One more priest declares that strengthening of Islamic presence in Europe does not bear threat for the Christian world. Moreover, the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priest is convinced that Islam may help to answer Christians to a question what Christianity in Europe, and in Ukraine in particular, ceased to be.
In the article "Who is frightened by Islamic presence in Europe?", the priest of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic church Oleg Girnyk notices that in "de-Christianized European world for a long time there is no religious conviction", and, consequently, Muslims who adhere to Islamic instructions in everyday life, cause "discomfort" and "irritation".
"We say: this is fanaticism, but than why it is impossible to apply this word to our grandmothers who were fanatics too, i.e. believers, - the priest is cited by the French culturologist George Niva. - Formlessness of our consciousness is the main problem, not Islam".
He notices that "instead of the self-confident answer that only Christian belief in God can provide the appropriate future of the Western civilization and construction of the Ukrainian statehood, Christians should seriously consider the following subject: why Christianity, present in the history of Europe, became unexpectedly alien for it". The priest ascertains "the fact of absence of God in lives of Christians".
Despite that "in Ukraine are actively created new church communities and monasteries, is continued the building of the new temples and restoration of the old ones", and "the nuncio praised our "presidents and the members of government" that they "visit churches, and not only on holidays", such "exclusive devotion" appeared to be the unique positive mention about Ukraine in world statistical reports". All other indicators testify only to negative dynamics, and first of all that displays the society moral condition", the priest emphasizes.
By the rates of AIDS distribution, quantity of abortions, teenage pregnancy and alcoholism, corruption and bribery - Ukraine is among the first! "Numerous tourists come to Ukraine not to admire Christian relics. Foreign body-hunters are interested by, first of all, sex tours", he bitterly marks.
The contrast between a considerable quantity of those "believing in God" and a real condition of affairs in Ukraine is impressing. Therefore the priest of the UGCCh "unwillingly got a sinful thought" on "efficiency of establishments under crosses".
"Maybe Ukraine too early declared about its "spiritual revival"? Comparison of all statistical data with the "high level of devotion" of the Ukrainian citizens can testify only to one: atheism further remains the basic "religion of" Ukrainians", O.Girnyk sums up.
Let's notice that the deep moral degradation in the Christian world was also declared before by the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchy Philaret. Threat not in "strong Islam", but in "weak Christianity" also sees the Moscow archbishop Illarion.
By RISU
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