closer truth where I come from. I would appreciate 25 who really believe, really read the Bible, really try to be obedient.

Answer 6

I know what you might be feeling. Even tho i am a muslim, we believe in the same things (almost). In Islam this is what we called "Jihad". In the media its translated as holy war, but it actually means the war within, when you face people like you are doing at this time. Where you will feel excluded, alone, and in a continous fight with dark and evilness.

My advice, stick to your belief. That is all you got my friend. That is the only inch of YOU that no one can change, in which you are free in every sense of the meaning! Dont let others misguide you from God and what is the truth.

People who straight away deny god or heaven or hell or anything spiritual are the ones in the false. I like to see science try and explain some feelings we get when we try to connect with god. They will never be able to explain it, scientists even agree themselves! Reseach it if anyone who reads this and doesnt believe me.

Best of luck! And be strong!

Answer 7

Are you sure about the statistics? If that's true, then even less people attend in the U.S. where I live. Things have gone backwards throughout the world, but when I get rich and famous enough, I will try everything in my power to change it. And if I die, I'll go down swinging. I want to be a missionary whose death will drive the world to give religious freedom. Sorta like a spiritual suicide bomber for Christ. lol I'm not crazy.

Answer 8

i think it's great. i'm an athiest, and i'm sick and tired of religion dictating the country that i live in (canada...at least it is not as bad as the USA. i remember reading a few months ago that 60% of americans are churchgoers, vs. 29% of canadians.)....religion should have nothing to do with politics or the law. who cares that a book says that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. if a book told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it? i doubt it. personally, i think religion was created thousands of years ago, to explain what science couldn't. as we advance in science, there is less of a need for religious explanations. just my two cents.


on a side note, this is a good video to watch: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU

Answer 9

It sounds like the Christians in Denmark aren't doing a very good job of spreading the word of God. It's a shame that so many people are missing an opportunity to go to Heaven.

Answer 10

I can't judge your countrymen but personally,I find it extremely sad. I have many relatives who are either non-religious or claim to be atheists and although I love them very much,I can't help but think they are missing a vital human experience. I myself do not attend church but consider myself a person of great faith and can't imagine life without it. I have been this way since childhood.