FYI : The Providential Role of Early Religion in the Philippines, Europe and the New World Order in 3rd September 2012 Proclamation by ABS CBN AND AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ET. ALL of OUR BELOVED SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRISTS AND NEW MESSIAH, THE MESSIANIC LEADER, MESSIANIC FIGURE AND BUSINESS MOGUL, THE REV. DR. SUN MYUNG MOON. The Development of Religion in Europe and the New World Religion in Europe has been a major influence on todays society art, culture, philosophy and law. The largest religion in Europe for at least a millennium and a half has been Christianity. Three countries in Southeastern Europe have Muslim majorities. Ancient European religions included veneration for deities such as Zeus and Odin. Modern revival movements of these religions include Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry, Wicca, and others. Smaller religions include Judaism, Indian religions, and some East Asian religions, which are found in their largest groups in Britain, France, and Kalmykia. Over the last several decades, religious practice has been declining as secularization has increased.[2] History Little is known about the prehistoric religion of Neolithic Europe. Bronze and Iron Age religion in Europe as elsewhere was predominantly polytheistic (Ancient Greek religion, Ancient Roman religion, Finnish paganism, Celtic polytheism, Germanic paganism, etc.). The Roman Empire officially adopted Christianity in AD 380. During the Early Middle Ages, most of Europe underwent Christianization, a process essentially complete with the Christianization of Scandinavia in the High Middle Ages. The emergence of the notion of Europe or Western World is intimately connected with the idea of Christendom, especially since Christianity in the Middle East was marginalized by the rise of Islam from the 8th century, a constellation that led to the Crusades, which although unsuccessful militarily were an important step in the emergence of a religious identity of Europe. At all times, traditions of folk religion existed largely independent from official denomination or dogmatic theology. The Great Schism of the 11th century and Reformation of the 16th century were to tear apart Christendom into hostile factions, and following the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century, atheism and agnosticism have spread across Europe. 19th-century Orientalism contributed to a certain popularity of Buddhism, and the 20th century brought increasing syncretism, New Age, and various new religious movements divorcing spirituality from inherited traditions for many Europeans. The latest history brought increased secularisation, and religious pluralism.[3] Religiosity European countries have experienced a decline in church membership and church attendance.[4][5] A relevant example of ongoing trend is Sweden where the church of Sweden, previously the state-church until 2000, claimed to have 82.9% of the Swedish population as its flock in 2000. Surveys showed this had dropped to 72.9% by 2008.[6] However in the 2005 eurobarometer poll only 23%[7] and in the 2010 eurobarometer poll only 18%[1] of the Swedish population said they believed in a personal God. Author Fr. Chad J. Stumph, D.D. en.wikibooks.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity/Medieval_Christianity/Development_of_the_Medieval_Church
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 09:04:37 +0000