I’m attending a conference yesterday and today on the work of Hartmut Rosa on “resonance.” It’s intriguing to me the majority of attendees are from Canada, Germany, Denmark and some other places where religious decline has meant almost no one today is connected to church.
I'd be cautious with words like "almost no one". I have maintained contact with Lutheran pastors and communities for decades, both EKD and SELK, where membership is still active even if the churches aren't packed any more than ours are. I just returned from a trip in which I visited with pastors and worshipped on two Sundays with congregations. Lots to talk about here. I enjoy reading your mind.
That's fair. The "almost no one" was language from people there. Just looking I see about 3% of Germans attend church. That's... not a lot... Thanks for reading and engaging!
Good American comment. We tend to judge Christian faith by church attendance. I find it fascinating that a typical editorial in Germany can read, e.g., "in a Christian country like this, that shouldn't happen." Germany can say that with its two "official" Christian State churches. We can't, because we have a separation of church and state. The definition of what constitutes a Christian society or community is worth a discussion. I enjoy your creative mind.
SO glad you're attending that conference (which I had no time to do), and SO glad that you are offering this thoughtful insight!
The conference was very focused and as a result offered itself as a great summary of Rosa's work. I feel like I have a very clear sense of it now.
I'd be cautious with words like "almost no one". I have maintained contact with Lutheran pastors and communities for decades, both EKD and SELK, where membership is still active even if the churches aren't packed any more than ours are. I just returned from a trip in which I visited with pastors and worshipped on two Sundays with congregations. Lots to talk about here. I enjoy reading your mind.
That's fair. The "almost no one" was language from people there. Just looking I see about 3% of Germans attend church. That's... not a lot... Thanks for reading and engaging!
Good American comment. We tend to judge Christian faith by church attendance. I find it fascinating that a typical editorial in Germany can read, e.g., "in a Christian country like this, that shouldn't happen." Germany can say that with its two "official" Christian State churches. We can't, because we have a separation of church and state. The definition of what constitutes a Christian society or community is worth a discussion. I enjoy your creative mind.