One of the earliest proposals for a ‘united Europe’ dates back to the 15th Century. The Bohemian King George of Poděbrady proposed a treaty between all Christian nations – with its members pledging to settle disputes between themselves peacefully and concentrate military efforts against the Ottoman Empire. There were to be supranational institutions common to all Christian countries, with a common Christian parliament.
“Europe” was not mentioned once. This was to be a Christian entity – and it was envisioned as a union standing in opposition to the encroachment of “non-Christian” forces upon Christendom. At the time, people rarely used the Latin word ‘Europa’ (Europe) to discuss the geographical or cultural entity we now call Europe. Much more common, at least from the eleventh century onwards, was ‘Christianitas’ (Christendom).
At some point, Europe was defined (insofar as it was defined at all) as a Christian continent. But is this still the case today? According to a 2012 Eurobarometer survey, 72% of people living in the EU define themselves as Christian, whereas only 23% think of themselves as atheist or agnostic (and 2% define themselves as Muslim, whilst less than 1% call themselves Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, or Jewish).
Nevertheless, it’s certainly arguable that there has been a trend for decades (if not centuries) towards a ‘less religious’ Europe. Having said that, we had a comment sent in from Todor arguing that: “Europe is a Christian continent [because] European countries are Christian…”
To get a reaction, we spoke to Ben Ryan, a researcher for Theos, a Christian think tank working in the area of religion, politics and society. Is Europe a Christian continent? What did he think?
Yes, Europe is a Christian continent. But it’s not only a Christian continent, and that’s important to note. It’s a Christian continent, but it is also a ‘Greek’ continent, it is also a democratic continent; which is to say that the space that we call ‘Europe’ is not really a geographical thing. There is no border of Europe, geographically speaking. There are islands off the coast, there is no clear Eastern border.
Instead, what defines the border of the space that we call Europe is a cultural and intellectual thing. It is a space which is defined by what has come before; it is defined by Christianity, and by Greek philosophy, and by a number of other cultural and intellectual movements. So, it’s a mistake to think we are actually a real continent. There is no such thing as a ‘geographical Europe’, it can only really be seen as an intellectual space.
To get another reaction, we also spoke to Peter Margry, Professor of European Ethnology at the University of Amsterdam. He argued that, historically, Europe could be defined as a Christian continent, but this label was not necessarily accurate today:
What did Ben Ryan make of this argument? We had a comment from Bastian that would seem to agree with Professor Margry’s position, arguing that Europe is increasingly a secular continent, home to a growing number of atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc. How would Ben Ryan respond?
So, Christianity is always going to be there. It’s embedded. Even the type of secularism we have in Europe today is very much a Christian secularism, and that’s not going to go away. So, [Europe] is not going to become a non-Christian space just because people themselves are no longer Christian. It’s embedded in what it is to be Europe.
Is Europe a Christian continent? Or is it increasingly a secular continent, home not only to atheists but also a plethora of other religious beliefs? Is Christian identity ’embedded’ in what it means to be European? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the from below, and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Europe is being a muslim continent!
Yes. Europe will be Muslim continent with millions of mosques! All churches will be burned down with Christians and all traces of their existence and heritage.
????? Poland is at the precise centre of continental Europe. Have a look there for Muslim future.
Historically Christian but we are becoming more secular( Thank god):)
Why thank god .If you think it’s anything other than Christian your wrong
(Thank god) Not a little irony there I think.
you wont thank God soon when more burkhas will be in sight and Sharia law will be implemented. Your Secularism will also go in Oblivion. I dont need to give a wake up call to your naivity.
She’s being ironic… kinda sad irony
Christians are based off of the teachings of Christ that is the true teaching of Christianity unfortunately most don’t follow Christ still call themsel Christian which is confusing to most peopleEven &more unfortunate.
Where ignorance is bliss it’s foolish to be wise- A wise man needs no advice and fools don’t take any. Europe has been the seat of Evil. We have a History of Wars and the Rise of Hitler. I can walk you down to its corridors of evil right up to the seats of Evil men at their seats in the EU. Are you people blind? Can’t you see it. True Christianity is it’s only hope, but they have even corrupted their Christianity into an evil denomination.
It was a christian continent in the Middle ages. Today it is a secular continent with a lot of christian traditions left from those times.
Not quite. Christianity spread from the Middle East to Italy very early on. In the 500 to 600s, St. Augustine of Canterbury was sent to Britain. There was the period of the dark ages and then we saw many Kings arise, around the time the Vikings were doing their axe-wielding thing. The we had Christian kings who fought the Vikings etc…and introduced education and laws based upon Christian principles.
Indeed, it is true that Europe was Christian, by the FIRST century.
Today Europe is a humanistic society. Religious and Intellectual space for all.
Europe was part of many religions. A lot of pagan religions and later Christianity. And just like any other organized religion, this has its ups and downs. It really depends on how you look at ‘traditional’ Europe regarding religion. Is it before or after the rise and fall of Constantinople
Of course yes . Our history is christian our monarchy was christian each of our villages have a church . This question is silly . Are you preparing the place for islam ?
[eo] Nia historia aspektus tre diference, se ne estus ekzistintaj ne-kristanaj grupoj. Sufiĉe ofte la konflktoj pri la popolaj kredoj kaŭzis sangumajn militojn. Sendube tiuj militoj, malgraŭ ties terureco, signife formis la nunan aspekton de Eŭropo.
[en] Our history would look quite different, if there wouldn’t have been non-christian parties as well. Quite often clashes in peoples beliefs were the cause for sanguinary wars. Undoubtly these wars, as horrible as they were, strongly formed Europe as is it today.
Not true at all. The origin of Christianity was from Middle East & not from Europe. It was adopted later during middle ages.
never and never
Not preparing,it is already there. There are 2800 mosques alreasy and more are being build.
It’s a cool continent.
Not anymore it’s not,now it’s messed up
Υes it was but what about today?It must remains a christian continent and not a Muslim one!
yes! And it must be kept!
I really dont want t hear mosquée in europe. I hate it
I think you live in middle age.
Your real anscestors are not really christian…. Do no understand why Slav, Germanic, saxon, Celtic and many Europe race adopted christianity. Purely this is not European original religion…..as it came from middle east.
Yes of course
Even if it came from Middle East, it still has Christian traditions. Where do you think Islam comes from?
@ Alen – Even if we live in Middle age, so what? I dont need to defend myself. I know what ideology lives in Middle ages.IT is definitive ISLAM and the muslims!
To me, It is a continent that has learnt from its mistakes and still learning, where most people no matter where they are from can feel welcomed and accepted no matter of religion believes! Originally Europe was not a Christian continent, each country had its own gods( most of the. Non violent) the. Christianity came along and for hundred if years people died if they didn’t become Christians. The natural order of progression finally arrived, allowing people to choose what they want to believe in Or if to believe at all without being persecuted.
You knew pagans used to sacrifice peoples in front of the sun by ripping off their heart from their chest.Of course not you haven’t.
I agree with you, Cristina Powell
Roy Abourjeily, I think your confusing Europe with Central America.
It is an Christin continent but an concerted few, that historically have hated Jesus Christ and this continent, sind ensuring that it is not; through mass immigration, thrutching the contraceptive, and multicultural agenda and lastly, by bankrupting Lands that forby have had the family and gemænescip (community) as the Bedrock (southern european Lands).
europe should be a continent with freedom in the choice of religion ,or no religion.End of the story
[eo] Mi konsentas. En nia kontinento religio nepre estu nur privata afero.
[en] Agreed. Religion has to be a private matter only in our continent.
You need the unification of ethics, laws, religion, even ceremonies as the foundation of the national culture, so it’s not that simple.
Christianity and no Islam. End of story!
It was a Christian continent, but sadly is becoming less and less every day… :(
Agree!!!
Who say it was a Christian continent! It was originated from middle east as EUropean did not have any religion at all. Pagan was the EUropean religion. Thus, Europe cannot be proud of CHristianity….
Not true at all. Who said it was Christian continent?
There is nothing sad about this. The sooner Christianity and all other religions die, the better.
People u r living with the islamic wisdom and then say u dont want any muslims in europe, u r strangely surprising me
[eo] Mi petas al vi espliki tion pli ekzakte. Al mi via mesaĝo ŝajnas enhavi la eldiron, ke ne-islamaj kulturoj ne povas saĝiĝi. Mi esperas, ke mi miskomprenis vin.
[en] You should explain this a little closer. To me your post sounds like you are saying that non-islamic cultures are not capable of gaining wisdom. I hope i misunderstood you.
Agree with you. In fact the European cannot be proud of Christianity as they themselves imported Christianity from middle east into their culture. Why don’t they follow their uncivilised religion before…
I agree that Europe is a lot more than a continent. It is a culture and a society.
All religions share common values. A religion does not give you a heart, nor a brain. Different societies developed differently. The reasons are many and religion is one.
I am happy that I live in this society. I am happy that I can choose to be religious or not and which religion to choose, feeling less pressure that our ancestors. This is what makes us different.
Christianity is still regarded as the most important influence in the formation of Western civilization. All those common values, the culture, morality, etc. you enjoy so much are quite Christian …………….
so long as we refer to christian continent or country,we are wrong because there is not such a thing in the Bible.Chrisianity is personal relationship with God through jesus Christ.Anything else is just religion and has nothing to do with God’s Kingdom
Yes and should stay
Per gran parte della storia moderna del continente si. Ma è stata altresì pagana per tanto tempo, in parte musulmana, ebrea e atea. Tutto ciò non deve però avere rilevanza ai fini politici. L’Europa deve essere laica e garantire le stesse libertà a tutti i suoi cittadini.
I would prefer if Europe could just be an enlightened continent
? What does it mean; enlightened continent? Whatever it means, such ideology requires equality, but literally, equally intelligent, aware and enlightened people, which is kind of utopia in this world ….
What it means is very clear. Just look it up. The values of enlightenment, the period after the dark ages…
Of course it is. Its roots at least.
“In Europe even atheists are Christians. Europe’ Christianity means culture, ethics, a way of thinking.” (József Antall, former PM of Hungary)
Well it is that’s the truth of it… That does not mean that others have no place among us!!
Sure others, who claim that their’s is the only true religion and claim “my god is better than your God” they certainly have no place in this society. Simple.
Unfortunately today in Europe we are hypocritical Christians. Ready to draw the sword against each other, ready to hunt the scapegoat. On the other because it applies to everyone, first let the sinless throw the stone.
Lately Christianity fails to cover the subjugation to money.
Well i do believe in god but never ever i will chose religion which is non tolérant t women kids animals and kills and frightens and treats them..
Yes. Must be a Continent of christian inspiration. The muslins must now that
Are churches in muslins countries ?
[eo] (Mis)uzi kristanecon kiel kontraŭ-principon de islamo estas trista malgrandanimaĵo.
[de] Das Christentum als Gegenentwurf zum Islam zu (ge-/mis-)brauchen, ist eine einfach nur armseelig.
Believe me, you ancestors are not christian. Christian belong to middle east as it was originated. Do not understand why european adopted and copied Christian from middle east. Christian cannot be identical to European… Period…
Christianity just represents a large part of recorded culture. Most European countries will have lost the major influence of religion and it is more of a personal matter for the individual. Once the child abuse cases get the proper attention from the authorities religion will be in a steady decline. No danger of islamification of Europe as some people say religion is over as a control of the masses. Just there for interested people to refer to for spiritual or moral guidance.
http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/studies/holidays2.htm
Hell no. Christians are idiots stuck in the past – let’s grow-up.
