Religion has been a controversial, almost political matter since its invention. In fact, modern religion was considered as a form or means of civilization. This is clearly seen from many colonization stories where colonialists urged the natives to abandon their ways of worship and embrace the 'civilized ones'. Europe was one of the modern civilizations where it gave Christianity emerged. The clergy used to work closely with kings in passing of judgment and Popes crowned kings. The entire title of Europe being secular is ironic in a number of ways. Firstly, the article states that Europe does not place much attention to religion affecting public life. This is ironic because Europe itself used to execute civilians who did not conform to the ways of the church. Currently, we see a Europe with a diminishing trend in terms of religious practices. If such continues, the region is taking a direction of declaring the religion and public life relationship as almost extinct. In fact, the founders of religion itself are dumping it (Pew Research Center, 2005).
In the olden days-or maybe not so long ago when Galileo declared that the earth was a sphere, he was excommunicated from the church. The statement at the time appeared controversial, although it was hard to establish the extent at which his proclamation was against all the teachings of the church. In his speech, Peter Berger states a finding that contradicts all the ways of the early church. He says that modernity, which was greatly suppressed during Galileo's time, is the most favored nation in Europe in recent times. Europe has embraced modernity that has led to the rampant spread of secularization (Pew Research Center, 2005).
The other contrasting and ironic factor about modern European religion is its practice, which is considered as a 'patchwork'. Central and western Europe have a system where the 'patchwork 'religion is practiced privately in peoples' homes especially in…
Sample Source(s) Used
Work cited
Pew Research Center. Secular Europe and Religious America: Implications for Transatlantic
Relations. Pew Research Center. Web. 2005. Accessed 19 February 2014
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