Who made the church university die?

What is the situation of modern Christianity?

A glimpse of Catholicism today

There is a popular saying after the war that the influence of Christianity weakened after the war, especially in developed countries. Of course, this can't be completely denied, but it's not difficult to find the reason if we carefully explore its root causes. This is due to the rapid development of science and technology after the war, especially the life of people in highly developed countries has been greatly improved. Some people, especially young people, are intoxicated with temporary debauchery, ease and happiness, and are desperate for material enjoyment, leaving their ethics and spiritual life behind.

However, people will always be spiritual animals, and things will never satisfy people's desires, and eventually they will feel spiritually empty and tired of material life. In recent years, news media in Europe and America have reported time and again that young people in Europe and America have gradually recovered their old values. For example, in an article entitled "Top Ten Concepts of the French in the 1990s" published by French Weekend Weekly 199 1 on February 26th, in the article "Looking for spiritual sustenance", the gift of converting to religion and reviving God was specifically mentioned. According to recent reports, French Catholic youth have regained their vitality and youth organizations have flourished.

The same thing happened in other developed countries. According to the article 1992- America in the shadow of recession in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the popular slogan in the United States is "return to basics", and the final conclusion is: "After the collapse of values in the 1980s, people began to miss the past in a chaotic state". According to the Hong Kong market report on April 15, 199 1, in the "fashion kingdom" of Italy, consumers tend to return to the basics, and people are tired of flashy things.

Other capitalist countries are similar. Take Japan as an example. It is obvious to all that the speed of Japan's scientific and technological economic development has become a threat to Europe and America. However, during April 1987, the newspaper published an article entitled "The Rise of Religious Fever in Japan", which also mentioned that this religious fever was highlighted by the growing interest of young people in religion, including their interest in Christianity. Although there are only a few Christians in Japan (1%), her influence far exceeds her number. It is estimated that the Japanese who have a good impression of Christianity may be above 25%. Secondly, the number of Catholics in Japan has also increased quite rapidly. After the war, there were only120 thousand Catholics, and in recent years it has reached more than 400 thousand. Many powerful people, such as the first post-war Prime Minister Yoshitomo (Nixon said "Yoshitomo made the Japanese a powerful and free new country"), were baptized at 1967; Japan's Ambassador to the Vatican Yamei was baptized on 1983.

The decline of Christianity in some developed countries is only a temporary phenomenon. We know that extremes meet, material enjoyment has reached its peak and has begun to develop in the opposite direction. People demand to restore spiritual life, and the ultimate of spiritual life is religious life. Therefore, in some countries today, the decline of Christianity is only a temporary phenomenon, especially it cannot be said that it will go to extinction. Her development has ups and downs, and history has proved that she will eventually recover and become stronger. We can't help but see one situation after another, just as the ancients said: "If you lose the east corner, you will reap the mulberry." In other parts of the world, Catholicism is developing rapidly today. Just like in the newly capitalist South Korea, Catholics have jumped from120,000 after the war to more than 2.4 million today! (1990, compared with 19821300,000), it has increased 20 times in 45 years! During the same period, the number of Catholics in India increased from 5 million to nearly14 million today. In addition, Indonesia and Malaysia also have considerable growth. Other Asian countries also have considerable growth.

Today, the fastest development of Catholicism is in Africa, and the number of Catholics in many countries in Central Africa has increased exponentially. For example, since the second teaching in Zaire, it has only been a little over 100. In the 1950s, there were less than 3 million Catholics,15 million in 1960, and11500,000 in 1990, accounting for 52.3% of the total population (compare 190). Another example is Cameroon,/kloc-. By 1990, the membership has exceeded 3 million, accounting for 28. 1% of the total population. Uganda had less than 10,000 members a hundred years ago, and now there are 7 million members, accounting for one tenth of the wartime population and more than 40% today. At the end of World War II, Catholics in Angola accounted for about 20% of the total population, but in 1990, it reached 54. 1%. Others such as Rwanda, Burundi, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Has exceeded half of the population. In addition, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan and other countries have also seen substantial growth. As far as Africa is concerned, the total number of Catholics has suddenly increased from 8 million in the 1950s to more than 80 million today, increasing by 10 times in 40 years. At the same time, Africa's vocation is also developed. The number of pastors in Africa increased from 18056 in 1987 to 19629 in 1990. The number of maintenance students has increased from 10025 to 12636, and it is still increasing.

