Differences between Christianity in Europe and the USA?

Question

I have an Italian exchange student staying with me for a few weeks. Today, in conversation, when we overheard yet another conversation about Jesus in a book store, he commented on how different religion was in the USA and Europe. As he put it "In Europe, Christians want to be left alone. In America, they want to be in charge."

Having been to Europe a few times, I have to agree with him. Although I do think it's a fairly recent development in American Christianity.

Do you agree? Why do you think these differences have taken place? What allows them to flourish?

New Catholic, the exchange student who made these observations is something like 50th generation Catholic.

Answer 1

You could argue that the minority always wants to be left alone... Because they know they can't run the show.

But still, my friend from France told me that there it's just impolite to discuss religion, even if you're among other Christians. It's not because religion is viewed as wrong, it's a personal, not a public matter.

Of course, we all know that it is atheists who should really just not be seen or heard from.

Answer 2

First, a lot more "old" denominations - Catholic, Lutheran, etc.

Second, you read Dawkins (I believe) He talks about the free market system in the US. Many European countries have a State or at least Dominate religion (Church of England, Catholic Church). There is no competition. A competative, open capitalist market forces innovation.

I mean, does your cable service ever really get better, cheaper? No, because there is only one cable company in town. But look at Electronics - new iMP3 players, tvs, computers, software, satelite radios, etc are coming out each month. They always need to build a better mousetrap to get the customers.

In America, there is so much choice in churches. I live in the city, I can walk to 22 churches in a 10min / 3/4 mile radius, including 3 Catholic parishes. Churches need to be sexier, sleeker, more targeted to meet the audiences to attract new "customers". We are a consumer culter that likes our products tailored to or individually and personality. We want to be catered to. Churches know this. So they preach the Gospels in a way that their local want to hear, they have Church groups that appeal to the congregation to build a bigger community.

I wont ramble any further, but Dawkins and others explain it better.

Answer 3

Europe has the benefit of having a long history and evidence of it all around them. They can't look at the Church of Mithras in the middle of town that has stood for over a thousand years and act like it doesn't exist. The U.S., on the other hand, has no history beyond a few hundred years and no evidence of other beliefs before christianity, and therefore ignores it. They get to pretend that christianity is all there ever was, and is the "right" religion because "everybody" believes it.

Answer 4

My Romanian Christian friends were puzzled by it when they first came over. As was my Scottish friend. I would agree entirely.

I think America is so repressed in sexuality and the like that a religion driven by the concept of sin can do nothing but flourish. Friggin' Puritans.

Answer 5

I think that it has to do with the idiot in charge! He has encouraged the most aggressive and horrifying side of Christianity to flourish by supporting it! It's both a tool and a crutch for this administration!
Notice that the Christian fundamentalists aren't batting an eye at an administration who expects to NOT have to answer any inquiries into their actions!

Answer 6

Interesting question.

I think one of the big problems with American Christianity is that they tend to mix their politics in with their religion (to the detriment of both), whereas Europeans are much less likely to do that.

Answer 7

It's not all Christians, just the crazy evangelicals.

Visiting my family's church in the UK for various deaths and marriages have me thinking it's pretty much the same for COE and COS/Pres here as there.

Answer 8

in the usa the church runs the place in europe the brainwashing is not working anymore and thay do not like it the fact that thay can not control the people with there fairy tale laws

Answer 9

Its a 3 letter word mate! GWB

Answer 10

I do agree, and I'm baffled as to why, in this day and age, religion is so popular. I mean, it's no surprise that this country is so behind in science and technology if people are screaming it's of the devil.