Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular Europe

Austria's census data permits demographers to perform analysis which indicates the secular population in Europe plateauing by 2050, or as early as 2021.[1]

Post 2050 or sooner, Europe will experience a trend of desecularization (See: European desecularization in the 21st century).

Concerning the future of religion/secularism in Europe, professor Eric Kaufmann wrote:

“  |  We have performed these unprecedented analyses on several cases. Austria offers us a window into what the future holds. Its census question on religious affiliation permits us to perform cohort component projections, which show the secular population plateauing by 2050, or as early as 2021 if secularism fails to attract lapsed Christians and new Muslim immigrants at the same rate as it has in the past. (Goujon, Skirbekk et al. 2006).

This task will arguably become far more difficult as the supply of nominal Christians dries up while more secularisation-resistant Muslims and committed rump Christians comprise an increasing share of the population.[2]

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Regarding the future of evangelical Protestantism in Europe, in a paper entitled Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century, Kaufmann wrote:

“  |  What of European Christianity? The conventional wisdom holds it to be in free fall, especially in Western Europe. (Bruce 2002) This is undoubtedly correct for Catholic Europe, while Protestant Europe already has low levels of religious practice. Yet closer scrutiny reveals an increasingly lively and demographically growing Christian remnant. Several studies have examined the connection between religiosity - whether defined as attendance, belief or affiliation - and fertility in Europe. Most find a statistically significant effect even when controlling for age, education, income, marital status and other factors...

Moving to the wider spectrum of European Christianity, we find that fertility is indeed much higher among European women who are religious...

Today, most of those who remain religious in Europe wear their beliefs lightly, but conservative Christianity is hardly a spent force. Data on conservative Christians is difficult to come by since many new churches keep few official records. Reports from the World Christian Database, which meticulously tracks reports from church bodies, indicates that 4.1 percent of Europeans (including Russians) were evangelical Christians in 2005. This figure rises to 4.9 percent in northern, western and southern Europe. Most religious conservatives are charismatics, working within mainstream denominations like Catholicism or Lutheranism to ‘renew’ the faith along more conservative lines. There is also an important minority of Pentecostals, who account for .5% of Europe’s population. Together, charismatics and Pentecostals account for close to 5 % of Europe’s population. The proportion of conservative Christians has been rising, however: some estimate that the trajectory of conservative Christian growth has outpaced that of Islam in Europe. (Jenkins 2007: 75).

In many European countries, the proportion of conservative Christians is close to the number who are recorded as attending church weekly. This would suggest an increasingly devout Christian remnant is emerging in western Europe which is more resistant to secularization. This shows up in France, Britain and Scandinavia (less Finland), the most secular countries where we have 1981, 1990 and 2000 EVS and 2004 ESS data on religiosity...

Currently there are more evangelical Christians than Muslims in Europe. (Jenkins 2007: 75) In Eastern Europe, as outside the western world, Pentecostalism is a sociological and not a demographic phenomenon. In Western Europe, by contrast, demography is central to evangelicalism’s growth, especially in urban areas. Alas, immigration brings two foreign imports, Islam and Christianity, to secular Europe.[3]

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## Contents

* 1 Projected growth of evangelical Christianity in Europe according to Operation World
* 2 Growth of French evangelical Protestant Christianity
* 3 Growth of British evangelical Christianity
* 4 Growth of German evangelical Protestantism
* 5 Growth of Swiss evangelical Protestantism
* 6 Eastern and Central Europe and desecularization
* 7 Sociologist Peter Berger on Pentecostalism and Europe
* 8 European desecularization in the 21st century
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 Notes

### Projected growth of evangelical Christianity in Europe according to Operation World[edit]

Justin Long, citing statistics from Operation World states:

“  |  Europe. From 18 million today, this model projects growth to 26 million evangelicals by 2100. The annual growth rate will decline along with the falling population AGR, which is projected to hit its peak ‘low’ rate of -0.246% per annum around 2075. Since the evangelical AGR will not be as slow as the population’s, Europe will actually become more evangelical (by percentage of the population): rising from 2.5% in 2010 to 4% in 2100 in this model.[4] |  ”

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### Growth of French evangelical Protestant Christianity[edit]

French scholars say, evangelicalism is likely the fastest-growing religion in France – defying all stereotypes about one of Europe's most secular nations. In 2011, The number of evangelical churches increased from 769 to 2,068 in 2011.[5]

See also: Growth of evangelical Protestantism in France

According to the article Evangelicals in France:

“  |  For the first time since the 1950s, French Protestants make up close to 3% of the population – driven largely by growth in the Evangelical population (representing 1.6% of the population). While churches are being planted at an increasing rate, as of 2017, there was still an average of just one Evangelical church for every 26,485 people.

The goal set forth by the majority of denominations is to see one church for every 10,000 inhabitants – making the Gospel accessible to all French people...

