The European importance of religion is much, much different than that of American culture. Considering that the Utah gives different value to religion than does most of America, one can easily see that Utah and Europe are on different ends of the cultural religious spectrum. To summarize these differences, Europe sees religion as a part of its past, and Utah sees religion as a way of life. I understand that this is a broad generalization and a large stereotype, but I believe it to be an accurate assessment on the whole.
I spoke with a Portuguese woman on the train between Lisbon and Porto during our free weekend in Europe. I asked her what role religion played in her life, and she responded by saying that she was catholic, but not practicing. Or rather, she viewed her religion as part of her identity, but not as something that affected her lifestyle. Over the course of our discussion, she shared her belief in God, but also spoke a lot about the zodiac and about astrology, none of which I believe in.
Many Europeans with whom I have spoken feel the same way (not about the zodiac, but about the role of religion in their lives). I can understand why. Churches and religious buildings are regarded as national monuments, and tourists frequent them even during religious services. More than one time I went to a cathedral and could not visit the entirety of the church because of the mass that was being held. I struggle to understand why the Catholic Church allows such behavior in its churches during a religious service. Such a behavior would be absolutely prohibited in any LDS church in Utah.
I am curious about these differences that I have observed, and will probably ask Stacey more questions as time progresses about European Catholicism and Catholicism in general in order to better understand.
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