Sabine Grant

Bonjour Semyaza.... I can mostly comment on the spiritual state of Italy and France. ( my most recent stay was from 1995 to 2001 in Naples, Italy) and frequent trips to France where I am originaly from.

As you may know, catholicism is the primary religion in France. Islam rating second. However there is definitly a trend to secularism among the French. The Islamic side of France ( represented by the arab population which immigrated from Northern Africa and some African ex french colonies) remains close to fundamentalism. Most french catholics are per say catholic by tradition rather than by faith. I cannot remember the last time a french president used the word god in a political speech. Schools are definitly secular. However catholic traditions are part of the daily lives of the French whether you are a practicing catholic or not. Some of our holidays which warrant time off school or work are catholic. I would say that catholicism still has a cultural impact but not spiritual.

Italy is a different story. The catholic influence is very strong especialy in the south. During the jubilee, we had in Naples the overflow of catholic youth who came to gather in Rome from the entire world. Rome remains a place of pilgrimage where the Vatican reigns. Catholic traditions are very anchored in Italians' daily lives. I doubt Italy will evolve to secularism any time soon. Even if a secular current of thoughts were to be expressed and promoted among Italian freethinkers, traditionalism would prevail.


Since you are from South Africa, I had noticed while back in Italy that we had many African immigrants who were born again christians. I attended a multi cultural church in Naples where I met evangelicals from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda. Most fled their country for economical reasons hoping to find jobs in Italy and bring their families over. Those poor folks worked in Italy for food and shelter being largely exploited by Italians.

PS : I was born in Madagascar.

Jolimont

Much like Sabine, I am originally a French citizen, living in the US for 12 years (bonjour Sabine.) I too go back a lot and I was there over the Christmas holidays. I don't think I heard a single Christmas Carol anywhere. Not on the radio, not in stores, not at my relative's houses. I actually brought a CD of Christmas music with me because I wondered if that would be the case and I've grown to like the Cambridge singers quite a lot (no, I don't believe in Jebus, but I am a mere mortal with a liking for sacred music.)

Spain was another story. I spend 6 days there on this trip and they play carols quite a lot, at least in the stores. And, as I was walking around Barcelonna we caught the end of mass at a very crowded church filled with older Spaniards. So my guess is that senior citizens in Spain are more religious than equivalent French people, but I base that on random observations that have no scientific value.

Some French people are religious (I was a devout mormon for years while I still lived there) but they are looked upon as odd ducks because of it. Religious devotion is tolerated, not admired.

Proxima Centauri

The rest of you are correct. Apathy is more noticible here in Birmingham. Here in Birmingham it isn't done to talk about religion in a positive way unless you know the other person is interested in the subject. That one reason why I discuss religion on the Internet.