Monasticism and religious analphabetism
In 2017, the Statistics Netherlands (Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau) announced their newest findings on religious adherence in the Netherlands. The title of their press release: ‘More than half of Dutch people not religious’. In 2017, according to the bureau, it was for the first time in recorded history that a minority (of 49%) of Dutch citizens did not identify themselves with any religious group or institution. In 2012, still 54% self-identified as ‘religious’. Dutch newspapers were eager to report this pivotal message, while commentators debated the dawning end of the ‘age of religion’ in the Western world. And while in the wake of the political party of Thierry Baudet, Forum for Democracy (forum voor Democratie), the debate on ‘cultural Christianity’ has emerged in Dutch society, it is usually interpreted as a vocabulary to mask nationalistic policies, and anti-Islam sentiments. And while some, mostly conservative and traditionalist Roman Catholics and Protestants are not unmoved by Baudet’s flirt, the majority is critical on what they deem as ‘hijacking’ of their faith for political gain.
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