The Most Godless Place on Earth
TGC Blog | May 15, 2012
The Background: Surveys show that in the eastern part of Germany, more than 71% of those under 28 years old say they have never believed in the existence of God. That's nearly as many as in the 38-47 group, of which 72.6% are non-believers. Approximately 46% of all East Germans surveyed described themselves as atheists, compared to 4.9% of West Germans.How did the home of the Protestant Reformation become the most godless place on the planet? Some of the reasons for the lack of belief, say researchers, are "the deep mark left by the National Socialists and the Communists," the fact that many Slavic and non-Orthodox communities present in the area since the Middle Ages were nonreligious, and that the secularization movements during the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) were particularly strong in the states of Thuringia and Saxony.
What It Means: Eberhard Tiefensee a professor of theology at University of Erfurt says that, "if East Germany is a missionary country, then Christian teaching must address not other religions but a stable, non-religious milieu." Tiefensee told Die Welt that he sees no cause for resignation, though he admited that "all those attempting to change the status quo whether they're calling it a mission, evangelizing, or neo-evangelizing, have to bear in mind just how wide the divide is between them and those they're addressing."
The breadth of this divide is difficult for many Christians in America to comprehend. We are so accustomed to the buffonish Anglo-Saxon variety of "New Atheism" that we tend to forget that hardcore unbelief is a serious threat throughout much of Europe. We should pray for the German churches and the missionaries who are attempting to bring back the Gospel to a land in which it was once proclaimed boldly.
Comments:
May 17, 2012 at 03:23 PM
For a bit of perspective from an atheist: while I'm sure that part of the reason for the relatively high rate of atheism in East Germany is the heritage of Nazism and then Communism, there is also a general growth of atheism in Western Europe that has nothing to do with this, seen especially in Scandinavia but also here in Austria. More and more people simply don't believe any more, and there's not much you can do about it.
May 15, 2012 at 12:08 PM
As a man of German descent, this news breaks my heart! We should all pray for Germany and for the churches to be passionate in prayer and proclamation!
May 15, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Does it (this news) break our heart? Does it move us to prayer? Does it inflame our boldness to proclaim?
The answers to these questions are a good test of our passion for Christ and the truth of the gospel.
May 15, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Well the eastern part of Germany DID grow up under Communist rule and enforced atheism. If no one shows up to let them know otherwise, how will they know a better way?
May 15, 2012 at 07:29 AM
Joe Carter asks: "How did the home of the Protestant Reformation become the most godless place on the planet?"
Indeed. Lutheranism is worth examining and considering.
May 15, 2012 at 07:21 PM
This is the wrath of God. When a country is atheist and seemingly unchristian, it is the punishment of God in real-time action.
Just like when an individual has turned such a corner that they not only dishonor God, but sin viciously without care or concern, it also is the real-time wrath of God upon them.
If God allows a person or a country to have their own way in sin, then that person or country should take heed and repent immediately because their window for salvation is closing and almost completely closed. God's wrath is no longer merely resting on them (and every unbeliever, as the bible says), but it has become ACTIVE.
May 15, 2012 at 04:37 PM
I was blessed by some missionaries in East Germany in my senior year of college. They allowed me to come for a week to see what they do and pray with them. I keep praying for the work they do which they described as "plowing in concrete." Yikes!
May 15, 2012 at 02:27 PM
Hi Daniel, thanks for your response! I want to clarify that I appreciate the ministry of foreigners in Germany very much. I know several of them personally and am aware of the sacrifice they and their supporters make.
The caveat is related to the second point I made: I suppose it really depends on the place and situation. Especially in more rural areas, I would expect foreigners to be less trusted, especially if they are there just for a short time. There is also a certain amount of anti-Americanism, which I deeply regret (I lived in the U.S. for two years). On the other hand, there is still a certain excitement about meeting foreigners from certain countries, and that might actually be a benefit. In East Germany, however, there is a greater level of xenophobia than the rest of the country. Finally, this is just my own experience and opinion, it might not be statistically significant :)
I am glad that you have been given such success in your ministry and applaud you for going to Bulgaria. I totally agree that the Gospel is certainly not tied to a certain culture and can be presented to any culture.
May 15, 2012 at 01:56 PM
Hey Martin,
My point is not so much about who goes but that the resources are made available for those who can effectively share the Gospel. Of course if there are nationals, this is by far preferred, which I'm sure you agree with, but sometimes there is not always a bountiful supply of ready workers. Gospel proclamation can be a costly business, especially in that part of the world, and so we should be ready to bear the cost of supporting all the options: ready made nationals, training nationals, and foreigners.
You last point is interesting in that I have a little experience on this one. I'm an Aussie living and serving in Bulgaria. The world is getting smaller and smaller, and especially in Europe those national and ethnic lines are becoming more and more blurred (except between the Brits and the French:)), although we have seen these sharpen in recent years. We live in a small rural village and have been readily accepted into life here. I can also say that when we have shared the Gospel it has been well received with open hearts. 'Why has nobody ever told us this before?' is the kind of comment we get from people who have turned to Christ - I suppose that is the beauty of the Gospel - it doesn't look Australian or German:)
May 15, 2012 at 01:17 PM
Daniel: As with most nations, I think it would be most beneficial to support native missionaries and locals who already are established in the culture and workplace, in preference to sending people who have to learn the language/culture and find support from outside. There needs to be a healthy balance of both approaches. Having been born and raised in East Germany myself (although in a Christian environment), I think many people there are wary of foreigners coming to teach them religious things. It may be easier in big cities like Berlin, where there are a lot of internationals anyway. Thoughts?
May 15, 2012 at 01:09 PM
It also is a stark reminder to the wider church that mission is not about bang for buck, but seeing the Gospel proclaimed. It cost money to live in western europe, and it will cost money to see the Gospel reach it, but someone has go to do it, and the church needs to generously open up to ploughing resources into this part of the world.
Heather E. Carrillo
May 17, 2012 at 04:09 PM
Of course not. Humans can't save anyone. Only God can...hence the prayer.