Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheese
In the 1950s, prior to the Quiet Revolution, nearly 90 per cent of Quebecers went to church every Sunday. It was one of the most staunchly Catholic regions of the world.
Today pews sit largely empty. A survey in 2000 found just 20 per cent of respondents attended church on a weekly basis.
In only 50 years or less, the RC church in QC has lost 70% of its parrish.
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I think there are a couple of assumptions being made here that may not be true:
The first assumption being that the sole reason Catholics go to church (or used to go) is to worship. I would argue that for many, if not most Catholics, the main reason to go to church was cutural. That's right... Catholicism is not just a religon; it is also a culture. Historically, the church was a meeting place for friends and family to catch up and be in touch. It was important for bringing the community together. The most important part of going to church occurred before and after mass. People would bring food, play sports, talk about their lives, and young people would court each other.... for the most part, modern convenience have made this part obsolete.
In modern Canadian society, the cultural aspect has diminished significantly. The church is no longer the communal centre of society any more. Technology has changed all that. In poorer countries, the former still remains true. So what you see as a religious shift, I see more as a cultural shift. People are also busier and need to work or run errands on Sundays now. Time is a huge factor.
The second assumption is that those 70% who do not attend any more are still not members of Christianity. I would say that there is a good chance that most still identify as Catholics, or at least Christians. Of those 70%, many are probably just "liberalized" and don't feel their beliefs need to fit around a template.
And of course, some are probably atheist or "other". i doubt it is enough to justify the claim that Christianity is dying.