Europe's crisis of faith

[웃 910]

• • Pope Benedict XVI
  • Friday 30 December 2011 14.00 EST

As this year draws to a close, Europe is undergoing an economic and financial crisis, which is ultimately based on the ethical crisis looming over the old continent. Even if such values as solidarity, commitment to one's neighbour and responsibility towards the poor and suffering are largely uncontroversial, still the motivation is often lacking for individuals and large sectors of society to practise renunciation and make sacrifices. Perception and will do not necessarily go hand in hand.

In defending personal interests, the will obscures perception, and perception thus weakened is unable to stiffen the will. In this sense, some quite fundamental questions emerge from this crisis: where is the light that is capable of illuminating our perception not merely with general ideas, but with concrete imperatives? Where is the force that draws the will upwards? These are questions that must be answered by our proclamation of the Gospel, by the new evangelisation, so that message may become event, so that proclamation may lead to life.

Not only faithful believers but also outside observers are noticing with concern that regular churchgoers are growing older all the time and that their number is constantly diminishing; that recruitment of priests is stagnating; that scepticism and unbelief are growing. What, then, are we to do? There are endless debates over what must be done in order to reverse the trend. There is no doubt that a variety of things need to be done. But action alone fails to resolve the matter. The essence of the crisis of the church in Europe is the crisis of faith. If we find no answer to this, if faith does not take on new life, deep conviction and real strength from the encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective.

On this point, the encounter with Africa's joyful passion for faith brought great encouragement. None of the faith fatigue that is so prevalent here, none of the oft-encountered sense of having had enough of Christianity, was detectable there. Amid all the problems, sufferings and trials that Africa clearly experiences, one could still sense the people's joy in being Christian, buoyed up by inner happiness at knowing Christ and belonging to his church.

Where does joy come from? How is it to be explained? Certainly, there are many factors at work here. But in my view, the crucial one is this certainty, based on faith: I am wanted; I have a task in history; I am accepted, I am loved. Only from the You can the I come into itself. Only if it is accepted, can it accept itself. Those who are unloved cannot even love themselves.

This sense of being accepted comes in the first instance from other human beings. But all human acceptance is fragile. Ultimately we need a sense of being accepted unconditionally. Only if God accepts me, and I become convinced of this, do I know definitively: it is good that I exist. It is good to be a human being. If ever man's sense of being accepted and loved by God is lost, then there is no longer any answer to the question whether to be a human being is good at all. Doubt concerning human existence becomes more and more insurmountable.

Where doubt over God becomes prevalent, then doubt over humanity follows inevitably. We see today how widely this doubt is spreading. We see it in the joylessness, in the inner sadness, that can be read on so many human faces today. Only faith gives me the conviction: it is good that I exist. It is good to be a human being, even in hard times.

http://www.guardian....ope?INTCMP=SRCH

Edited January 1, 2012 by ☠

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

When knowledge is increased, superstition and believe in the imaginary friend in "heaven" diminishes.

As humanity evolves out of the dark ages, explores space and the composition of the elements of life, more and more people are learning to read and are allowed to think for themselves, women too, churches will become historical sites, admired for their architectural beauty only.

Thank God.

Edited January 1, 2012 by Brother Hesekiel

[Max1gk 68]

When knowledge is increased, superstition and believe in the imaginary friend in "heaven" diminishes.

As humanity evolves out of the dark ages, explores space and the composition of the elements of life, more and more people are learning to read and are allowed to think for themselves, women too, churches will become historical sites, admired for their architectural beauty only.

Thank God.

... I can't possibly put enough thumbs up emoticons. Totally agree.

[Danno 1,228]

When knowledge is increased, superstition and believe in the imaginary friend in "heaven" diminishes.

As humanity evolves out of the dark ages, explores space and the composition of the elements of life, more and more people are learning to read and are allowed to think for themselves, women too, churches will become historical sites, admired for their architectural beauty only.

Thank God.

Of course you obviously have a very very narrow historic window through which your suggestion works.

perhaps the last 50-75 years, when you look back farther than that you see it was the Church and other religious institutes which brought the written language to the masses.

It would seem your "personal opinion" on spiritual matters has clouded your historical vision again.

Edited January 2, 2012 by Danno