Wow… as I was going down the list of comments I sadly came to the realisation that Europe is mainly populated by a bunch of idiots with little provincial minds, who are stuck in the past and so so so afraid of other influences that could disrupt their deluded attachment to a hateful and backwards religion… So many weak and scared little “christians” that are afraid of muslims, homosexuals and anything else that could make them question their pathetic lives and traditions.
If your cultures were worth anything, you wouldn’t be afraid of other influences… but clearly your “identities” are weak constructions that you need in order to feel protected and “belong” to something.
If Europe is “christian”, I’m leaving on the next boat, because it would mean all those centuries of gradual enlightenment and progress, would be meaningless. A christian Europe is for backward people, more backwards even than all those other religions that try to impose themselves on the people.
Religions are there to enslave and control people who can’t even figure out “bad” from “good” by themselves. Religious people have no morals… they are told what morals to have. Sad.
As a European I firmly believe that the day Europe becomes “christian”, it will be the beginning of the end under the dictatorship of the sad little weak sheep…
Europe has a huge Christian framework, totally forgotten by current governments
What framework you’re talking about. Christian did not belong to Europe. They imported it from middleeast. Thus, you cannot be proud of Christianity as this is not your ancestors religion..
I choose PEACE!!
Yes
Caliphate of Spain, Khanate of Crimea and Ottoman Empire dislike this :3
In Islam says : your religion is for you and my religion is for me,
In Europe today there is a respect towards my religion, not the same respect is in place in Myanmar where they are burning alive the Muslims, and not in China as well,
The same time they are political party’s trying to show the Muslims as enemy number one in Europe just like the freedom party in Netherland, like the ATAKA in Bulgaria and the Greek Golden Down party,
What ever you don’t want to happen to you don’t do it to others,
RESPECT
UKIP is a fantastic party .there is NO respect towards your religion it’s a religion of hate
you like most of muslim on this earth they think only as if there are no ather being exept mulim
you spoke about Myanmar and China but didn’t mention the atrocities committed by the Muslims in Iraq and Syria where thausands of Christians and yazidis
in Nigeria.and in Egypt … et and you name it christian where killed only because it happened that they where christian and there bad Luke they where born in this schamfull place
the thousands of girls and wamen that were sold in the market and forced into sex trade by the what you call mulim and you are crying for this premetive culture
no one forget or will forget what the tusks genocide of the arminians
I don’t agree of what the government in Myanmar and China is doing to the Muslim but also don’t accept your idia of trying to make out of us stupid and try to change these retòrics as if you are an otiest
Why Muslims can live in Europe and build their mosques, enjoy all rights and we Christians can not do the same in Muslim countries?
Right wing scum in the comments as always.
Soon I am afraid it’s going to be ….
Looking at what is happening in Europe right now…I think that Europe has nothing in common with christianity….
Was, is and will be Christian for ever.
If It it was, when it is the time? Do you understand that christian was imported from middle east to Europe. What a shame pagan people…Christianity was not designed for European. European stealing this religion from middle east..
:) The European continent’s PAST tells us :)
it’s amazing how the lefties, who preach tolerance et al fire up the hatred card as soon as you say you’re more centre right than left. eg. ‘rightwing scum’…is that ‘hate speech”? If I called a an islamic person, ‘scum’, that would be hate speech but it seems okay for a leftie to say it to me…… But as for Europe being a primarily christian continent, I’d have to say yes. We had the separation of powers from church and state back in the 1700’s. Something that Islam is yet to recognise. Should Europe move to a more secular continent…yes, but not yet. I do not believe that either christianity or islam is developed enough yet to allow for peaceful and harmonious integration. That being said, I believe we should be doing more to repair our own back yard before we start letting guests, invited or uninvited into our territory.
Richard, did your ancerstor really Christian. Christian was imported from middle east & not meant for Europe. Europe should have their own religion identity but no Christian as it was not originally meant for them
europe should be a continent with freedom in the choice of religion ,or no religion.End of the story
Christianity became a globally-important religion thanks first to the people of Europe (people elsewhere were not very active in accepting christianity) – and Europe also became a globally-important continent thanks to Christianity.
The reason is Europe did not have any religion at early middle ages. Christian was imported from middle east. It is not meant for European race.
Europe can be Europe only with Christianity. It is simple as that without Christianity itis no Europe anymore!
Not true, Christianity was belong to middle east as the place it was born & not meant for EUrope. Please do not associate Christian to Europe. European copy this religion from middle east.
Without Christian Europe still stand and they can follow their original pagan religion. That all….
Europe needs a core, a single cultural and religious background to have the necessary cohesion to survive this century
Historically yes, however, it is becoming dominated by secular atheist views. The only religion that is growing in Europe is Islam as Christianity is slowly dying out.
Xavier Schoumaker paranoïa and ignorance?! Pffffff… i dont understand you.
An interesting question to ask the day following the Summer Solstice, which, though entirely Pagan, was celebrated across the “Christian” continent yesterday.
Engy Al Refaei: and what is islamic wisdom we are living with? Enlighten me please.
Was is will always be
Christianity gave us: the idea of equality of all people (also men and women, children), condemnation of slavery, condemnation of violence, sense of all peoples brotherhood, sense of solidarity with others, forgiveness, the idea of serving to the smaller and the weeker, the value of each man’s life and many others… Of course Europeans and their rulers were quite seldom saint by the Christian means… But the values we adopted as a Christian guide for Europe gave us a better perspective to act and live together in this place. There are a lot of atheists and non believers who defend bravely these values so that Europe can be what we dream, what it should be for all of us. And sometimes they act and live more Christian way than the belivers. If we extract Christianity from Europe there is not much we can be proud left, there is not much we could build on our hopes.
»Christianity gave us: the idea of equality of all people (also men and women, children)«
Say what!? The historical christianity always treated women as 2nd class people while many pre-christian european cultures were more modern in that sake: Let’s look at the words “men” and “women”, which you’ve used in your message: The Germanic root “mannaz” originally meant “human being”. The influence of christianity turned the meaning to “male human being”. Still “woman” shows the origal meaning as it is composed of “wyf” and “mannaz” forming the meaning “wife-human”.
Christianity didn’t give us the idea of equality. At least not the christianity that came over most parts of Europe.
The question is not if we are a christian continent. Which mayority we are. The question to be asked is why our leaders are allowing it to be islamized. In the next 30 years we will only be a shadow of what we were. Add to the islamification the mass inmigration and you have exactly what they want, cultural marxism.
Europe is a continent, period. Only people can have a religion. And there are more ‘atheists’ than religious people.
Religions stop prgress and generate conflicts
Europa is a land of Human Rights
Tell that too the Greeks right now
Christian is as Christian does, therefore NO. Christianity and capitalism are incompatible..
Europe’s history is built upon Christianity, this is something we cannot doubt. However, Europe today is one that is progressive, we choose science over Religion (mostly) and that is what makes our continent great! The majority of religious people on our continent are of course Christian, but year on year we’re seeing people break away from main stream religion, in pursuit of more humanist beliefs.
No, European history was pagan. Christianity was imported from middle east where this religion was born. It is not meant for EUrope. European cannot claim Christianity was their history as this is untrue. Go back to pagan religion & leave Christianity to the middle east.
I agree with Joshua.
Geoff, you should agree with me as a matter of fact.
no more thank God, in the time when it was, it was a catastrophy
Good question… But was it before?
Eurabia
The EU’s open-door policy for migrants is turning Europe into a Muslim continent!
Off course Europe is a christian continent, or at least it was. Christianity is in the hearth of european civilisation. Even atheists are products of the christian civilisation. Ever heard about atheism in Saudi Arabia or Sudan (with respect to those countries) ? No, and you won’t cause in christianity one of the most important things is the free choice that supposedly God has given to people. Our holidays are christian, our architecture is influenced by christianity, everything in our history is connected to christianity (therefore in us as people and civilisation) . One may not feel a christian and that’s his right, but as long as he is culturaly part of the european civilisation he is a christian. And not to forget that the only thing that created some common identity in past ages (therefore giving us the chance to create something close to shared european values and identity in present day) was christianity. You know that when european country X waged war on european country Y it was the catholic church that tried to stop the hostilities for example, and here in the East often peace treties were maid with the mediation of ortodox clergy. Anyway to those who say that Europe is not and must not be a christian continent I have several questions : 1) Do you admit that christianity along with roman law and state-building traditons and the unique national cultures gave us what we call ”european civilisation” and philosophical though ? 2) Do you deny that almost every great architecture is connected with christianity ? 3) Do you think that you could be atheist in Saudi Arabia or Yemen (with respect to those countries and their unique culture) ? 4) Do you think that there would be something like common european values had it been not christianity ? 5) Do you think our political ideologies would have been born without christian philosophy (for I don’t know a main ideology that has been born outside europe) ? 6) What would have been the connection between different europeans had it not been christianity ? Try to persuade a yazidi, sunni, shia and jew to sit in one room and you will understand what do I mean. 7) And if most of you dear catholics and protestants are atheist, do you still deny that christianity is very important for the cultural,traditions and identity of us eastern europeans ? Cause if you do then it’s your nightmare word DISCRIMINATION :D I mean without christianity I would probably be speeking today turkish and my mother would be with burka or hijab. I don’t have anything against turkish people, but I like to be what I am so I’m very gratefull to ortodoxy for preserving my nation for 500 years of foreign rule. 8) Do you deny all the good things that go with christianity like charity, respect for hierachy, respect for tradiotions and culture, the free choice of the human soul/mind only because of the inquisition or the crusades (cause damn it every culture,nation,religion has made nasty things and everyone will continue to do until end of times). 9) Are you sure that you rely thing christianity is useless or you just want to be ”modern” and sound ”cool” ? 10) No matter which eu country you are in look at the toponimy, at the architecture, at the name system, at your history and try even to get to the bottom of modern law,philosophycal thought and then say to me again that Europe is not christian. How could it not be when our names are christian, the names of cityes and villages are chr. , holidays are christian, ideology and law derive very much from the thinkings of St. Augustine and others (for you westerners) and John Goldmouth and others (for us ortodox), Cheerrs to ya all from a left-wing guy who tries to be obective about religion (and who is not much a believer) :P
Simple…look around you…look at the monuments,the paintings,the statues,the philosophy,the history…the laws….etc etc..and you have the answer to a strange question
Of Corse.
I always believe that we should be researching every subject to its root, so when it comes to identity we should trace everything back to the French Revolution and the Grecorroman civilisation, which are to me the fundaments of the common European culture.
As a thought coming out of those facts, the French laïcité and the grecorroman adoration for diversity and pluralism must be combined – we respect all religions, we avoid offending them or stigmatising them for no reason, but we don’t let them interfere in politics or keep the society in anachronistic terms. However, under the perspective of population, Christianism and Atheism dominate, while Judaism and Islam have a stong presence, so, as such, we should be treating with caution to those religion’s spiritual leaders as contributors of the European civilisation.
Europe has a clear Christian heritage, that much is clear. However, that’s quite different from being a Christian continent. As far as ideology goes, Christianity was shaped mostly by European culture and has itself shaped European culture for almost 2 millennia, but there are also a few other ideologies that are European made, liberalism being one of them. Many things can be said about European culture, mostly because there is no single European culture at it’s core, but rather an array of intermingled cultural traditions and ideas, and they all define us as Europeans. So while I don’t believe that rejection of Christian tradition has merit in Europe, I cannot acquiesce to the idea that we are now a “Christian continent”. We are a diverse continent, in which the Christian ideology still has an important role, albeit declining.
It should be. If for nothing else, by its culture – Christianity and Rome are the fundament of everything European, despite the attempts of the (so-called) “Enlightment”.
