Europe's last Christians

[Breathe]

By "Christians", I don't mean by the people who just write Christian on the Census paper but never go to church. I mean the Christians who take their religion so seriously, that they make it a part of their daily life. Sure Europe's gotten more secular but that doesnt mean that reliigion has completely disappeared from the continent. Christians do exist still. They are even more religious that "American Bible Belt". In American bible belt, people do go against bible. The south is known for high drug usage, obesity (gluttony), teen pregnancy (most are out of wedlock), alcoholism, and etc. Most Bible Belts in Europe are strictly Christian.

GERMANY

Catholics:


Bruderhof community:


NETHERLANDS

Calvinists:


UNITED KINGDOM

Brethrens:


Bruderhof:


RUSSIA

Old Believers:


ESTONIA

Christians of Kihnu Island:


Scandinavian Laestadians (can't find a pics about them but they don't practice homosexuality, premarital sex, gothic/punk fashion, must marry in early age, don't watch tv, use internet etc)

[Mingle]

Why did you mention Calvinists and Catholics? In the Netherlands, most Protestants are Calvinist (Dutch Reformed) and Lutherans are a minority. Southern Germany is Catholic majority.

[Mazik]

Scandinavian Laestadians (can't find a pics about them but they don't practice homosexuality, premarital sex, gothic/punk fashion, must marry in early age, don't watch tv, use internet etc)

A pic from a Laestadian church in Gagnef, Dalarna:



They also don't use protection and in many cases have up to 10 kids or more. Some ancestors of mine formed that branch of christianity. They also don't drink alcohol.

[Breathe]

A pic from a Laestadian church in Gagnef, Dalarna:



They also don't use protection and in many cases have up to 10 kids or more. Some ancestors of mine formed that branch of christianity. They also don't drink alcohol.

Very interesting. Do Laestadians have a special dress code or do they just dress like everyone else? Also, are all Laestadians Laplanders?

[Breathe]

Bump

[Marmie Dearest]

I'm really glad you mentioned obesity/gluttony as one of the issues with the American Bible belt.

Don't forget greed. The prosperity gospel is partially responsible for the reprehensible election results.

Interesting thread.

[Profileid]

I'm really glad you mentioned obesity/gluttony as one of the issues with the American Bible belt.

Don't forget greed. The prosperity gospel is partially responsible for the reprehensible election results.

Interesting thread.

Exactly.
Prosperity gospel is a despicable thing which is against Christianity. We were told not to care about this world.

[Shah-Jehan]

Pretty rare in Western Europe I'd assume.

[Breathe]

They may be rare but not nonexistent. I heard the Bible Belt in Netherlands runs across the country. So that's pretty big. But unfortunately, when we think of Netherlands, we think of Liberal Amsterdam.

We should keep in mind not all Netherlands is like that. There are extremely religious parts of Netherlands where people still take the Bible literally. Stores are closed Sunday, women wear traditional attire, premarital sex is very rare, divorce is rare, and illegitimate children are uncommon too.

So yes, this is part of Dutch culture too.

[elbrus954]

Anyone who takes the Bible literally is STUPID. Jesus was not the son of any God or resurrected from the dead. It's medically impossible. Nevertheless I respect the Christian faith and believe it should be preserved in both Europe and the USA.