Keynote Address “The Future of the Church—Smaller, Older, and More Devout?”—as part of the symposium marking the 750th anniversary of St. Nikolai
“The Future of the Church—Smaller, Older, and More Devout?”
Prof. Dr. Gert Pickel, sociologist of religion and the church, University of Leipzig
When one hears about developments in the Christian churches in Germany and Europe, there is much talk of secularization, a decline in church attendance, or a fading of faith in God. Others, however, point to a “sacralization” of society, while still others view Christian influencers and the political development of religion in the U.S. with concern. But what is the real state of the future of the Christian churches in Germany and Europe? Through conceptual reflections and statistical data, this lecture aims to provide insight into the development of religion in Germany and to discuss possible consequences for church life.
The lecture will open the symposium “The Church in Motion—St. Nicholas Church in Stralsund in the 20th Century,” which will take place on September 11 and 12, 2026.
Further information on the program can be found here:
https://www.verein-st-nikolai-stralsund.de/aus-dem-vereinsgeschehen/veranstaltungen-2026/kirche-in-bewegung-die-stralsunder-nikolaikirche-im-20.-jahrhundert