I wish in Europe religions had the same importance as the political parties one may support . That is , no one pay attention
It mostly is, just look at numbers.
french revolution was just a moment of our history and can be highly criticed . I Agree . OUR FOUDAMENTALE ARE ROME AND ATHEN CIVILISATION AND CHRISTIANITY ; we all have that in common even if we are not believers .
Europe it’s an cristhian continent.so be it forever
Europe is a secular society thet evolved from a christian society. All care must be taken so that it is not seen as an arena where every crazy religion fights for supremacy (that is how many muslims see it), or a void waiting for a religious saviour to fill it…
@ Ben Ryan
When reducing Europe to „the Bible and the Greeks“ we deny ourselves understanding of the significant cultural and economic differences inside Europe and the West in general.
Why, for example, is the North and Northwest economically so differently developed than its South or East? For this we have to recognize and reflect the dialectic between the post Roman („Völkerwanderung“) European tribes (later transformed into „nations“) and the ideological demands of the universal Christian church(es) going on now for more than a Millennium.
In fact, the growing resistance the EU is facing in its Member States (of nations) is related to this dialectic – Brussels perceived as a secular Rome trying to destroy the nations.
Europe is a Christian continent and without Christianity we have no Europe!
Europe has copied Christian from middle east. What a shame…..
Christian
Why the label? Calling a caucasian continent would not be proper so why label it with a religion or creed?
Yes, Europe is being a Christian continent in its majority.
YES CHRISTIAN
Traditionally a Christian continent.
Now and increasingly secular continent, home not only to atheists but also many other religious beliefs! And that is goodness!
Christian say the numbers
Numbers are always very tricky
I one village for sure..
Who care if it is Christian or Nutt, but for sure it is the destination of billions of the poorEST and LEASTeducated and MOSTwanted-KRIMI of the WORLD !
used to be
Yes
Yes, please.
statistics say so…
yes
No it is not
Yes: Europe is a Christian Continent and, more importantly, christian values underline european civilization.
Europe is not a christian continent as it is not of any other religion. Our basic right is religious freedom and we have right to worship what ever or what not. As we owe much to Romans and Greeks this does not make us them, same with religions.
NO, IT HAS LEFT JESUS SINCE 1204. AND NOW ONLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS HOLD THE TRUTH, ΖΕΙ Ο ΘΕΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΩΝ ΑΜΗΝ
I have to be honest about all religious of the world and my religion is Christianity have the right to demand a truly Europe for all European
Eusebio, what about your ancient ancestor who has copied christianity from middle east. The equation is CHristian=middle east & Europe has no right to claim Christian as their religion.
European has been christianised and not originally from EUrope. Please do not associate christianity with Europe. You can associate it with Paganism….
Europe is secularised but it has still a christian culture and a christian phylosophy thanks to its history. The point is that secularisation is still on working, and in the future this continent will be one of the first to leave religion whorship just in the history books.(apart for some minorities, of course)
Our past is Christian, our civilization values are Christian, even though some of us are atheists, our main values are from the Christian traditions. However, if there was our past and still our present, with the Islamic invasion that is happening, I am not sure if we won’t be islamizid in 100 years and we won’t be under the sharia law, stoning women, cutting hands to petty thieves, and killing who is not agreeing. I hope my children emigrate from here.
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what about your ancient ancestor who has copied christianity from middle east. The equation is CHristian=middle east & Europe has no right to claim Christian as their religion.
European has been christianised and not originally from EUrope. Please do not associate christianity with Europe. You can associate it with Paganism….
It is a secular but dominantly christian continent (& should remain so) but deeply unhappy under the present EU leadership!
Another controversial- but “non issue” debate- unhelpful to create a better & happier Europe! The referred “Special Eurobarometer 393 REPORT” (very complex, a waste of EU taxpayers money & untrustworthy) should be discredited- it states:
“The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. The results pertaining to these specific sub-groups must therefore be treated with caution”. (aka: a very, very bad guesstimate!)
So- what are the real reasons to use it after all? Fuel emotions? Is it jobs & “happiness” for a handful EU consultant friends & “unhappiness” for the majority?
A more neutral & professional survey seems to be: http://www.muslimpopulation.com/Europe/
Showing a 7.6% m.p. in 2014. Or any of the (global) “PEW research centre” reports.
Europe is home to many religions and ateists but is firstly christian because that dates back to early Rome 2000 years ago…we should never forget that!
Pagan was the first religion in Europe. Christianity was copied from middle east.
It should be Judeo-Christian.
NO ! Europe is a atheist continent . Not more than 10% of European citizens go to the church . Over 70% of EU citizens don’t do anything that has with religion to do. Over 95% of young people I know find religion for NO interesting . According to a survey among German youths (aged between 12 and 24) in the year 2006, 30% of German youths believe in a personal god, 19% believe in some kind of supernatural power, 23% share agnostic views and 28% are atheists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Germany
In the years 1968 to 1999, Anglican Sunday church attendances almost halved, from 3.5 per cent of the population to just 1.9 per cent. One study published in 2008 suggested that if current trends were to continue, Sunday attendances could fall to 350,000 in 2030 and just 87,800 in 2050.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England#Membership
Is that how the conscience of men should understand, morality determines, logic concludes- to equate any religion or Christianity with church attendance?
“There is nothing more dangerous than the conscience of a bigot.” (GBS)
Now you know what apostate Christianity is like.
yes, but it gets diverse
God i hope not. Get that garbage out of here. Its the 21st century. Wake up!
I think more and more people world wide are realizing that religion is not good
No . If Europe rule with Christian law , it will be strict . Now freedom for all different religious
Yvetta, who want to be part of Europe. Tell Europe not to steal Christianity from the middle east. Go back to your pagan religion.
Sangatawal, you are wrong. It does not matter where it was
“imported” from. Christianity has been here for 2000 years, it incorporates a great deal of our values, mentality and history in contrast to the religions it was based on (Judaism, Zoroastrianism etc). Freedom and democracy are European things and we are free to choose what religion we follow. We don’t need anyone telling us. You go back to where you came from…
What christian Law?
ISLAM IS ALSO A EUROPEAN RELIGION AS IT IS PRACTICED IN THE BALKANS AND TURKEY, SE YES MUSLIMS IMMIGRANTS ARE EUROPEAN TOO…..
It is nothing of the kind. It was imposed on parts of south east Europe by the tyrannical Ottoman Empire.
And Turkey isn’t in Europe, it isn’t called Asia Minor for nothing.
Muslims came here as part of jihad and killed a lot of people for refusing to convert on the spot, including people that were taking refuge in churches. The Ottomans treated Christianity as an enemy and there was nothing European about them.
so muslims are not Europeans at all……………then the term Europe itself will be fade one
European Civility has its humanistic roots in Christianity.
No we don’t. Christianity is an ideology that demands that people stone disobedient children, kill gays, that women are inferior etc… religion is a disease. And I don’t need a fantasy friend.
Christianity is against violence and for love. It doesn’t say anywhere that anyone should be stoned.
In my view, religion should be considered fiction. There are no gods, and morality isn’t derived from books that tell you to stone disobedient children.
Europe should be a tolerant multi-cultural society with a secular state that guarantees the practice of any religion one pleases as long as human rights and especially gender equality is guaranteed.
Maybe where you live. We don’t want such mess in my country. Minorities start to fight with each other and fight for dominion, etc. it’s natural. Multi-kulti weakens a nation and destroys national identity, maybe some people don’t need it, but they have no right to decide for the whole continent.
We are 2000 years later, let’s not act as if we were primitive human beings, and look at what science has revealed about our universe, and it’s scientifically proven there are multiple universes not just one.
Religions have caused more wars, deaths, murders and the list goes on.
Not religions but people who used them, as they can use anything else.
I think religion is not the most important problem., the unmesurable greed of the power couses far more prombens to the many.
It never was. Christian religion is so strange to the European civilization (greek based) as Islam. Both religions came from the middle east,including completely different philosophical background and lifestyle. Europe has a history more than 2000 years.
Stefanos, agree with you
European laws are based on the teaching of Christianity. And thank goodness for that. To base it on any other religion would be going against the will of the people, as they are used to the form of tolerance the Chrisitian teachings offer. You only need look at Islamic States to see the horror of what they are forced to live by.
However, being Christian does not mean you have to embrace all and sundry when you know in the gut they are not playing by the game set up in the first place. It is stupidity not to remain blinkered because reality hits you in the face.
Lets take this revelation.
http://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/3639592-anger-surprise-us-newly-accused-spying-france.html#.1272-stage-hero1-6
How European leaders can be so naive to accept the obvious take over of our continent by a State nowhere close to our borders is foolhardy in the extreme. And additionally, to allow this back stabbing administration to set up nuclear bases all over our continent willy nilly is madness. The fear you have of Russia is US initiated. Christian the US is not. Even though they pretend to be. And be aware that the back stabbing goes far deeper than revealed by wiki. Their President told you openly, you cannot trust what we tell you, only a fool would do that.
We the citizens of Europe did not vote for US rule.
A Uniao Europeia uma civilizacao multicultural perante cristianismo e Deus. A religiao como dogma de Deus!
natürlich :)
NO ! UK example : In the years 1968 to 1999, Anglican Sunday church attendances almost halved, from 3.5 per cent of the population to just 1.9 per cent. One study published in 2008 suggested that if current trends were to continue, Sunday attendances could fall to 350,000 in 2030 and just 87,800 in 2050.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England#Membership
NO ! Germany example: According to a survey among German youths (aged between 12 and 24) in the year 2006, 30% of German youths believe in a personal god, 19% believe in some kind of supernatural power, 23% share agnostic views and 28% are atheists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Germany
NO ! US example : Christianity faces sharp decline as Americans are becoming even less affiliated with religion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/12/christianity-faces-sharp-decline-as-americans-are-becoming-even-less-affiliated-with-religion/?tid=sm_fb
NO ! Example Croatia : Church is creating very rich people .
Why should we respect religion ? Is this not a crime ? people are just wasting their time and money . Religious truth , Virgin Mary is going to do big thing , they promise , get believers , make money , nothing is going to happen , they change story and do the same thing again : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-FvMvsnttc
In just 5 years, the “seer” Ivan Dragicevic has bought properties worth a total of 1.566 million dollars, equivalent to 1,470,953 euro (taking into account the appreciation of the euro at the time of the trade).
An average American, in the 5 years would have earned $ 198,508 gross, gross 195 336 € (taking into account the appreciation of the euro year to year). Figures, gross, are nearly 10 times lower than the amount spent by the “seer”.
http://abateoimpertinente.wordpress.com/…/inchiesta-esclusi…-«nessuno-dei-veggenti-di-medjugorje-si-e-mai-arricchito-grazie-alle-apparizioni-»-ecco-le-prove-del-contrario/
A continent which exploits its people is not Christian, no it’s not.
European identity and States have been built and shaped in the name of Christianity. But not as you may think: for centuries Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants have hated and fought each others in bloody wars that caused hundreds thousands casualties. The principle of Westphalian treaties of “cuius regio eius religio” was established after so many slaughters between Christians that Europe was on its knees, yet it wasn’t the end of hatred and massacres of Christians whose religion was actually different.
Us Europeans can claim to be united by Christianity, but mostly because we have killed our European brothers in the name of Christ for centuries, until the removal of religion from public life and secularism laid the bases for the construction of a peaceful continent. Amen.
Not any longer. That is why Islam is taking over.
Religion is at the heart of much of the conflicts the world has known. Religion and race. Great dividers.
Wen we gona..,stop taking about religion,who gives a f..k….
