Corner Articles Authors ... Print Version December 23, 2003, 1:01 a.m. State of the Faith Anno Domini, 2003. S ome 2,000 years after the birth of the Lord, what does the Savior see when he regards the world from deep within it ( "The Kingdom of God is within you" STATE OF THE FAITHFUL The population of Europe, once the cradle of the faith, is shrinking; of those who remain, an ever-growing percentage are now Muslim, and in France perhaps more Muslims than Christians actually attend services on a weekly basis. Yet Africa is exploding with Christian faith, witness, and dynamism, and in Asia too Christian devotion is rapidly spreading. Altogether, the number of Christians in the world now amounts to one third or better of the human race, over two billion persons. And Christianity is the fastest-growing religion in the world. As always, there is much suffering in the world: cancer, tuberculosis, hunger, war, pestilence, mental illness, betrayal, loneliness, despair. Some individuals bear this suffering sweetly, giving thanks to God and accepting from His hands life's hardships along with its gifts. You probably know some in your own family, or among your acquaintances: There really is much suffering in the world, and it spares no income level, or class, or section. Yet there are still many truly holy persons. | |
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