“Day after day, we speak more and more of a comeback of religion. It is, of course, something indefinite for the moment, so much that someone even speaks of a “comeback of the Gods”. This was stated, during the sermon at the opening mass for the plenary meeting of the German Bishops, which is held in Berlin over these days, by card. Karl Lehmann, president of the German Bishops Conference. The cardinal, as he dwelt on the current trend of religiousness in Germany, noted that the oft-used concept of religion “includes forms of religiousness, which are rather aberrations and conflicting figures, such as the satanic cults”. In addition, Lehmann sees the current scenario as a veritable “turning point” from the Sixties and Seventies “given the role of religion in society. Just think of the religions of the young and the new youth movements. Since the Eighties, the significance of traditional religions in the public sphere has been reappraised all over the world”. According to the cardinal, this is proven by the Shiite revolution in Iran, Solidarnosc in Poland, the theology of liberation in Latin America. According to the cardinal, “Despite criticism, we must not judge by appearances but look for the religious and spiritual roots as well as for the reasons behind such often-distorted forms of religions”. Lehmann mentioned the position of “some experts” who regard this trend as “the restless soul of man who can’t find peace but in God” (to be continued).