Absolutely not!
it is embedded. but most of the ppl are not following official religion or are not beleivers
Of course it is and it will ever be, even if we have to fight.
The War is near!
Actually I was not even close to it in the beginning. it’s first in the last millennia that it’s turned Christian a boutique year 1000
Yes it is
Yes.
http://venitism.blogspot.gr/2015/06/psoriasis-of-democracy.html
Europe is a continent of Religious diversity
Ask John Stuart Mill, he knows
L’Europa è e deve essre laica . così dovrebbero essere tutte le nazioni del mondo intero.
Europe loos it’s identity in the desire to be “Democratic A La USA” The unification of Europe desunit the continent more than ever, because it us united only for the banks and profits. …free moment – do not means freedom!
Yes.
Yes! Despite freedom to be, and the fact many people may or may not be practising, this is a continent which societies have strong pillars set upon Christianity. It’s what makes the most humane values on our societies and what we most have in common.
No religion, no problems. Stop global illusion
Church attendance (or lack of it) doesn’t say it all. The positive effects of centuries of Christianity in Europe has made a deep and permanent impact on the moral basis of our societies, our art, music, human rights, legal and political systems, business practices, philosophy, etc. So although official Christendom is no longer apparent, the effects of it are, and in that sense Europe remains fundamentally Christian, and people should be careful not to reject what is the basis of our society in the name of “anti-religion”.
Yes!Europe is loosing its roots but its core its christian and despite its agony its still alive
No way
The history of Europe is indeed christian. The emirate of Granada was a historic footnote and the muslim regions in ex-Yugoslavia are remains of the Ottoman invasion. Not that we are that religious anymore (lucky) but our history is. The ottoman empire’s threat to Europe made this even more significant.
Muslims ruled all of Spain and Portugal, along with Southern Europe and the balkans
The funny thing is that Illyrians/Albanians made Europe Christian (Constantine) and Europeans now say Albanians are Muslim and therefore they should not be in Europe. Albanians are generally non-religious just like most of Europe. People have the freedom to believe what they want, as long as they are tolerant towards others. Europe is superficially Christian.
After about 1000 years of evangelization, a Great Schism, a Reformation, a Counter-reformation and Europe seating the head of the largest religious organization on Earth, it’d be weird if it wasn’t.
it is.
No.
Europa fue primero ROMA: Lo del siglo 15 fue apropiación Vaticana, hasta que la Revolución francesa dio lugar a naciones y reinos. Medio Oriente y Norte de Africa musulmanes, son Europa tb.
was
Yes
💟
Yes
Yes, but not the cristianity you picture above!
certainly yes….
Europe is a scientific consumerist continent.. There is a residual christianity in older people and in daily traditions but I believe the majority of the new generations couldn’t care less about religiosity.
Debating Europe
Your question goes against the EU Equality Directive & the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.
You may want to change it or you could end up at the European court of Human rights charged with inciting religious hatred.
European means Christian, European means Human, but it also means we are not afraid to fight for our values! That is shown all throughout the European history, when one power became to strong and tirade we always defeated it…
It was. Today people prefer to believe in nothing but envy thosr who still do.
War aber auch multikulturelle ist ok wenn ALLE von einander Respekt haben
Yes. . . The underlying background in law making and justice of the majority of the Eu states is based upon the Bible and the Christian way of life . . . Social care and services to help the poor and needy and to punish those who commit crimes is christian based
NO ONLY GREECE, SERBIA AND RUSSIA ARE CHRISTIAN ACCORDIND TO HOLY BIBLE, EUROPE HAS LOST IS WAY IN DARK SPIRAL
Yes it is!
CHRISTIANS ARE EUROPEAN!WE ARE NOT ASIAN!THANKS!
NO!
No
Atheist! Free from religion nation and other social constructs
most of yes like tradition, but not all real belivers
If it is democratic it cannot be Christian, as this would exclude non-Christians.
Yes
We talk about real europe not european union
Yesssss!
Yes!!!
Being Catolic / Christian has nothing to do w/forms of Government or being tyrannical or democratic.
But as Westerners peoples the Bible is one our basic common denominators.
And – w/Syria, Ukraine, Syrizas, …- do we need common values now!!!
(That’s why I’m against Turkey joining the EU)
Sort of our culture is influenced by the centuries of Christian kingdoms with all their authority and vicissitude, but while that’s not a central point of our lives, its definitely the foundation of our living rules.
No
NO.
Europe is pagan if you look far back enough.
I hope not.
Pagan.
As far as “Christian” refers to the way of living, Europe is Christian. Of course, currently we’re diverging towards a specific kind of paganism (money = God).
Isis followuers.
Believe in God is everything, Christ is the begin of religion…
was
Yes it is.
Of course. With Jewish roots.
Europe goes Saudi Green 1320 forever
Europe was infected once with Christianity, it had bloody wars for centuries to convert Orthodox Christianity to Catholicism, and later Protestanism and their branches, all for it being adaptable to the way of life of its societies. Now it should do all the same, once more with more noxious and dreadful religion i.e. the religion of Arabs of Desert.
It has a Christian Heritage. Karl Marx still rules a part of the territory. Poor education, and the natural emergence of the seven deadly sins as wealth nevertheless is on the rise, makes for confusion and to some extent makes it hard to maintain values embedded in the character of individuals and populations as a whole.
HAYIR.
YES :)
For a while. With the rate of Muslims getting in, they will destroy our culture and at a term Europeans will be under sharia law and again in a long period of Dark Age.
Europe is secular continent
It is also based on paganic religions, celtic, nature based, …
Yes, off course. The majority of europeans are christians.
no muslimk :p
Nooooooo
Yes, definitely.
NO CAUSE SOME COUNTRIES IN EUROPE ARE MUSLIM LIKE ALBANIA, KOSOVO, BOSNIA, TURKEY…….
if it is not, then what is it!? Or what is more common to all nations of EU?!
Christianity certainly played a role in Europe’s development in the middle ages, when it brought us together like in the example of the Holy Roman Empire, but it was the enlightement and the intellectuals who questioned status quo and created the Europe we have today, with freedom of expression, seperation of church and state, etc. Religion is merely a reflection of the current era, previously, what we consider ‘Christian’ today is very different from what a ‘Christian’ would have been a few hundred years ago.
Not at all
Yes we are …
I don’t think so, it’s even more what Roman Empire had done than Christianity (which, by the way, was used in the last phase of Roman empire, and keeps many of that ancient and old styled obsolete traditions)
uhhhh, no muslim
what a stupid question. Im tired of this religion stuff
ask charles darwin that question
We owe our civilization to christianity. It is our root.
don’t say that there is no similarity at all………..ohhh god…..it has a difference between day and night….
Europe has codes of thought and coduct based on christianity, but it’s a multicultural continent. Many ethinicities and different religions are present and many caucasian europeans don’t follow christianity at all.
Christianity forms a large part of Euopean Idenity and values. But so do things like Greek philosophy and the enlightenment. In many ways the europe we live in today only begins take shape after the domination of the church recedes.
Yes, definitely! EUROPE IS CHRISTIAN :-)
Latvians have always been true pagans velieving in their own Gods. Let’s leave this like it is.
NOOOO
While the majority of Europeans are of Christian faith, the only Christian state is the Holy See. All of the other European states have secular institutions.
Yes, there is a Christian heritage but not only. Focusing on this aspect only of Europe at the expense of our really rich history justifies hate, religion taking over states, rights stolen (especially women rights and LGBT + MOQUAI rights), islamophobia, other-faith hate.
So yeah: there is Christian people in Europe. But not only.
Beside, religion and faith are intimate decision that should not impact social, educational and economical state’s decisions.
no
Yes, it is. 72% of people identify as Christians and that’s by far the biggest group. I’m not a fan of organized religion but I’m glad that these are our common values.
I’d be saddened to see any other value system being the biggest TBH. I wouldn’t want to live in a place where a majority were atheists or agnostics, and I dont believe that the European Islam is a religion for everyone either.
Who could know nowadays!
If this is true, those Indo-Europeans are fucked!
I don’t think so. Europe is a continent in comfusion
Yep
Mornin’ Debating Europe, I think it should be, at least.
Good news is we’re moving into an atheist continent
i don’t realy understand why christianity is related to hate groups sometimes…..
No, Europe is a no-religious continent.
At the presennt state of Socio & Economic culture it is vain to think so. And it cannot be so.
.
‘European’ is a meaning term used to fool the simple minded into believing we are the same people.
Clearly we are not.
Of course it is. Base of European civilization, universities, canons of law, even the concept of every accused having an advocate in court — all stem from Christian roots. The very concept of ethics and morality being above law and law enforcing these values — a base for the universal human rights — is rooted in Christianity and it’s worldview.
Europe without Christianity would be just a generic land of temporariness.
Of course not….
Parászka Máté have you seen the news lately? The Church in many countries has no problem in linking itself to violent hate groups. That sucks for normal real Christians but that’s why most of us get the goosebumps whenever the Church/religion is mentioned.
Yes
Yes.
No 😊 Monoreligion ideas always had been wrong. Europe means to learn from the past mistakes
Debating Europe
I can only imagine how the 10’s of millions of Muslims, Sikh’s Hindus, ect would feel reading both your question and the comments on here.
What happened to your EU’s Motto of ‘United in diversity’, have you just admitted it is a lie ?
Zeus, Odin, Jupiter, here are our gods, among others, why should we obey south mediteranean monotheisms which proved many times being nonsenses and worth only as peoples controling tools for monarchies ?
Of course, the history proof – Bulgaria, the oldest country in Europe is Christian.
all i can tell that in the name o christianity there have been atrocities in europe and the middle east .
Europe has a Christian past. It’s about time we limit religion into the private space. I don’t want laws made by other people’s imaginary friends. We should be open to any religion as long as they don’t try to influence politics
Yes, we Are Christian, and Jesus is our God!
.
Of course not, Paganism is the foundation of all religions.
It is a christian continent, which means tolerance for other people religion. As simple as that
Europe once was, but in my opinion it is not anymore. America is far more religious than Europa nowadays.
Europe must be a continent of democracy and peace, without religion discriminations!
Europe is bigger than just a continent!
Europa staat voor verEeniging! Het doel is groots, goddelijk!!
Europe stands for Hope and Prosperity
L’Europe est au-dessus les differances et frontières -Monnet
Europe started with 3 BeneLux. .just to Let you know that Its not religion-based idea!
A union with 28 cultures,standing together for the greater common causes.. eradication of illetracy,poverty..terrorisme..piracy..
Europe thougts Are bounderieless!! Wich means GLOBAL!!
Save your brain! Be Atheist !
Europe was a pagan continent. Hebrew religions have no place in europe
European should be free to choose their religion, whichever it is, without the state interference. Organized religions should not be related with the state and Europe should put forward USA’s legislations (the original ones, not the -Republicanandchristian- ones) so as to liberate atheist from organized religions and motivate religious citizens to support their own beliefs and churches
Not since 1789
Historically speaking, Christianity is obviously a very important part of European identity and whether one “likes it or not” won’t change much about that fact. The question always is what role, if any, it can play shaping Europe’s future.
No. It shouldn’t be. Religion is a personal belief, and shouldn’t be part of our laws.
We have lost our beliefs, and lost the sacred. Be honest and see that our only Bible are consumerism, and market laws. For that reason our spiritual knowledge and guidance is poor, indeed our civilisation and children are somewhat and a little lost without spiritual guidance. However as occidental people, we are probably programmed since the 18th century philosophers, to use our brain first and to do not accept imposed truth. Some revealed beliefs cannot even allowed this freedom. So yes we are Christian first, but what we need first is not only a main religion, but true spirituality, true openness, and respect of the others and of the sacred i.e, environment, all sentient being, their progress and freedom and finally be ready to fight, to defend it. Europe should demand and realize the respect for these values, implementing these respects in its rules and practices.
pagan
Yes, it is!
