Denmark is fighting over its Christian heritage

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Denmark is an old country with a rich history. The established state church is one of the clearest indicators of its age. The People's church was founded more than 500 years ago after the Reformation. The Folkekirke is a prominent part of our constitution.

What makes this church different from the other churches? The state pays for the church's expenses through taxes, while the church fulfils its Christian responsibilities but keeps its nose out of politics. In other words, the church has a special role, and therefore, the state protects the church.

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This arrangement has worked flawlessly for many years (even centuries), but this foundation of stable Christianity is eroding. Since 2009, the total number of church members has steadily declined. Church buildings even stand empty across the country while more and more people choose to forgo baptism and regular church attendance.

Atheist provocateurs

Denmark's clear secular trend has inspired a new political debate. This debate is a battle between Christianity and the official state church. This battle began with a fringe organisation called The Atheist Society. These people can best be described as provocateurs who, through social media and demonstrations, sought to cut the bond between state and religion.

What started with raging atheists has since evolved. With the prominent rise of parties like the Liberal Alliance and more left-leaning parties, the debate has become more mainstream. Once a neat idea, now it is a debate that is heard more and more in articles, debates and even in parliament. They claim that Christianity's influence is merely a fragment of history.

Still, atheists and liberals fail to understand that Denmark is a Christian country. Without Christianity, Denmark would be an empty shell—just a shadow of its former self. The offended atheist would likely refer to the total number of active Christians as an argument against the continuation of a state religion. How can Denmark be a Christian country if few actively attend church?

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The answer is quite simple: Christianity has contributed to the development of Danish society. Once, before Denmark's founding, our ancestors were pagan Vikings. But after many years, we settled our heathen traditions and became Christian.

One of our first heathen kings, Harald Bluetooth, was baptised in 965 and, shortly after that, carved the rune stone in Jelling. This ancient rune stone tells us of our nation's founding and how Harald made us Christian. It is the Danish birth certificate.

This stone still has great historical importance in Denmark, and a picture of it is found in every Danish passport. The Christian cross is a prominent symbol of our country, most clearly seen in the Danish flag. Our hymns and songs are predominantly Christian. There are about 2,300 churches in Denmark, and they have stood for a thousand years.

A spiritual heritage

Danish monasteries, like their European cousins, have facilitated scientific and philosophical development. Through the Danish church, farmers learned to read and write. Many famous Danish priests have also contributed to our nation's values.

Most famous is the Danish priest N.F.S. Grundtvig, who founded the free schools and wrote hundreds of poems and songs. He is still worshipped as part of the Danish national identity.

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We owe a lot to Christianity, for if it weren't for Grundtvig, our country would have looked very different. Spiritually and morally, we would have been a nation of deep poverty.

But Christianity is much more than culture, buildings and poetry. Like any other Christian country, we Danes owe our ethics and moral compasses to Christianity. Forgiveness, charity, and self-sacrificial behaviour are part of the Danish understanding. Christianity is ingrained in many Danish people's behaviour and worldview.

Christianity has influenced Denmark far more than other religions, which is why the atheists' arguments are ignorant. Of course, the state church should receive a special status. Islam, Buddhism and Judaism have contributed less than nothing compared to the Christian church. We have a state religion not because of discrimination but because Denmark is a Christian country.

What consequences would the widespread separation of church and state bring? First and foremost, it would remove crucial financial support, resulting in churches across the country falling into decay. Second, it would make life difficult for countless peaceful citizens who turn to the church for comfort and meaning.

Churches support the weak and the lonely, not to mention their crucial role in many small local Danish communities. But most of all, without Christianity, Denmark would be an empty shell, and we would lose a considerable part of our identity and culture.

So, where is the need to separate church and state? The church is not an evil tyrant; we do not live in a theocracy. You can leave the Church of Denmark and forego Christian rituals. You can even stop your financial support to the church.

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So why are the atheists complaining? For them, it is not enough that they can live a life outside the church. Because it has nothing to do with personal and religious freedom; it's about eroding the entire Christian society and, thus, Denmark. They won't be satisfied until all traces of Christianity are gone.

I am worried that this fight will be fought in Denmark and other nations with an official state church. Because as long as others benefit from the church, the atheists are furious. That is why it is my firm belief that fundamentalist atheists belong in the same category as the most extreme religious people.