Future of Catholicism

**The Lawspeaker** · 09-11-2019, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by PaleoEuropean

If they believe in the Dogma and the Doctrine they should start their own church, would much rather see a Dutch people XD, at least the church wouldn't be stealing money and it's finances would be in order.

I am not sure whether that is going to happen any time soon. Young people either do not seek baptism (are secular) or don't attend (the traditional Dutch way of voting with your feet. In the Netherlands this goes back centuries (even during the days of the Dutch Republic where most people either half-heartedly joined the established Reformed Church and not attending, joining other groups in opposition (and not attending) or simply not bothering about Church at all or and modern Protestant groups suffer from this just the same).

**Dragoon** · 09-12-2019, 03:07 AM

The future of Christianity (including Catholics) will likely be in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consider that their population is likely to continue skyrocketing.

In the mean time the current liberal or whatever the hell it is system is slowly eating religion away from people (the communists did it the faster way but the results are similar).

Most "Christians" today in Europe are cultural or "do what I want" types. Practicing and believing make up a SMALL minority.

Its reality. If the current system isnt swept away by revolution or radical changes, then European/Western Christianity will be finished.

**PaleoEuropean** · 09-12-2019, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Dragoon

The future of Christianity (including Catholics) will likely be in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consider that their population is likely to continue skyrocketing.

In the mean time the current liberal or whatever the hell it is system is slowly eating religion away from people (the communists did it the faster way but the results are similar).

Most "Christians" today in Europe are cultural or "do what I want" types. Practicing and believing make up a SMALL minority.

Its reality. If the current system isnt swept away by revolution or radical changes, then European/Western Christianity will be finished.

You are leaving God out of the equation

**Creoda** · 09-12-2019, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by JosephK

Oh. Never mind, then.

I was thinking of the beautiful Catholic churches around the world, and the Eastern/Southern European Immigrant communities in the US around in the 19th century, when donor contributions enhanced the glorification of the Church, as opposed to Protestant chapels in which donor contributions go to the mortgage and car payments of the preachers.

Seems like the opposite to me. Spiritually empty people require grandiose surroundings.

I admire the beauty of great Gothic cathedrals, but there's nothing that captures the spirit of Christianity and people's personal relationship to god better than a small humble village church.

**PaleoEuropean** · 09-12-2019, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Creoda

Seems like the opposite to me. Spiritually empty people require grandiose surroundings.

I wan't a good congregation and preacher/s, good doctrine and real authenticity, I have been in tons of nice Catholic churches and they felt lifeless, like the statues and the relics and crap can't replace doing good, living by the virtues of the bible, helping people in need etc. The best churches I have been to were old musty wood buildings with beat up carpet. Having someone talk with the congregation not at them.

**Creoda** · 09-12-2019, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by PaleoEuropean

I wan't a good congregation and preacher/s, good doctrine and real authenticity, I have been in tons of nice Catholic churches and they felt lifeless, like the statues and the relics and crap can't replace doing good, living by the virtues of the bible, helping people in need etc. The best churches I have been to were old musty wood buildings with beat up carpet. Having someone talk with the congregation not at them.

I grew up going to both Catholic and a fundamentalist protestant Church (which had split from the Uniting Church, which itself was the result of a split from Methodist & Presbyterian churches) at different times. The former was a lovely building and the jewel of the town, the latter was held in a room at the Community centre. Truthfully I was always bored stiff at both but the up-close-and-personal approach of the latter left more of an impression on me, in spite of how ridiculous I thought a lot of what they were saying was. They were definitely not empty despite the shoddiness of the building, they were really great salt of the earth people and I admired them a lot.

**Loki** · 09-12-2019, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dragoon

The future of Christianity (including Catholics) will likely be in Sub-Saharan Africa. Consider that their population is likely to continue skyrocketing.

In the mean time the current liberal or whatever the hell it is system is slowly eating religion away from people (the communists did it the faster way but the results are similar).

Most "Christians" today in Europe are cultural or "do what I want" types. Practicing and believing make up a SMALL minority.

Its reality. If the current system isnt swept away by revolution or radical changes, then European/Western Christianity will be finished.

Nonsense. Christianity is truly global today... in every continent well established. And yes, Europe has very much strayed from the path... but they have the opportunity to return to God. Also, remember that there is probably not much time left before Jesus comes again -- and if you want the real answer to your question, then go to the words of Jesus: he said that this gospel will be preached in the whole world, and then the end will come. We are rapidly getting there....

**~~Joso~~** · 10-31-2019, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by Adamastor

I agree, if you want a traditional religion with beautiful rites and rich symbolism in the West you need to be Catholic. Protestantism is really really sterile and the legacy they will left in the world are disgusting Pentecostal cults in Latin America and Africa.

Look how their churches look:

This cannot be superior to this:

God likely has a good aesthetic taste.

lol mate... Your post clearly shows why the Catholic church is dying. It is pure vainity, no humility. There is no real intention to worship God, they just want to keep their old fashioned traditions. Which is the exact opposite of the example of Jesus. He lived a life of simplicity since his birth and kept it til his death. He also didn't mind to broke traditions, even because himself is the only way to God, the only truth and the only life .