No it isn’t. It is not possible to be Christian AND Capitalist!
No.
No the european religion is pagan but it was invaded by Christianity not it is being invaded by islam
Yes.
No! Because god don’t exist!
“…what defines the European intellectual space is its history, which is tied into Greek philosophy, the Roman empire, and of course Christianity, which has had an enormous effect on defining the culture, the politics, everything…
So, Christianity is always going to be there. It’s embedded. Even the type of secularism we have in Europe today is very much a Christian secularism, and that’s not going to go away. So, [Europe] is not going to become a non-Christian space just because people themselves are no longer Christian.”
I have THE answer: Europe is a Europeans continent. Stop with religions, they just divide, not join
Yes, it is
We shouldn’t even be debating this – but times oh times they r a changing
Capital has no religion…Europe is ruled by the capital…so, has no religion!
STUPID question YES it is!!!
Of course yes!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_contributions_to_Medieval_Europe
This totally disregards the influence of Islamic culture and knowledge in bringing Europe out of the “Dark Ages” during the Renaissance! The centre of civilisation in Europe at the time was Córdoba in Andalusia!
Well after crusades, inquisitions and fascists now it is almost Christian, but sane people see difference between Bronze Age mythology and reality…
It was a Christian continent -mostly- 500 years ago. Prior to that there were various other religions which define Europe at the same level Christianity does. Religions are destined to dissappear fortunately.
Still it might be…but what about the next generation? Saecularism is on the rise…so it may be time for all the religions to manifest & spread their uniting goals!
No! If Europe was a chirstian continent, then solidarity would be the only solution to all the problems. do you see solidarity?
Yes, it is (except in northern countries). Everyone that studied Europe’s history knows that.
Sure it is. And it is theleading continent only because it rejected Islam.
In recent times I found that all western countries have their constitution embeded in the BIble and principals of christianity. Obviously, that has something to do with christian influence and the way of our modern living. Yet, many people deny this recognition and think that they evolved by themselves to achieve such progressed way of living. They should think again before they make their free choices and think whom they really own that freedom and way of living. Currently 70% of migrants are from non christian countries flocking to christian countries. They could make their country a better place by simply changing their thinking and acepting christian values. Also, those who insist on other believes than christian they should move to non christian countries and taste the live there. I reacon, they would move quickly back to be under christian constitutional values.
Bonsoir
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Islamic continent inchalh
The greatest war happen because of the relugion!
Absolutly YES!!
NO! Religion must be a personal option!
No, there are a lot of Europeans that aren’t Christian (an evolution that started in 1789). Anyone claiming outerwise hasn’t brushed up on his or her European history.
What Europe needs is cohesion. It is time for Europe to identify its roots, since it cannot exist as a unit without a theoretical background.
Europe is an iopen continent. There a many Christian Churches in Europe. There are also Synagoges, Mosques and temples of other religious faiths. Do you find such religious diversity in other parts of let us say the Mediterranean Countries (including North Africa and the Middle East)?
if that’s true than the project of united Europe is destined to fail.It’s that simple.
Obviously
Does it matter whether it is or not?
YES! Even though today many evolved to follow science instead religion, or new age philosophies, we grew up to be a continent with higher levels of acceptance, capable of letting others express their different faiths and believes, that acceptance is exactly an expression of Christianity. So yes, Christianity is deeply embeded, is the base of what we are today.
No, but neither are Muslims. Being not from Europe means more then just religion
.
‘Europeans’ are the religious fundamentalist’s.
Religion = free choice. This said, of course one of the greater contribution to the European heritage comes from the Christianity… the good and the bad
.
Here is your answer, welcome to your EU.
http://www.thelocal.fr/20150804/dozens-of-christian-tombs-desecrated-in-france
Not entirely, but of certain it has left the sign.
Of course not.
The Church must separate the waters: Godspell for one side… Folk to the other.
Yes! Excepting Northern Europe!
Wow… as I was going down the list of comments I sadly came to the realisation that Europe is mainly populated by a bunch of idiots with little provincial minds, who are stuck in the past and so so so afraid of other influences that could disrupt their deluded attachment to a hateful and backwards religion… So many weak and scared little “christians” that are afraid of muslims, homosexuals and anything else that could make them question their pathetic lives and traditions.
If your cultures were worth anything, you wouldn’t be afraid of other influences… but clearly your “identities” are weak constructions that you need in order to feel protected and “belong” to something.
If Europe is “christian”, I’m leaving on the next boat, because it would mean all those centuries of gradual enlightenment and progress, would be meaningless. A christian Europe is for backward people, more backwards even than all those other religions that try to impose themselves on the people.
Religions are there to enslave and control people who can’t even figure out “bad” from “good” by themselves. Religious people have no morals… they are told what morals to have. Sad.
As a European I firmly believe that the day Europe becomes “christian”, it will be the beginning of the end under the dictatorship of the sad little weak sheep…
Hell NO! Vade retro with the myths and superstitions!!!
Sure it is…mostly everything is based on christain values…laws,culture,education,holidays,art,juridictions…etc
No. Time to move on from bronze age cave dwelling goat fucking “wisdom”
Yes. Christian.
No no no…leave that religious nonsense to Americans and others…we Europeans should be more free from religion like the Scandanavians
Oh my God !! Greek-roman only ?!? No Germanic people ? Their civilisation and culture is outstanding. Starting with the Vikings, even if they weren t Christian. Exactly like Greeks and Romans.
Zeus, Odin, Jupiter, here are our gods, among others, why should we obey south mediteranean monotheisms which proved many times being nonsenses and worth only as people controling tools for monarchies ? thousands of gods were invented, just let those ones disapear like they should already have, for mankind’s sake .
Dentro de la diversidad cultural existente en el continente, la impronta en dichas culturas dejada por el cristianismo ha sido profundísima, sin hacer más valoraciones al respecto. No excluye este hecho a las diversas aportaciones que el resto de religiones también transmitieron, enriqueciendo nuestra cultura con su aporte.
Yes.
Considering “Religious Identity,” what is not embeded in whomever ?
Historically, Yes. But Europeans are tolerant!…
It should be catholic . Amen . Do not be too tolerant . Look at arabs ….Be historically and curently loyal to your catholicysm .
Unfortunately Europe’s problems has slightly to do with religions… https://hat4uk.wordpress.com/2015/07/17/exclusive-how-belgian-anti-greece-hawk-verhofstadt-hid-his-financial-interest-in-greek-energy-privatisations/
That is the biggest insult you could give to me .
Can’t be…
Europe is sa freakin socialist continent :(
Emancipation is the message: http://ukkoelhob.blogspot.be/2012/04/emancipation-from-europes-arabo-judeo.html
w.w.w. Sant’ Eusebio…….
I believe that U.E. is Christian and democrat.
I think the question should be “Is Christianism a european religion?”
Croatian Catholics visiting heaven and having conversations with Virgin Mary : https://youtu.be/nVJYwRDN4BI?t=14m
rmally, YES, if they do not accept Islamisation…
I was born and brought up as a Catholic in a very Catholic country, and probably as a result of that became anti-clerical to a point that anti-clericalism drove me to evolve, eventually by way of reason, into an agnostic, and potentially verging into atheism, even if I still conserve a strong element of spiritualism. Emotionally I therefore find it difficult to identify myself with the definition of a “Christian Europe”. Rationally, however, I cannot fail to acknowledge the role of Christianity, just like Greek ‘psyche’ and Roman ‘civitas’ before that. But in the extreme south of Europe, how can one disregard the enlightened imprint of Arabo-Muslim influence and the cultural and commercial exchanges that took place all over the Mediterranean with the Muslim levant. These too have left an indelible mark in language, society, art, beliefs, etc. in the southern European culture I belong to. So saying it is a Christian Europe is too much of a blanket statement that does no justice to the complexity of today’s Europe.
Agreed!
Yes!
y u guys u dont like africa
Yes
Dans une Europe laïque, toutes les religions peuvent coexister .
I just wonder myself why my comment was deleted… So, Debating Europe, if in a Debate I have an opinion that you dislike, I cannot speak, humm?
Curious the way you support freedom of speech, my dear censor.
No, is not Christian at all. The foundation and the values of this governmental organization are founded on market, a more deepest and real experience than christian-insanity
not for longer
In sum, YES, christianism is/ has been the survivalist element of Europe, which, of course, is not surprising if simply following the periods of its development.
probably for Catholics it is
The European subcontinent is mostly Christian, but the European Union is an economic union and thus, it is and should remain open to any country with the respect for Democracy and the Human Rights as the only limit.
Turkey and Tunisia should have started real accession talks long ago…
non sò ma noi siamo più umani,tranne tedeschi
I totally agree with the reference of Europe as Greek, you should promote this message to Angela Merkel. The ideas that formed Rennaisance and Enlightment were indeed based on Greece. It was these ideas that humanized the Western Church in contradiction with the Orthodox Church, which stayed in Middle Ages. I am an atheist and I couldn’t do otherwise, because I believe that the Church here betrayed Greece in several ways, by selling the country to the Ottomans to secure their privileges, denying an independent Greek state and still not giving anything of their enormous fortune to help the Greek debt. So more or less I don’t think you can be Christian and Greek too, you have to choose. For me ancient Greeks were in fact atheists, their religion was an excuse to enjoy everyday life. They would very easily call a 1-day-god to help them in a particular issue. The Orthodox Christians unsuccessfully copied the Greek ideals, creating a bunch of Saints and selecting the ones that were ”suitable”. Don’t forget the crusades, the expel of heretics in Byzantine Empire (from whom the Islam was made from), the burn of scientists as witches etc. I’ve even read that Church stated that women didn’t have a soul till the 17th century. I believe that Europe is mostly Christian but I still think there are many people questioning out there and seeking the truth. For me Jesus is the leader of another nation and not mine, I could easily believe more in Socrates. Don’t forget that the Christians destroyed parts of the Parthenon, the sculptures, because they were nude, it was against their ethics. There are 2 main paths someone can choose, the 1st path is the ancient Greek ideals adjusted in modern societies that protect democracy and all kinds of freedom, science, progress, art. The 2nd path are the non-paganist religions and I’m referring to Judaism and its children Christianity and Islam, which are full of guilt and fear. These 2 main theories are having an eternal battle in Europe and now, more than ever people have to choose which kind of Europe they want to. The conservative one, the one that protects the elites no matter what or the one of the direct democracy, where people participate and define every aspect of it.
So a paganist approach which combines the love and respect for nature, democracy and human rights & atheism (as the adjustment of ancient Greece in today’s society) is nothing else but a leftwing ideology, which has nothing to do with Russia anymore, because they have veered far right. So Greece can definitely form and establish a new democratic leftwing ideology which includes all these ancient Greek ideals further analysed and examined to serve people’s needs.
Dear ‘Idiots’, Europe has never belonged to religion and undefined root wise rationale processing of ontological ‘shmugs’! Instead, Europe has always been a place of debate onto history and philosophy of religion, science, and art! We do not accept opinions that has been derived by ‘shmugs’. We will always belong to truth, to the further most approximation of a conceptual dimension of what will be tomorrow by objecting that only future space objectives reveal past time relevant events!
