Family and/or Religion

Something that is regularly taught in my church is that the family and religion are inextricably linked. Mary Eberstadt, writing in Policy Review agrees. In her article "How the West Really Lost God" she takes exception with the notion that increasing secularization has led to the breakdown of the nuclear family and suggests that the contrary is actually true. The breakdown of the family, most prominent in Western Europe, is responsible for the reduction in religious belief and activity found there. She also suggests that those who argue that increased modernity will result in decreased religious activity everywhere based on the European model are incorrect and that Europe is the exception rather than the rule with the rest of the world going in a different direction led by the United States.

An interesting article.