Evangelicals by the numbers:

* 650,000 – Regularly practice their faith (all ages).
* 3/4 – Evangelical Protestants represent 1/3 of all Protestants but ¾ of those who regularly practice their faith.
* 10 – The number of Evangelical Protestants has increased 10 times in the past 60 years (in 1950, there were 50,000 practicing Evangelicals)
* 2,521 – There are 2,521 local churches in France, counting those communities that offer at least 3 services per month on the weekends (in 1970, there were 769). Additionally, there are 500 more houses of worship that meet less frequently.
* 10 – A new local church is born every 10 days – about 35 new churches per year.
* 45 – The majority of local churches belong to one of 45 denominations.[6]

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On July 12, 2012, the Christian Science Monitor reported:

“  |  French scholars say, evangelicalism is likely the fastest-growing religion in France – defying all stereotypes about Europe’s most secular nation...

Daniel Liechti, vice-president of the French National Evangelical Council, found that since 1970, a new evangelical church has opened in France every 10 days. The number of churches increased from 769 to 2,068 last year.[7]

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A 2009 article at the Voice of America website entitled Evangelical Churches Flourishing in Europe declared:

“  |  ...Evangelical churches are booming across the region, particularly those attended by immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America...

Evangelical Christianity is flourishing in Europe. France has witnessed an eight-fold increase in Evangelical Christians during the past half century, from roughly 50,000 to 400,000....

In a country where people are a bit disappointed by traditional religion, Sinclair says, they are impressed by the way these Evangelical churches are alive and welcoming.

The churches underscore the fact that while secularization continues to progress in Europe, there has been what Sinclair calls a spiritual turning in recent years...

Majagira Bulangalire, the president of Community of Churches of African Expression of France, an umbrella group of immigrant Evangelical churches.

Bulangalire admits there have been a few problems with local authorities. But he says once they see the churches can serve their communities in a positive fashion they are very open. He says the French Interior Ministry has also been welcoming. Some Roman Catholic parishes have adopted Evangelical-style bible study classes. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, head of the Protestant Federation of France, says traditional Protestant churches are realizing they can learn from their Evangelical counterparts. [8]

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See also: Immigrant evangelical churches are a fast growing movement in France

### Growth of British evangelical Christianity[edit]

See also: Growth of evangelical Christianity in Britain and British atheism

Some 4.5million of the UK's foreign-born population claim to have a religious affiliation and more than half are Christian. Church attendance in Greater London grew by 16% between 2005 and 2012.[9] In addition, the latest immigrants to the UK as a whole mean British Christianity is becoming more charismatic and fundamentalist.[10]

The Christian Post reported on July 21, 2019, as far as Britain: "The percentage of respondents who said they were nondenominational Christians increased from 3% of the population in 1998 to 13% in 2018."[11]

In December 2017, the Church Times reported:

“  |  In 2016, the Centre for Theology and Community (CTC) published new research on Evangelical church-planting in east London, Love, Sweat and Tears (News, 8 April 2016, Features, 21 April). This confirmed the widely recognised image of Evangelicals as people who like to plant churches, but it also revealed that the way they work is not at all how people often imagine.

All of these Evangelical churches were planted in deprived areas, not suburbs; most of their members were local; one parish was cross-tradition; every parish was reaching people who do not attend church; and all of them were involved in social-action projects that served their local communities.[12]

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Due to religious immigrants, many of whom are evangelical Christians, church attendance in Greater London grew by 16% between 2005 and 2012.[13] In 2013, it was reported that 52% of people who attended church in London attended evangelical churches.[14]

On December 14, 2009, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported:

“  |  According to the Mail Evangelical Christianity is on the rise.

Some 4.5million of the UK's foreign-born population claim to have a religious affiliation. Of these, around a quarter are Muslim while more than half are Christian – with Polish Catholics and African Pentecostals among the fastest-growing groups.

While traditional churchgoing is on the decline in the UK over the past decade, the latest immigrants mean Christianity is becoming more charismatic and fundamentalist.

'Perhaps the most significant change has been the growth of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity within migrant populations, particularly those from Africa and Latin America,' the report found.

'In Lewisham, there are 65 Pentecostal churches serving the Nigerian community, and others serving the Congolese, Ghanaian and Ivorian communities.'

Professor Mike Kenny of IPPR said: 'The research shows that recent waves of inward migration have given a boost to some of the UK's established faith communities at a time when Britain's society and culture are generally more secular, and smaller numbers of the indigenous population are regularly attending churches.

'Recent migration trends are altering the faith map of the UK. Their biggest impact is being felt in some of our largest cities: London above all, where a rich mosaic of different faith communities has come into being.'