Christian. No doubt.
yes. Its roots are judaich-cristian with roman heritage.
yes
after the renaisance and the enlightment cecullar humanism is the main value …
Europe cant be really a “Christian Continent” as in “Everyone in the continent is baptized as a christian”.. Its more like “A continent which adapts into christian morals and behavior”. Im a christian and never really felt like I’m surrounded by Christians.. Since the place I live in has a variety of religions, I learned to live with every persons religious views. Now that doesn’t mean that everyone who is not a christian should be out of Europe, it just means that countries base their moral on Christian religion.
Are we going to forget the ottoman empire?
It was, now it’s a mixture and in the next years will be what?
Keep it secular. No more religious b*llsh** ruining everything.
It’s an atheist community that tolerates all beliefs in imaginary deities.
Yes it is!!! We are Christian and we are proud.
No doubs that Europe has Christian roots and is Christian for a majority, but Europe is also a very laic continent, which doesn’t mean atheist but which implies the possibility to choose his spirituality without imposing it to others. Europe is a peaceful continent which respect everyone and encourage freedom of thinking as long as it does not disturb others and doesn’t lead to fanatism, this is a true spiritual behavior and way of life. We should be proud to be European, encourage this model worldwide and do all efforts to make it evolve further on that path.
We are Christians in Europe.
Especially in Values!
Aggresive, lawless migrants are taking over Europe and you can be sure they will change the continent. They do not and will not respect Europian values! The leaders of EU are living in a dream-world, by the time they wake up it may be too late.
Since Hitler`s regime and the Holocaust It cannot be called Christian values. All creeds belong to Europe meanwhile.
ΤΗΕRE ARE SOME ROTTEN MINDS IN EUROPE WHO BELIEVE THAT : EUROPE HAS TO BECOME A NEW RACE SOMETHING LIKE A MIXTURE WITH OTHER BLACK & ASIAN RACES, IN ORDER TO: 1-)- BE LIKE THEM ( SEE THEIR HERITAGE & 2-)- TO BE EASILY CONTROLLABLE WITH NO RIGHTS AT ALL …CHECK IT & YOU THE THINKING READER WILL FIGURE IT OUT ABOUT THEIR SICK MOTIVES)!
It is, as far as I know…
yes, or muslims are majority allready ?
.
Great Britain leaving your pointless & antidemocratic EU is now guaranteed, so who cares :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34223157
Europe is a continent divided by an Iron Curtain. East Europe is more religious than western Europe. You just need to see the list of countries that accept homosexual marriage: They can marry in former ultra religious countries as Spain, Portugal or Ireland, I don’t imagine this will happen any soon in Hungary, Poland or Romania.
Even in this post, mostly of those defending a secular Europe are from the west and those defending a Christian Europe are from the East.
The European Union should not have expanded so fast. East European countries were not ready and are not ready. Just look at how they treat syrian refugees in Hungary. Shame.
Nope. Europe has a growing population of atheist and a load of different religious views. Which is truly lovely
secular fortunately and that is the message that needs to be present…to the ones already here and to the ones arriving
Saudi Green 1320 entire EU and its Citizen’s forever
it is and it must stay that way
Not anymore…
It was, but not anymore
A continent can not has a religion;people can be believers;This belief of them is between god and themselves;No one can intervene to it.Giving religion to a contient is a crime aganist humanity! You are intervening and forcing people to a belief system;especially to collapsing sects like orthadoxy;catholism or other religions so west created islamic terrorism via priest orders.They killed;They said islam believers did to rebring their finished sects in their logic and to attract fans to finished religion sects of them but islam become bigger in reality!It will be bigger so much than before day by day !
Giving religion name to a contient is a crime aganist humanity.People can be believers;Things contients buildings or other materials are not!
The only reason I can ascertain for Religion – of what ever faith is to control the masses. All are same but different and employ the difference to that particular regions advantage.
Is it not ? What are the roots of Europe ?
That is insult : ” Christian continent “. Now is 2015 and religious EU citizens should be under 50% . According to a 2010 Eurostat Eurobarometer poll, 51% of European Union citizens responded that “they believe there is a God”, whereas 26% answered that “they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force” and 20% that “they do not believe there is a spirit, God, nor life force”. Results were widely varied between different countries, with 94% of Maltese respondents stating that they believe in God, on the one end, and only 16% of Czechs stating the same on the other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism#Europe
It is and always be.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/saudi-arabia-offers-germany-200-mosques–one-for-every-100-refugees-who-arrived-last-weekend-10495082.html
not anymore …. at least Germany :)
This question could be serious if we consider our civic culture and religion like 2 different fields with no connection at all, but it does not work this way. Our civic society has its christian roots, even if nowadays we tend to forget or delete this uncomfortable fact. Even secularization come from cultural basis that can be relied to some aspects of religion.
So, I need to start with this caption: “Europe was a christian continent “, and it is slowly evolving into something new and different. Europe always had links to other societies, civilizations and cultures that inflenced our world a lot. Moving with the caption I have said before, I can now say that Europe was not just a Christian continent. It was a continent where christianity had a major role, clearly, but not the only one. It is highly hypocritical to think that a continent can just be one thing, even if I can understand the need of simplicity. We just need to remember that things are never simple nor easy.
I am not sure if Europe is a Christian continent, even I believe it is, but I am sure it is definitely not Muslim and Women rights should be defended!
Of course it is. And it is not the only one.
‘Christian’ in this context doesn’t only mean religious belief. It is a question of how those originally literal beliefs have informed our current legal & social practices, e.g. the anti-slavery movement, or the principles of the welfare state.
I think of myself as a pagan, living in harmony with the cycles of the year, taking care of my environment, celebrating a symbolic Goddess with many faces. I don’t adhere to any religious dogma, but I live within a sense of the sacred.
I also believe in nation states, as they seem to me necessary for democratic accountability. Look at the way Germany, for the 3rd time in a hundred years, is insisting that its ideas should dominate Europe. England twice resisted that, but I’m not so sure it can or will hold out against the current creation of ‘facts on the ground’.,.
Culturally, I recognise the way a belief in the New Testament led people away from the bloodthirst of the Old Testament kings, towards secular democracy. Ideas evolve – or at least, Christianity has evolved.
Islam has not, except to react against modernity so fundamentally that its followers cannot be expected to live in harmony with people from a long tradition of religious, political and social liberalism. This is not about race. It is about ideology, the meanings people attribute to their experiences, and what their social framework has taught them to think of as ‘normal’. As a woman, I greatly value my European freedoms, including access to art, music, antiquities, and the right to wear whatever I choose when I attend my gay friends’ wedding. I don’t agree to surrender them to Middle Eastern imams.
Look at the way the OIC is relentlessly lobbying the EU to replace the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the Cairo Declaration, based on Shari’a. They are also trying to make criticism of Islam illegal. So I am glad that Hungary has taken a stand.
In my view, Europe should be a multicultural space, where everbody has the RIGHT to their own oppinions ( to be read as freedom of expression) , no mather what the discussion is. Unfortunately, the christian values that exist through Europe are corrupted by islamic ones, and here i reffer to the positive discrimination that you can see regarding muslims. I dont say that all of them are the same, but most in the area where i live. I see muslims beating their wifes, agressing their children, stealing, and having an anti-social behaviour in general. They have rights, but no obligations, live on the social welfare and are the least integrated in the society. They’re barely speaking the language of the country that they live in for years, and their children and grandchildren follow the example that they see in the family. As result the education level of the mixed classrooms is trending down, because of political corectness and a forced morality adoption by some politicians that have completely lost contact with reality. So , if you ask me my opinion about islam in Europe, i am against it and i don’t belive that they add value to Europe.
Yes – many European structures have deep roots into Christianity – but for this situation to be sustained it is vital that there is a vibrant core of living faith which I fear is current!y dwindling. Our Christian status can only be redeemed as our churches are repopulated with believers!
Christian? In name only! Who (how much in %) still knows Bible or St.Aristotle/JPII Fides et Ratio, 1998? A return to an app pre-human stage in evolution is evident everywhere , first in massmedia, schools, Akademia, Church(es); a few islands of thinkers (libraries) are an exception of global stupidity; therefore, a more stupid and devilish Islam is spreading all over. Hm, just one perfect course in school curriculum on religion (the philosophy of science) would resolve the Problem (of Stupidity) once for ever; only in 20th cent we have the perfect divine tool of G.CAntor, B.Russell, K.Godel or A.Tarski to end Old Tradition(al) debates on religion and philosphy(ies). Have you not known it?
I think our world is world of multiculturalism & we can not tell this area has Christian or Jewish or Islamic content. we most accept multiculturalism
Europe is the continent of humanity and love.
So is America … right?
What stupid and provocative question is this? Seriously. Let’s debate something worthwhile for once…
With the way things are going not for very long !!!!!
Ban all muslims – aut from Europe – they are all criminals whit animal behavior
From Cyprus to Iceland and from Gibraltar to Finland, Europe’s roots are christians, BUT the generations “born” in the 1968 flower power, peace and love, are destroying them…They prefer to kneel to Islam then stand for christian civilisation.
C’est un continent de diversité culturelle et linguistique. Entre les Vikings, les Basques, les Sardes ou les Andalous, quoi de commun? L’être humain est HUMAIN, de l’Orient à l’Occident, du Sud au Nord.
Et les “chrétiens” ou “musulmans” qui viennent nous sommer de prendre parti pour une religion ou une autre commencent à sérieusement gonfler les HUMANISTES.
Demain, si j’ai le courage, je dirai la même chose en italien, espéranto ou anglais.
———————-
Domani, se ne avró il coraggio, diró lo stesso in italiano, esperanto o inglese.
To morrow, if I’ll have courage enough, I will repeat that in italian, esperanto or english.
Peacefully Progressing Saudi Green 1320 Europe Forever
Le christianisme est souvent une superstition comme une autre. La spiritualité c’est différent, et cela peut se référer à toute façon intelligente de vivre une “religion”. Les gens intelligents sont capables de se respecter au-delà des différences spirituelles ou religieuses.
YES
Europe is a continent (kind of), nothing more, nothing less
Europe is a secular continent :)
The question should not be so much about religion but about values. In an area such as the EU there should be a set of values and zero tolerance for who ever does not integrate them. Some religions do not comply with these values.
Yes
State business are for the state and Church for the Church. But, religion especially in the Eastern Orthodox living tradition cannot be considered private and individual, it is a social event! Generally, there are some areas of the public sphere that social values of Christianity are alive. Fortunately and thankfuly, I say. It is also encouraging that there are also areas that there is a way of desecularization, which is also welcome. It’s true that there is a need of resourcement in original Christian values such as philantrhopy, philadelphia, respect of nature. A task that both Clerical and State institutions must promote and implement through Arts, Education and Culture, for a better and inclusive future for all.
State business are for the state and Church for the Church. But, religion especially in the Eastern Orthodox living tradition cannot be considered private and individual, it is a social event! Generally, there are some areas of the public sphere that social values of Christianity are alive. Fortunately and thankfuly, I say. It is also encouraging that there are also areas that there is a way of desecularization, which is also welcome. It’s true that there is a need of resourcement in original Christian values such as philantrhopy, philadelphia, respect of nature. A task that both Clerical and State institutions must promote and implement through Arts, Education and Culture, for a better and inclusive future for all.
How is this even a question? Its built upon Christian values, sense of justice. Whole civilization of Europe, architecture, jurisdiction, legislation, and rest of its foundation has a deep connection to Christianity. This shouldn’t be a question at all.
Yes it is… there is the Middle East where Muslims can live in the dark ages there and enjoy their Sharia law there. They are welcome here in Europe but no Burkas or Mosques here please!
Europe is a fortunate continent where religious doctrines have been replaced in the course of our long and painful history by values, laws and principles. We should not allow our own fears or the agression of the other side to move us backwards from the present secular concept to a religious private club!