Even the so-called depressed Christianity (including Catholicism) in Europe and America has a positive side. There are many exciting things, and there is a tendency to restore faith. On March 7th, 198 1, Guangming Daily article: "Religious Thoughts in the Crisis of Western Civilization" said: "Now in some capitalist countries, there has been a new religious upsurge, religious issues have attracted more and more people's attention, religious literature has experienced unprecedented prosperity, and both Catholicism and Christianity have shown a revival trend. 1978 The eighty-fifth Catholic celebration rally held in Freiburg, West Germany, was attended by 100,000 people, most of whom were young people. "

1986 When Pope John Paul II visited France for the third time, 60,000 young people attended mass at a time. In addition, the number of people who go to Luther for pilgrimage every year is 4.2 million in 1984, and it is said that there are more than 6 million people in 199 1.

Italy's "Ansa" reported in Rome on May 23, 1986: According to an "Italian values survey", "some traditional values have been mentioned in the first place." On moral issues, 77% people think that we should pay attention to facts, sense of responsibility, tolerance and obedience, and religious beliefs.

1986 65438+1October 3 1 The British newspaper Le Monde reported that in East Berlin, Catholic churches and Lutheran churches were crowded with thousands of young people.

In the same year 10, National Geographic magazine said in an article "The Status of the Netherlands" that you can find more religious books in this bookstore-you have a strong interest in Christianity, whether it is Catholicism or Protestantism.

Graham, an outstanding English novelist who died recently; Obsessed with various theories, loving productism and thinking about suicide, Green was finally classified as Catholic after years of exploration and research. Another famous British literary and art figure, Margaret (alive at the time of writing this book-1992), dean of Edinburgh University and later engaged in television work, was baptized by Catholicism with her wife on1982+065438+June 27th.

In recent years, the news media has repeatedly reported the revival of Christianity in the United States. If you have a dollar bill in your hand, you will see a line printed on the back, which means "We believe in God". Until 1955, the president of the United States approved a congressional decree, and announced in 1956 that "we believe in God" was the official motto of the United States. According to the Gallup poll of 1989, and the research report of journalist Castries and Catholic sociologist grilli, the belief of American people is still very strong today, and the habit of going to church is similar to that of 1930s, which is totally contrary to popular belief. The report says that 94% of Americans believe in God; 90% people pray; 80% people believe in "the end of the world"; 70% people believe that there will be super life after death. There are 55 million Catholic friends in the United States, half of whom undertake some obligations for the church. Every year,1100,000 children and adults are baptized, and the number of people enrolled in Catholic universities has increased dramatically. More people are living a beautiful religious life than before.

As we all know, Ireland and Poland are the most popular countries of Catholicism.

According to opinion polls, two thirds of Irish people are against divorce and abortion. The number of missionaries in Poland is increasing year by year. For example, the total number of priests in 1987 is 20,529, and it is 2 1854 in 1990. In three years, it has increased by over 1300, and the number of students majoring in 1980 is 6,285. As many as 1000 priests went abroad to preach.

The current situation of Catholicism mentioned above is probably not what you thought.

Appendix I

Profile of West German society (Zhao Run)

(See China Youth 1 subtitle at the end of 23rd 1979: Even the Father of the Rocket Believes in God).

