69 million page views

German Islamisation or not? The German Curches will decide.

Reader comment on item: Two Opposing Views of the Islamist Threat

Submitted by Frederik (Germany), Aug 29, 2016 at 06:23

Dear Mr. Pipes,

I know this may sound a bit illogical. But as a German and a well-read observer of the situation in Germany, my Judgement is this: The institutions which will ultimately decide whether or not political Islam will gain more influence in Germany in the future are the two main churches, the protestant and catholic church in Germany. Unlike France, Germany does not have a clear separation of church/religion and state. The protestant and catholic churches are heavily subsidized by the state and they enjoy vast privileges. Right now, about one third of the German population are protestant, one third catholic and one third non-religious, with hundreds of thousands leaving the churches every year.

Among other things, German churches are allowed to educate teachers at universities which then hold "Religionsunterricht" at state schools. Many federal state constitutions in Germany still require students to be "fearful of God". Every German bishop gets his monthly salary of over 9,000 € paid by the state, hence the tax payer. Caritas and Diakonie are the largest non-state employers in Germany with over 1.2 million employees. They run kindergartens, hospitals, foster homes, etc which are all paid by the state. The wealth only of the Catholic Church in Germany is estimated to amount to 200 Billion Euros. Yes, you read right, 200 Billion. Over the past years, these vast privileges have come under increased pressure by the public. The "Reichskonkordat" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichskonkordat) which Hitler settled with the Vatican in 1933 and which guaranteed many of the churches privileges in Germany, is still in power today. Many people in Germany do not even know anything about these privileges. The church however, understandably, has absolutely no interest in giving up these unjustified privileges (de facto, every tax payer is subsidizing the church, whether he himself is member or not).

German Muslim organizations (Especially the Erdogan-loyal DITIB representing the Turkish Muslims) are very keen on obtaining these privileges. Not only state-financed religious education allures but also own Islamic hospitals, kindergartens, foster homes, etc. The crucial point: The two big German churches are strong supports of this process since this would strengthen their own position. I call this the "interfaith collaboration" when it comes to getting money from the secular state. We are talking about billions of Euros. The sad thing: The churches could put an end to the creeping Islamization by giving up these privileges and ending the debate about who gets how much, once and for all.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

Interesting argument.

Submit a comment on this item

Reader comments (29) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2A third way to view the learning of Arabic in the West [194 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Peter ChewAug 29, 2016 13:45231936
4Arabic is the language of the Prophet [65 words]Michael Hanni MorcosAug 31, 2016 05:43231936
Russian emigrees and Владимир Путин [28 words]Mohammed Waza Khiddif id'UllahSep 10, 2016 06:51231936
Many, or most? [129 words]Peter ChewSep 12, 2016 14:18231936
many, not most [68 words]Mohammed Waza Khiddif id'UllahSep 14, 2016 05:42231936
1Many are Called; Few are Chosen [244 words]M ToveySep 21, 2016 16:50231936
2German Islamisation or not? The German Curches will decide. [411 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
FrederikAug 29, 2016 06:23231930
German Clergy Stand Out As Big Appeasers of Islam [40 words]DaveAug 30, 2016 19:10231930
"Creeping" Sharia [278 words]Pied PiperAug 30, 2016 21:56231930
1This position is Never reciprocated in Moslem Countries [164 words]Michael Hanni MorcosAug 31, 2016 05:27231930
1Contradictions within European Societies [173 words]FrederikSep 2, 2016 08:13231930
1As Raif Badawi would say: "Secularism is the answer!" [240 words]FrederikSep 2, 2016 08:55231930
1You Confirm My Point Re Judeo-Christian Ethics [89 words]DaveSep 4, 2016 11:38231930
reintroduction of Arabic to acquire a driver's license in Germany [216 words]mythAug 28, 2016 17:19231897
Some countries will fully submit to Islam and dhimmitude, some will not. [171 words]DebbieAug 28, 2016 15:07231892
Sometimes a Cigar is just a Cigar... [207 words]Rich McAug 27, 2016 23:28231850
2It's The Snobs Versus The Slobs [138 words]DaveAug 27, 2016 21:29231845
The French Judiciary Re Burkinis Proves My Point [54 words]DaveAug 30, 2016 19:15231845
3Hope you are right [515 words]Ray ExleyAug 27, 2016 16:48231837
1Teaching Arabic to Germany's youth [68 words]dianne gallenAug 27, 2016 12:26231830
3Fundamental difference [327 words]anotherviewAug 27, 2016 12:06231829
4Islamization will continue [87 words]Michael Hanni MorcosAug 27, 2016 10:49231825
2Would Oppose Mandatory Learning of Arabic by School Children [363 words]DENNIS DURKOPAug 27, 2016 09:59231822
3Truth, Not Arabic, Should be Taught in All Schools [142 words]Mike RamirezAug 27, 2016 09:37231821
1re Anti-Islamism will prevail [246 words]John DobaAug 27, 2016 08:07231820
Europe and USA finally begin to understand the danger of Islamofascism [22 words]Azriel Tel-AvivAug 27, 2016 07:36231814
Spare the Change [62 words]susana moskowitzAug 27, 2016 07:08231812
1Madha? Shlon? Eyy? Waysh? Shu? [374 words]Pied PiperAug 27, 2016 05:22231811
3I strongly recommend that you read this "Culture and Conflict", by Prof. Philip Salzman. It will help you stop repeating your errors about Terrorism and Islam. [267 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Robin RosenblattAug 27, 2016 00:42231808

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)