The funny thing is, that there have been Muslims in Europe for hundreds of years. Blind fear of some group of people is stupid. They are all criminals? Well, uh, no. Some are. But so are many “natives”. Categorizing people based on religion is pretty dumb.
for the first time I see this question on public space, although christian roots of our continent should be one of the principles of EU…
Christian values indeed form the basis of Europe. Among those values is also helping those in need. Discrimination and hate is ISIS business.
Apparently the writers are no Christians at all. :)
Europe is all religions and cultures
Europe is Christian indeed.
Definitively yes and we should be proud of it
Not Christian. Hopefully never again. Secular.
https://www.facebook.com/jobsallovereurope/
Everybody knows the answer! But, if you have doubts ask your grandma or grandpa…
I am fiercely European but agnostic, according to the majority of opinions here I should give up my citizenship. Ironic that so many then accuse muslims of fundamentalism. #potkettleblack
No.
NO , we should make research on it and ask people for their opinion . I am sure over 50% of EU citizens think that EU is not a Christian union . I believe over 65% of EU citizens never pray to God not go to the church . It is important to tell that because some people wants to implement some special justice because they think we should have some “Christians rules” . They use religion to win elections and to damage our democracy . Some percentage of people think no religious people should not have right to example become president , politician , police and similar government jobs. Atheists should become kind EU untouchables – dalits .
Religious tolerance should be the constitutional principle of EU
Europe is a continent that respects HUMAN Rights…The ethnic background is immaterial.RELIGION is something PRIVATE and personal and should be kept there.But I do not want anyone forcing their beliefs on me!
No, it Sas so manh years ago!
No, it was so many years ago.
Not all. I’m a Christian, but I want a secular Europe.
Not all. I’m a Christian, but I want a secular Europe.
Europe, in fact the whole world, would be a better place without religion. Proud to be an atheist.
Wendy, atheism is a religion as well. It is a system of belief. So not sure what you mean when you say you are proud of it. Do you mean it is somehow better than others. How does this sound: “I am proud to be Muslim”?
Yes is CHRISTIAN, all other are GUESTS and must respect the host’s rules
Irena, thank you for your comment. When people from christian countries move or visit other countries they are expected to respect that country as visitors or newcomers. Christian countries through freedom and acceptance of others views are hurting themself. They allow newcomers and visitors to change the nature and character of their own country to their detriment.Christian country should stay christian and if visitors want to live within their own religion and culture they should go back and stay there.. Europe paid big price to retain christian status and defended itself through centuries against outside attackers to be what it is now. Let it keep it this way. Only through christian values it will continue to progress to a better future.
not since the middle ages
No!!! Europe, in particular England, has been turned to money worshiping Buddhist country!!! At least for the last 30 years.
It was. It is fortunately becoming a scientific one….eventually… Still clearely a cristian one though
.
‘Europe’ might be but ‘Schengen’ isn’t.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/12090388/Europe-in-crisis-over-sex-attacks-by-migrants-amid-calls-for-emergency-EU-meeting.html
European Union has one major problem of unability to transform It into conservative or more liberal europe. Both regulations should have It place in Eu regressive leftism is destroying Eu. That way we should have even harsher deportation laws than USA. Reason is the recent rape scandal in multiple countries and quiet allowance of so called sharia law oh yes because we are facing democratic crisis. I SAY bring ukrainians chinese, japanese, koreans but dont just bring aby People because we all know rape is a part of islamic culture abd islam is AGAINST Human rights
The point is that Europe is agnostic! That is the difference to the rest of the world! It is the difference between reason and believe in bronce age mythology.
Unfortunately the only religion in Europe it is football…
EU was Christian….the Euroidiots destroyed it
Europe isn’t a continent, it’s a universal idea.
I like Europe to be french in that sense, based on division of powers and human rights. My opinion, a spaniard living in Scotland who doesn’t speak french. Greetings!
No we only believe in money and consumerism
No, Europe is and should be atheist and agnostic.
A modern Europe needs to become a nonreligious continent
Europe developped it self on the basis of christian value.each of our village has a temple or a church. And i prefer these christian values to the free mason values which intend to replace nations religion and family by this stupid world village project
Europe developped it self on the basis of christian value.each of our village has a temple or a church. And i prefer these christian values to the free mason values which intend to replace nations religion and family by this stupid world village project
Thanks to corrupt politicians and capitalists, Europe is becoming agnostic. The golden ox is winning over the voice of Christ. Soon, the crosses in the flags will be changed by croisants.
Nop! it is the the Roman Empire reformulated, just that! ;)
Europe and Europeans should die because they violate the laws of nature. https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/12/which-country-will-be-western-europes-biggest-by-2080/?utm_content=bufferb4458&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
– Is Africa a muslim continent? Is Asia a buddhist one? Is this question necessary?
– What are the ideological / religious alternatives? Is this a religious question or more about the lost identity of Europe?
What you mean as Europe is not a continent. Thank God.
historically, europe had elements of christianity, judaism, and islam. modern europe is based on ideas of human rights, democracy, science, and tolerance. and it should stay that way
Unfortunately Europe is a capitalist continent, so it has entirely lost evangelical christian roots
Now it still is ! In the future it might not be … I have no way of telling the future. But i think Europe should be secular, allowing religious freedom for everybody, while religions should stay only as personal beliefs not interfereing with the political life.
The question is tricky: Is “Europe a christian continent” in what way? If we talked about “christian” in a sense that the majority of people think of themselves as “christian” then i suppose yes,for many centuries now. If on the other hand,we talk about Europe as christian in an ethical of behavioural way,then not so much.
Supposedly “christian” nations has slavery until fairly recently for example,they exploited the people and natural resources of other nations,nowadays they use other nations as debt colonies ready for looting,bomb other countries, discriminate against other cultures,people, they close borders refusing help to refugees fleeing war,poverty etc…
There is nothing “christian” in today’s europe.
Oh,and by the way,the word “Europe” is the latinised version of the Greek word Ευρώπη.
Europa es cristiana! Ha sido desde siglos la religión mayoritaria, con influencia judía. La cristiandad es la única de las religiones que se ha adaptado y la que ha defendido la igualdad, libertad y el estado de bienestar.
Europe will be Christian or Europe won’t be! (Saint John Paul II)
WAS.not anymore.
It is not even a secular continent. In some parts of Europe, being Christian could mean being marginalized. Trust me, I know what I am talking about…
Of course it is… its silly to think otherwise… If it wasn’t we wouldnt still be reading the same authors, following the same programs at school as 50 years ago… what a ridiculous article…
Knowing The Scientific Semantics (after Alfred Tarski,1935, of Warsaw-Lvow School of Logic) would clarify a (debate)mess.The term “Christian” means what? Just to be formally baptized? I think it is meant just a state or union (UE) has a law trying to follow Christian(Bible,Aristotle-es basic values. If the present UE general population is ignorant like in Dark Ages (Middle Ages) on science, philsophy and theology; therefore, we have another TV dumb debating show. To remind: in 1905 (and 1915) Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity resolved the old conflict Copernicus@Gallieo contra RC/Vatican@Ptolomey followers once for all; there is not an absolute movement of anything (Earth or Sun or stars) but it depends on the reference system (an observer); consequently, “what moves around what?’ is a wrong question! Who cares still? Analogically, discoveries in (biblical)hermeneutics and the foundation of logic as applied to any science and any (axiomatic) system has resolved all past controversies.I smell it is too abstract for UE “graudates”
I think Europe is no more a Christian continent. It has some social, cultural and democratic values as to show Christian behaviour but Europe is basically and secular continent today in 2016. Christianity is a minority faith in Europe in the sense that The Word of God call what Chrsitianity is. I believe Europe is not going back to her real Christian values, neither it is going to embrace any other religious values. May God has His mercy upon Europe.
Yes, it is obvious
Of course yes. Constantin clovis,charlemagne all the european monarchies were christian…all our laws issued by republicans even most of our revolutions are based on christian words…
Yesss
We toletate others religions provided they fully respect our laws,our culture,our traditions and adapt to them…we shall never adapt ourselfes to foreign ideology and religions
There is doubts about that lol
yes,europe,our common mother is cristian continent.And all of us will never forget or forgive all those people that fight against european cristian identity.The stracture of europe is based in cristianity and the greek-roman culture.
Yes, and it will remain christian at least 2000 more years
NO , young EU citizens are for over 70% atheists . Religious are for the most old , uneducated village folk. THE BIGGEST BLUFF IN HUMAN HISTORY IS THIS : Number of no religious people . Number atheists and no religious people is not 1 billion it is over 3 billion . Just one example China , Japan and Korea have more atheists than they are Muslims on the Earth but for some reason you can’t find it in statistics . Next Religion in Germany : More than 38% of the population is not affiliated with any church or belongs to some other religious body. The same is for the rest of the EU . UK : Whilst a majority of citizens identify as Christians, when asked “Are you religious?” in the National Census 2011; 29 per cent responded Yes vs 65 per cent No, 6 per cent did not know. US : Over the same period, the percentage of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated – describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” – has jumped more than six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%. http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/
http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/files/im/b2wAQ1W.png
People use the word Christian for behaviour that does not cause harm to others. Any action or decision that causes harm or suffering no matter what religion or non-religion the person has is what is undesirable. Therefore some TROIKA and IMF decisions cause human suffering, or the banking and economic system causes human suffering, or profit-insatiability of corporations all cause human suffering, or are ‘unchristian’.
The only true religion is Science. Everything else is just philosophies that suck people dry.
If a person obeys the law, he can worship everything and everyone, even the Jedi!
Of course it is, our thought, our laws, our behaviors are deeply based in the christian religion even if we are not christians. Being christian peoples has merged intesively with our concept of people and with our cultures
Lol, there are more atheists then christians in europe.
Europe is moving to a more secular society and it allows people to freely believe on what they want. If they don’t want to have a religion then they are entitled to. But its roots are Christian, there is no doubt about that.
Oh, there is much doubt about that. Christianity wasn’t born in Europe, it was brought there. The cultures in Europe had other beliefs. Denying these as a part of the European identity is a demonstration of ignorance.
The question is not asking the origins of Christianity. The question is asking whether Europe is Christian. The cultures in Europe were mixed with beliefs from Germanic tribes etc. No one is denying other origins. Europe certainly was more Christian in the middle ages but now it seems to be moving to a more secular society.
Yes
Of course it is.
Yes it was, but already are three little countries in Europe that are mostly Muslims, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo,
No! We luckily escaped them.
Yes
Yes.
Our roots are christian, obviously. If we had to pick one identitarian religion to characterize Europe, it would be christianism.
15th century?
Columbanus predates that by several centuries!
And was acknowledged as the first European by Robert Schumann.
The native religion of Europe is not christianity. The true identity of Europe belongs to the classical era. Europe and all the traditions were christianized. The process of christianization was much more terrible than the current process of islamization. You can make horrible things, maybe it is necessary sometimes, but if you win the war you will always have the support of the majority part of the civil society.
The winners write the history and manipulate the public opinion
Yes definitely it is….so stop your communist anarchist evil tactics to destroy it
Not totally,… but ff certain not Islamic.
No. If it were a Christian continent it wouldn’t allow other religions to exist. It’s a secular continent with a rich Christian history.
God fobid! Europe or in fact European Union.. not secular at all. Get your facts right! Find out what the stars on the unions flag were based on. The original statut of EU. France is secular.. yes. Have you been around actual Europe?
Please.. which country does not celebrate Christmas with lights on the streets Christmas trees etc? Go to Spain, Italy, Poland or Ireland and tell them they are secular.. hahaha
Snother theme for debating . Is the water wet ????