Evangelical Christianity might be heavily African-influenced but it’s also spreading among the natives as well.[15]

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See also:

* Pentecostalism Invades Lambeth Palace by Peter L. Berger

## Growth of German evangelical Protestantism[edit]

On March 17, 2014, the news website Deutsche Well reported that evangelical Christianity has doubled in Germany in the last 10 years.[16]

## Growth of Swiss evangelical Protestantism[edit]

Evangelical Christianity has seen large growth in Switzerland to the point that evangelical churchgoers outnumber mainline churchgoers 2-1.[17]

## Eastern and Central Europe and desecularization[edit]

See also: Central and Eastern Europe and desecularization

Pew Research indicated in a 2017 article entitled Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe:

“  |  In many Central and Eastern European countries, religion and national identity are closely entwined. This is true in former communist states, such as the Russian Federation and Poland, where majorities say that being Orthodox or Catholic is important to being “truly Russian” or “truly Polish.” It is also the case in Greece, where the church played a central role in Greece’s successful struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire and where today three-quarters of the public (76%) says that being Orthodox is important to being “truly Greek.”

Many people in the region embrace religion as an element of national belonging even though they are not highly observant. Relatively few Orthodox or Catholic adults in Central and Eastern Europe say they regularly attend worship services, pray often or consider religion central to their lives. For example, a median of just 10% of Orthodox Christians across the region say they go to church on a weekly basis.

Indeed, compared with many populations Pew Research Center previously has surveyed – from the United States to Latin America to sub-Saharan Africa to Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa – Central and Eastern Europeans display relatively low levels of religious observance.

Nonetheless, the comeback of religion in a region once dominated by atheist regimes is striking – particularly in some historically Orthodox countries, where levels of religious affiliation have risen substantially in recent decades.[18]

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## Sociologist Peter Berger on Pentecostalism and Europe[edit]

The American sociologist and author Peter L. Berger introduced the concept of desecularization in 1999.[19][20] In contrast to many other forms of Christianity, charismatic/Pentecostal Christianity is very evangelical. According to Berger, "One can say with some confidence that modern Pentecostalism must be the fastest growing religion in human history."[21]

Berger recently said that he previously thought that pentecostalism did not have a significant future in Europe, but he recently saw signs that it could see significant growth in Europe.[22] In addition, pentecostalism often grows fast in areas undergoing economic distress.[23][24] Post 2007 there are concerns that Western economies which have high sovereign debt loads could see some significant economic turmoil in coming years - especially the European countries with aging populations that have been struggling in terms of economic growth.

## European desecularization in the 21st century[edit]

See: European desecularization in the 21st century

## See also[edit]

* Western World areas with stagnant secularization rates

* Desecularization and aging populations

* Growth of evangelical Christianity in irreligious regions

* Secular Europe

* Growth of global desecularization

* Acceleration of 21st century desecularization

* Decline of Asian atheism

* Causes of desecularization

## External links[edit]

* Reports Of Christianity’s Death In Europe Have Been Greatly Exaggerated. Increasing signs of a real and sustained revival of Christian-themed enthusiasm in Europe, The Federalist, 2018

* Religious Revival Going On In Europe \- 2018, Dr. Steve Turley video

* Pew Survey shows Christian civilization surging throughout Central and Eastern Europe \- video

* French President Emmanuel Macron's recent comment is another bellwether that European atheism has a bleak future

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann
2. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann
3. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann
4. ↑ When will the world be over half evangelical? by Justin Long
5. ↑ In a France suspicious of religion, evangelicalism's message strikes a chord
6. ↑ Evangelicals in France
7. ↑ In a France suspicious of religion, evangelicalism's message strikes a chord
8. ↑ Evangelical Churches Flourishing in Europe, Voice of America website, 2009
9. ↑ London Churchgoing and Other News
10. ↑ I'm not surprised Evangelical Christianity is on the rise by Ed West, The Telegraph, December 14th, 2009
11. ↑ Only 38% of Brits identify as Christian; lowest proportion in poll's history, Christian Post, 2019
12. ↑ Church growth is not just for Evangelicals
13. ↑ London Churchgoing and Other News
14. ↑ London Churchgoing and Other News
15. ↑ I'm not surprised Evangelical Christianity is on the rise by Ed West, The Telegraph, December 14th, 2009
16. ↑ Ghanaian pastor seeks to 're-Christianize' Germany
17. ↑ Kumar, Anugrah (December 5, 2011). Evangelical Churches Growing Fast in Switzerland. The Christian Post. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
18. ↑ Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe, Pew Research, 2017
19. ↑ Journal of Church and State, Desecularization: A Conceptual Framework by Vyacheslav Karpov, 2010
20. ↑ Peter L. Berger, “The Desecularization of the World: A Global Overview,” in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics, ed. Peter L. Berger (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999)
21. ↑ Pentecostalism – Protestant Ethic or Cargo Cult?, Peter Berger, July 29, 2010
22. ↑ Pentecostalism Invades Lambeth Palace by Peter Berger, December 18, 2013
23. ↑ The rise of biblical creationism in Mexico and its effect on American creationism
24. ↑ Economics and Darwinism/atheism