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Key Points
- Most widespread of the three great monotheistic faiths / major faith in the countries which have dominated international relations.
- Very divided faith.
- Has been associated with imperialism and accused of being the "white man's faith".
- Not a 'literal minded' faith in comparison w/ Islam.
- Includes the notion of the 'separation of Church and State'.
- Remains 'serious doctrinal differences' btw Catholics + Protestants.
Europe
General Background
During the 19th century the influence of the Christian Churches in Europe began to decline seriously. The Main Reasons are:
- Scientific advances providing rational explanations for phenomena previously explained in religious terms.
- Darwin and his 'Origin of the Species' cast doubt upon the creation of mankind by God.
- Failure to come to terms with changes in society (i.e.: few churches in new industrial cities)
- Failed to anticipate the growth of democracy (i.e.: continued to side with aristocracy)
- Expansion of the role of the state (i.e.: w/ growth of socialism meant the creation of Gov. insurance, pension schemes, and education.
- Increased living standards in Europe meant a more materialistic outlook on life.
- 'Discredited (i.e.: horrors of WWI and the role of the Protestant Churches in encouraging nationalistic and warlike attitudes)
- Spread of Marxist beliefs (religion as 'opiate of the masses')
The reaction of the Roman Catholic Church
Christian Democracy
An attempt by the Catholic Church to develop appropriate social doctrines. Its aims were:
- Encourage class reconciliation (i.e.: combat the Marxist doctrine of class warfare)
- Supportive of the extension of the right to vote to the working class (in hope of a decrease in the appeal of Marxism)
- Promotion of the establishment of moderate political parties.
- Placing greater emphasis on the social and economic rights of the working class (as being as important as political ones).
Much work was a result of Pope Leo XIII who in 1891 issued a papal encyclical entitled "Rerum Novarum".
- Industrial Revolution had placed wealth in the hands of "a small number of opulent and wealthy men and put upon the innumerable multitude of proletarians a yoke that differed little from slavery".
- Support for worker organizations without which workers were "alone and defenseless against the inhumanity of their masters".
Other measures of Pope Leo XIII: (1878-1903)
- Opened the archives of the Vatican to scholars after centuries of secrecy.
- Restated social doctrines to make them relevant.
- Encouraged the formation of Catholic trade unions.
- Sought to come to terms with the secular states with which the Church had been in conflict (i.e.: Italy, France).
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