"In West Germany, towering church spires can be seen everywhere in both cities and villages. From the perspective of architectural art, the church is really beautiful and solemn, especially the golden spire of the bell tower shines in the sun, which attracts people's attention from a distance. Every city has its famous church as a symbol and symbol of the city. In West Germany, more than 96% people are religious. They basically belong to two sects, that is, half believe in Christianity and the other half believe in Catholicism. In southern Germany, such as Bavaria, Catholicism has a great influence. We visited several cathedrals in Munich and Otto Bojland. Otto Bojland is 100 kilometers away from the city. They are all magnificent and have a long history, and now they are well protected. Many people dress up and drive to church on Sunday. There are not only middle-aged and elderly people but also young men and women among good men and women. The high vault is painted with angels with wings; The cross of Jesus' crucifixion on on the altar was decorated with golden light. The priest preached in front, and the believers listened silently below, as if people had returned to the theocratic era. Marx said that religion is opium that poisons people, and the appearance of religion reflects that primitive people are powerless to the harsh natural phenomena they don't understand, so they opposed science from the beginning. But in the 1970s, human science and technology were highly developed, and atomic energy, electronic computers and space navigation came out one after another, marking the deepening of human understanding of the natural and objective world. In this situation of scientific prosperity, religion should withdraw from people's hearts and lives. However, in West Germany, a highly developed industrial country, religious belief is so prevalent that many famous scientists have left the laboratory to go to church. German rocket expert Weinuo # 8226; Seal # 8226; Braun, known by foreigners as "the father of rockets", made outstanding contributions to landing on the moon. Such scientists also believe in God. He said that whenever he felt powerless, he always prayed to God. On the one hand, he engaged in cutting-edge science, on the other hand, he fell at the feet of God. This is indeed a problem worthy of serious consideration and exploration. But this is the reality of West German society. "

Appendix II

The number of religious believers among American college students has soared.

American News and World Report1reported on October 9, 1984, with the title: Religions Revival in Colleges and Universities.

Religion is reviving among young people, and we can often see the development trend of American social fashion sensitively from young people.

In some universities, the number of religious believers has doubled or tripled, schools and churches are crowded, and students go to prayer meetings and Bible reading meetings in droves.

The leaders of the school and the church said: Some students are interested in religion because they are eager for support when they encounter difficulties, and some students are eager to join hands with people with the same beliefs.

An example of this change is that students at Louisiana State University suddenly clamored for more religious courses. The university arranged only one professor to teach religious courses three years ago, and now it has opened a religious course of 16.

In just two years, the enrollment of religious classes at Michigan State University soared from 392 to 705. Students' renewed interest in religion is not only manifested in their desire to learn religion. At the University of California, Berkeley, 1500 students flock to the new york Mass Center every Sunday, which shows that students are eager to be with people with the same values.

At the University of New Hampshire, there are only 480 seats in the church, but now every Sunday night, 600 students flock to the church to watch mass.

The results of some recent opinion polls among young people also reflect many changes in this regard. A new report of Gallup poll shows that the number of young people aged 18 to 20 who study religion has more than doubled in four years, and now accounts for 35%. The growth rate of young people participating in religious activities is nearly twice that of the whole population. According to Gallup poll, the proportion of college students who think religion is very important has increased from 39% to 50% in the past five years. Opinion polls call this upward trend "very obvious".

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Swedish Catholicism is booming.

Sweden is a well-known welfare country, with vast territory and abundant resources and rich life. However, in recent years, Lutheranism, as the state religion, is very depressed. According to the survey of 199 1, only one third of the people in China believe in God, and 50% of marriages have been divorced. Many Protestants are in extreme confusion, and people feel empty and lonely. At this time, Catholicism began to develop and filled the spiritual vacuum. With its strong vitality, richness and plasticity, she combines with various cultures and thrives, becoming a haven and lighthouse in the dim society of northern Europe. In the past, Catholicism was discriminated against and the number of believers was small. It was not until 1952 that the Swedish parliament passed the law on religious freedom. In recent years, Catholicism has greatly increased in Northern Europe, especially in Sweden. By 1990, the Nordic membership has reached 250,000, and it is still increasing, and the prospect is bright. This is mainly because Catholicism is more organized, broader-minded and more conscientious, and has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Secondly, in recent years, Northern Europe is relatively open and there are many immigrants. Most priests and nuns come from abroad. They cooperate with each other and live in harmony. People are deeply moved by this selfless intimacy. Therefore, Catholicism is developing steadily and rapidly.