Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1943, Qupperneq 126

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LE NORD
in the large number of conversions to Roman Catholicism. The
Roman church is in rapid progress in this country. Those who
find their way there, are tired of the freedom of the Danish
church and want definite answers by a firm authority.
In Sweden, too, as mentioned above, there is the same ten-
dency in the young generation towards wanting distinct and defi-
nite lines both as regards thinking and religious life. As a matter
of fact this does not tally with the emphasizing by Lutheran
Christianity of the responsibility of each single individual. But
at least so far, they find sufficient authority in old Lutheran
orthodoxy, and conversions to Roman Catholicism are rare. That
the emphasizing of ecclesiastical authority and the interest in
ritual questions offer points of connexion with Catholic Chris-
tianity, however, is indubitable. Even if people want to hold on
to the Lutheran heritage, the most important front is no more
felt as directed against Christians of different denominations, but
instead against the secularized indifference and denial of the new
era.
K- S-
*■
Our attention has particularly been directed against dif-
ferences between Swedish and Danish Christianity. Therefore
it should at last be pointed out, as was said in the introduction,
that in spite of all, the similarities are predominant. In both
countries there is a strong Lutheran Christianity, as has also ap-
peared in social life, which on the whole is characterized by
Christian ideas to a greater extent than in most other countries.
The great majority of both peoples will not give up their
Lutheran Christianity, even if only a minority shows a really ac-
tive religious zeal. The leaders of both churches therefore look
towards the future with a mixture of hope and fear. At present
the Scandinavian churches stand as the world’s chief bearers of
the Lutheran heritage. Few churches to so great an extent have
hitherto escaped destruction. For post-war tasks this involves a
great responsibility.