Crisis of Christianity

If Coca-Cola told its shareholders that it must change its ways or lose ground to Pepsi, no one would bat an eye. But when Cardinal Miloslav Vlk said that Christians risk losing Europe to Islam, he made the headlines and came under attack. As a universalizing religion (one that operates on a global scale and attempts to appeal to all), Christianity must compete for souls, but it's losing its ability to do so. This isn't merely because its marketing is slipping, but also because its very virtues - faith, hope and charity - are being used against it. Such earthly problems as immigration and demographic issues, the bloated welfare state and stifling political correctness can be traced to Christian teachings. Christianity admonishes us to be tolerant, yet an increase in tolerance - like it or not - has historically led to civilizational decline. To a big extent, the crisis facing Euro-American civilization is a crisis of Christianity.