If we loose our roots we loose all of our existence.
I understand your point juan . Amb just islamophobic m to me islam is not compatible with our laws . Read the Coran
ask your father or your grandpa
Of course it is…historically.. but then again its now also beyond that…Leave religions to the backward continents… (We’ll manage it all from the Vatican with an app..)
It is interesting how some ppl who come originaly from Muslim countries are unhappy with our laws and culture and want to introduce Sharia law in Europe (I had a conversation with male Muslims recently about it). Why would Islamic culture, values and law be good for European countries? If you like the Europe as it is… integrate and asymilate to Our laws. If you don’t like it and you want Islamic values and laws.. move to a country that follows Islam as national rule.
It seemed simple enough to me. The weird thing was: these men want white girls, open sex whenever they want, European freedoms, financial stability etc. that the Europe provides… but they want their Muslim rules and values at the same time..
So.. We just couldn’t agree on how THAT world would look like.. U CAN’T HAVE THE CAKE AND EAT THE CAKE. Once you have devoured the lovely, yummy cake… you can’t have it again and That was something these guys COULD NOT UNDERSTAND.
Ideas anyone?
More likely an atheist continent, and there is no place for Muslims.
EXTREEM GELOOF IS ALTIJD EEN VORM VAN RACISME 😉😉😉😉😉
Europe was and will always be a Christian continent. The time will come when we will get rid of the “liberalism” and “multicultarism” that the islamophils controlling our countries are trying to teach us.
I think a lot of the people claiming here that Europe is a Christian continent, don’t understand what the word Christian means.
A secular Christian continent.
Majority will be Atheist. Religion is what is believing in primitive answer for physical and life worlds. If Science cannot answer all questions that doesn’t mean what religion said are true. If science fails answering then it will remain unknown or unanswered. Only fools will accept theist’s/religious answer. Definitely there will be a minority who yet believe in God, Satan, Ghost etc.
It depends which out of three things you mean. Being Christian, agreeing with whole teaching or agreeing with major principles. The last one for sure is.
No, European states are secular. Hence, the development.
Helena Lago
No doubt. Despite countries secular government which is out of question, art, culture, and tradition are deeply influenced by Christianity,
Secularism is simply the belief that Church and State should be separate. It’s a belief which developed through the Renaissance and Reformation in Europe, and was strongly held by Christian ‘dissenters’ or ‘nonconformists’ in the Netherlands and England, some of whom set sail for ‘New England’ and ‘New Amsterdam’ (New York). Since the seventeenth century, these churches and groups have held their belief in a broad toleration of faith and conscience extending to people of other faiths (Jews in Cromwell’s England and Muslims in Bethlen’s Transylvania). State religion is in decline, but ‘disestablished’ Christianity continues to hold, or even increase in membership.
Absolutely not! As for now being an atheist is being European
It is part if our heritage, and therefore embedded in our culture whether one is religious or not. Same Goes for greek philosophers
Christianity is integral part of European culture and heritage, just think about all those Cathedrals and renaissance paintings….. you don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the contributions that Christianity made in shaping western civilization….
It should be secular.
Europe is decadent
In varietate concordia!!!
No matter what, I think Europe shaped Christianity more than the other way around.
I would say european culture ie heavely influences by religion, specially Christian and Pagan. There are exceptions. I do not think this is the case in Albania, Kosovo, etc!
NO , Christian means toy that created Dark Ages , the Middle Ages, or “Age of Faith”, was therefore the polar opposite of the Age of Reason. : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography)#/media/File:Tommaso.Laureti_Triumph.of.Christianity.jpg
No
Just ask your father or grand father.
Yes of course
Yes.It’s our nature among with other things.
not. Rather the opposite, the fight against the religions and traditions. That s the difference.
Yes, and those not christian always respected christianity. Unlike the new migrants being forced on us.
monotheism is the disease draining th life from Europe.
Can we extend that thought to “theism” only? ;)
Yes, Europe has ever been Christian continent.
More or less yes.
European culture is based on ancient Greek civilization and Christianity . But this doesn’t mean that difference is bad.
NO!!!
Unfortunately not.
yes it is, great religions shape civilizations and the European one has been shaped like this by Christianity, in which democracy originated (and it isn’t me who claims that, it is one of the most famous atheists in Europe who said that democracy originates from Christianity, namely F. Nietzsche – this is probably why modern atheist movements renegated him)
no!
In this present age it would be wiser for the EU to associate and abide by values rather than a religion. Values and ethics would benefit the people of the EU and the people globally if only the EU enforced an ‘Ethical Europe’ like the logo on this posts image states. Take ethical action first then earn your Ethical Europe label.
You took the words out of my mouth Julia. Well said.
Not anymore.
Being an european, it almost means necessarily to be a christian. Since you’ve opened the gates of Hell, I easily recognise, that I am an unitarian and proud of it!
“Is Europe a Christian continent?”
“Is Christian identity ‘embedded’ in what it means to be European?”
Two very different questions, and one of these is quite bias. What’s supposed to be an “European” exactly? A citizen of the European continent, or a citizen of the European (future to be) super state/country??
I’m only citizen of the European continent and don’t intend to be anything else than that. So is the Christian identity (whatever that might be…) embedded in the citizens of the European Continent? I guess yes, until a certain point. But lets say that the supposed “Christian values” are nothing else than human values and common sense. So can we say that the European continent is somewhat of a human values oriented system (some would say secular..)? We could… if we keep the TV on and the social blindfolds on. But the reality is quite different…
Europe, start putting words in practice for a change. Equality. That’s a value right? Why does the church doesn’t pay taxes like everyone else? Hmm….. I wonder…
yes and no.. European identity was shaped from classic Greek culture and Christian religion,many of what we call ”European values ” was shaped from that background
Religion has no place in the 21st century. While it should not be banned, I think that it should never be taught in schools or be promoted by the state. Nearly all wars and suffering can be directly attributed to religion so states should have nothing to do with it whatsoever. It is a wicked construct from a bygone age. Europe needs to move on.
A wrong (scientifically) question! One can ask about an individual but not a nation or a continent or a state if it does at least in general follows the Dekalog in law. If 72% acknowledges themselves Christians, then the majority is still Christian; how they in practice follow the teaching of Jesus Christ is another story. At the same time so called UEParlament introduces anti-Christian (and Bible) laws on abortion, euthanasia or homosexual “marragies (a semantical horror term according to St.Aristotle’s (divine) logic; therefore we have again a contra situtation to the(absolute/divine) principle of contradiction (of St.Aristotle,also in Matthew 5:37),i.e. in practice UE is not Christian but Devilish
‘The culture of death’…
‘Human Rights’ certainly falls on its own sword when the most vulnerable and defenceless living beings – inside women – are not protected with any automatic right to live.
It’s pick-and-choose-Convenience-check-boxes for morality as far as Western politics is concerned – convenience before care equals hypocrisy. There are, however, many people who make up the Christian population, in Europe. Severely negative figures are likely to be manipulative scare tactics contrived by the secular media, which prefers sensationalism over truth, for obvious reasons.
Europe has been Christian as early as the first century – the rich blood of martyrdom runs deep through the earth, as if it were travelling through tree roots of unlimited growth, extending in reach right across the globe, with a force of love so strong that no dried out surface can forever hide the pulse. And the cracks in secularism begin to show.
Christianity is madness to most of those who don’t believe. And though ‘free-choice’, in the agenda-based way it is understood is, in essence, selfish and therefore evil, the general understanding in western ‘civilization’ – I feel brave using that word – that we should not force others to believe but allow people to find their way home is a gift handed down to us to be grateful for. A civilization that is not empirical, hateful, dominating, vengeful or oppressive (compared to some places in the world).
…what secular-minded Europe tends to forget is that the freedom to be able to make conscious decisions for the good of ourselves and others is thanks to the spread of Christianity through the ages and it being so very deep-rooted in rightful living.
And this is exactly what makes militantly secular motives and free-choice agendas so hypocritical: because they abuse the very foundational structure that allowed them the ability and opportunity to live a happy life in the first place, which is compassion for, and preservation of, life. All life.
There are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world today before counting the number from denominational branches of Christianity. Nothing to worry about in the long run.
Thanks.
Is Europe a #racist continent?
Shouldn’t it be less white?
its a white continent…
…christian, pagan…
No. Continents do not have religious views. They have mountains and stuff.
It’s a total no-brainer. Yes
It is a human continent, no matter what imaginary friends’ supportrs may think
Let’s be fair. Christian or not, it has played a major role in the development of Europe. And I can’t really say that it was for the best.
our laws, our civilization, our moral and ethic code, our behavior, our holidays, the names of many cities, hoods and streets, they all scream the same answer to this question: YES!
It should be secular. No religion, thanks.
The Christian religion as we know it is highly influenced by plato. Our laws and values are build in Christian (ergo platonic) values. So i would say europe is a Christian and greek continent.
Why don’t you stop asking deviding questions and start asking unifying ones? It’s the European Union and not the European Division…
Weird article, especially the nothing-saying comments of the think tank member; why then are christian countries in afrika so Different to those in Europe?
It is way too ambivalent to answere it with such a simple answere like the author does. I am a bit diappointed from this Website.
No, it’s Islamic. At least according to EU commissioner Federica Morgherini.
No its a rainy and cold continent
que europa? a europa continente ou a UE?
YES!!! The rest are GUESTS!!!
Europe’s Religious Roots were neither Judaism nor Christianity, but Paganism…..
Yes and white!
If Europe should be a Christian continent like now in Poland? I would say, NO THANKS!!!!!!!
Yes, It is! It’s in our blood…
What Of Kind Christianity The GOD Own Or The White Supremacy Own That Accept Other People Apart From Blacks?
What a ridiculous question…… Personally I think religion should never have a claim to territory. Aside from this, such statement would be historically incorrect. Europe is, and has always been, a continent of many civilisations, religions, ideologies and peoples. To be frank I think historically Europe is, by far, the most multicultural of continents. Each culture has contributed to our ‘identity’ in some way. Romans and Greeks gave us philosophy, architecture, scientific theory. Christrianity gave is writing and preserved (or hoarded) much knowledge through our darker days. (And before Christians start to think them holier than thou, also a lot of bloodshed). Vikings gave us seafaring and navigation. Islam Rennesaince gave us mathmatics, medicine, scientific theory, astronomy and architecture. Traders from China gave us gunpowder. Humanism gave us rationalism, secularism, equality and many others. I’ll stop the list here because I think I’ve made my argument well enough.
Saying Europe is a Christian continent is a selfish, ignorant and divise thing to say. In this particular case, Islam has for a long time been a part of Europe and will remain to be so. So let’s turn to more constructive debates.
Yes, thankfully it still is.
From a theological point of view one of the central christian belief is God becoming a human in Jesus Christ. This momentan of incarnation can br understood as intergrate Impulse for secularism inside Christianity.
.
‘Europe’ is a multi-faith continent, only arrogant EU’ers claim it is a Christian one.
Just as the UK is a multi-faith island and only the arrogant claim it has nothing to do with the Church of England… and Christianity.
It is still christian, but our liberal politicians wanna to be something else! Pls wake up!!!
Obviously not. Most nations in Europe do not support any rigion.
Yes!
It is and ti will stay as Christian continent
Yes. But it s not white.
no, because maybe the only christian was christ
YES and proud of it.
YES and proud of it.
hell NO
hell NO
no!
no!
Yes.
Yesssssss……
Commission doest not like it but yes…..commission and the new free mason lobby wants to destroy nations and religion to make of us a quiet submissive consumer……then goldman and qacks with the treator Barroso Will rule the world…..