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RELIGION

‘Historic break’: Church-goers now a minority in Germany

According to projections by experts, for the first time in centuries, more than 50 percent of the German population no longer belong to a church.

Published: 12 April 2022 15:39 CEST
Inside the St. Joseph Catholic Church during the sending out service of the 2020 Peace Light.
Inside the St. Joseph Catholic Church during the sending out service of the 2020 Peace Light. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Peter Gercke

For hundreds of years, the majority of people in Germany belonged to one of the two largest churches and were either Roman Catholic or Protestant.

But the latest forecasts from the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and the Research Group World Views in Germany (fowid), show that less than half of the German population is now a member of either of the two major churches.

READ ALSO: Six things to know about Catholicism in Germany

“It’s a historic break, since, taken as a whole, it’s the first time in centuries that it’s no longer ‘normal’ to be a church member in Germany,” says social scientist Carsten Frerk of the Fowid research group.

A downward trend

“The downward trend has been going on for quite some time,” Frerk said. “But it has accelerated more in the past six years than previously thought.”

Thirty years ago, around 70 percent of Germans were still members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany), while 50 years ago, the number of church-goers was more than 90 percent in West Germany.

The churches have also predicted that by 2060 only around 30 percent of the population will still be Catholic or Protestant.

Though some of the decline can be accounted for by the aging population of church members, motives for leaving the church range from saving taxes to protesting against the church and its handling of historical abuse cases.

READ ALSO: Crossed wires: why church tax is causing extra stress for expat tax payers

Robert Stephanus, chairman of the interdenominational association REMID (Religious Studies Media and Information Service) said that there are also major regional differences in relation to church membership.

The situation is very different in Bavaria than in the former GDR, he said, where the membership of the Protestant church fell from almost 15 million to 4 million between 1950 and 1989, while the number of Catholics fell by half to around a million.

READ ALSO: IN NUMBERS: How life in Germany has changed since reunification

Other religions

Nevertheless, the majority of the population in Germany is still officially Christian because, in addition to members of the two large churches, there are still a few million other Christians, who are, for example, free church members and Orthodox Christians (such as Greek, Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Romanian or Georgian Orthodox).

More than 40 percent of the population is now non-denominational, around four percent are counted as denominational Muslims, and the rest are distributed among other religions, including Jews.

Vocabulary

church member = (das) Kirchenmitglied

church tax = (die) Kirchensteuer

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GERMANY EXPLAINED

What is ‘Buß-und Bettag’ and why is it a public holiday in only one German state?

The German state of Saxony has a public holiday on Wednesday for Buß-und Bettag or Day of Prayer and Repentance. What is it and why does no other state mark it in the same way?

Published: 22 November 2023 12:03 CET
What is ‘Buß-und Bettag’ and why is it a public holiday in only one German state?

When does it take place and who marks it?

Buß- and Bettag (Day of Prayer and Repentance) takes place on the Wednesday before Ewigkeitssonntag (Eternity Sunday), also called Totensonntag, a day commemorating the dead. Another way to remember the event is that it always falls on the penultimate Wednesday before the first Advent (which is December 3rd this year).

In 2023, the Day of Prayer and Repentance is on November 22nd. 

It is an official public holiday in the eastern state of Saxony where people get a day off work, while shops and other businesses close. 

A special rule applies in Bavaria: it is not a public holiday so shops are open and people have to work. But young people do not have to go to school or nursery. For teachers, the day is free of lessons, but they still have to work. 

This can create a headache for families trying to find childcare. 

In several states the day is marked as a ‘silent day’. For this reason, there is a ban on dancing (!) in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Saarland, according to German media reports. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Germany’s public holidays in 2024

Where does it come from?

Buß- und Bettag is a Protestant Christian memorial day.

It dates back to the Middle Ages, where prayers and reflection were called upon when a country was in a state of crisis or adversity. Its purpose is to urge people to pray, reflect and consider their faith.

Traditionally, there are three parts to the practicing of this holiday.

Firstly, the church intervenes before God on behalf of sinners who feel guilt. Secondly, this holiday is meant to test people’s consciousness before God. And lastly, the church should show its guardian function and devotion towards its people.

People dance

It’s not the time for dancing in some German states. Photo: shbs from Pixabay

Why is it not celebrated Germany-wide?

Buß- und Bettag used to be celebrated across the German-speaking territories and beyond. In 1878, for example, it was celebrated in 28 countries.

During that time it had not yet received a fixed date but was selected individually by countries. After receiving a fixed date from Prussia, other protestant churches followed.

Later on during the Second World War, the date was moved to Sunday to allow more working time, but then moved back to Wednesday post-war. 

It was a public holiday in all German states until 1967, before being abolished by communist East Germany.

After reunification, it was reinstated as a statutory holiday throughout Germany.  

However, at the start of 1995 it was abolished to reduce the burden on employers who became obliged to pay contributions to long-term care insurance.

Only Saxony kept the holiday. But for this reason, employees in the state have to pay a higher contribution to compulsory long-term care insurance.

How is it celebrated nowadays?

In most German states, holiday laws permit that religious employees can take this day off if they request it. For instance, protestants may want to attend a church service.

They can take the day off without a day’s holiday being deducted. However, they are not paid for it unless the employer specifically agrees to it. 

READ ALSO: These are the ‘special days’ when you can get paid time off in Germany

As we mentioned, in Bavaria “Buß- und Bettag” is a public holiday solely for school students, whereas in Saxony, it is a public holiday for everyone.

According to a YouGov survey, around two thirds of people in Germany – 62 percent – would like to see Buß-und Bettag as a nationwide public holiday once again. Meanwhile, just over 21 percent are against having it as a public holiday and 17 percent are undecided.

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