Germany and Religion

About 65% to 70% of people that live in Germany, actively are of the Christian faith.
There are certain parts of Germany where another religion is more practiced other than
Christianity, but the vast majority of the population is of the Christian faith. They are more or
less evenly split between the mainstream denominations of Lutheran-Protestantism and
Calvinism united in the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) and the Roman Catholic Church
(Saito). There then began a split of religions that occurred once Christianity became the biggest
faith that the population had followed. Then most areas in the South or West (especially Bavaria
and Northrhine-Westphalia) became Catholic, while the North and East are mainly Protestant
(Saito). There was now a split of religions that occurred throughout the people of Germany.
The role of religion has changed over the years due to the many different opinions that
one has about a certain faith. Before there wasnt any real conflict because it was prohibited to
speak badly about the religion that that majority of the population had followed. The role of
religion in public life, however, is steadily declining in many regards. As mentioned above,
20-25% of the German population doesnt belong to any religion at all (Fernandez). The
Christian faith was no doubt the strongest religion that Germany had be faced with, but once the
population began to increase, the faith began to lose its value. Now, a majority of the country is
going under rule by Atheism in Eastern, Germany, but also in the city of Hamburg. Many
Christians that are loyal to their church, to this day will not go to church on Sundays. The moral
authority that the churches used to have, has lost its value.
Since Germany used to be under major Christian rule and faith, there are a variety of
different places of worship and sacred sites that their faith can be practiced. For example, the
Berliner Dom was built in 1905; this impressive basilica has been called the "Protestant St.
Peter's." The crypt contains tombs of Prussian royals and you can climb up to the dome
(Hayes). There are also places of worship that were rebuilt for people to visit and for

recreational use. The Deutscher Dom was originally built in 1708. The German Cathedral was
completely destroyed by fire during World War II, so the cathedral was rebuilt and reopened in
1996 as a museum of German history.
There is currently a dispute and Germany that has to deal with where the taxpayers
money to and how is the funding being used? In Germany, the states church (both Catholic and
Protestant) is endorsed by the German government, which in turn frustrates the majority of the
population. As soon as a child is born, that are being told which religion they are going to be
because it is written on a birth certificate. Upon entering school, the child's church affiliation is
declared so he can attend the appropriate religion class -- Lutheran or Catholic (Sundstorm).
Eight percent of an adult's income tax supports the state church. To avoid this tax, Germans
must fill out paperwork declaring their intention to leave the church, forfeiting the right to be
married and buried by the church (Sundstorm).
Today, the situation with religion in Germany has improved due to the fact that now
people have their right whichever religion they would like to practice. I do think it is unfair that
once a child is born that they have to be forced into the religion that the parents want for them.
In most cases a child would never argue about which religion they want to be a part of because
they really dont know better or really have any sort of knowledge about any other kind of
religion. I am also very content with the fact that the government does support the churches, but
not to the extent where that support has to come out of a taxpayers income tax. The rules and
restrictions to leave the church are absolutely ridiculous which is something I also dont agree
with. Having to fill out paperwork in order to leave a church doesnt sound much like freedom to
me.

Works Cited
Hayes, H. Sacred Destinations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://www.sacreddestinations.com/germany/sacred-sites

Religion: Societal & Legal Status. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://
www.internations.org/germany-expats/guide/16030-culture-shopping-recreation/religion-ingermany-16010/religion-societal-legal-status-2

Saito, D. (n.d.). Religion in Germany. Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://
www.internations.org/germany-expats/guide/16030-culture-shopping-recreation/religion-ingermany-16010

Sundstorm, B. (n.d.). Understanding Church and State in Germany. Retrieved October 20,
2015, from http://www.cru.org/communities/locations/europe/germany/understanding-churchand-state.html