Diaspora of Brazilian religions

For a long time, American religious influence on France was mostly identified with USA. This is no longer true. South America, especially Brazil, has become a major exporter of religious goods. 

Thanks to Cristina Rocha & Manuel A. Vásquez, a new book on the Diaspora of Brazilian Religions (Brill, 2013) sheds a much-need light on these new trends. 

Link here.

 

Attitudinal change towards Jews and Muslims in France (conference)

France is a particularly interesting case study because it hosts both the largest Jewish community in Europe and the largest Muslim community. The electoral rise of the National Front since the mid 80s has polarised the political debate around the issues of immigration and national identity.

This is why this international conference about the evolution and reconfiguration of prejudice towards minorities (Jews and Muslims) in contemporary France is so strategic. Organized by Nonna Mayer, Vincent Tiberj and Tommaso Vitale, it will be held in Sciences Po Paris (France from the 18th to the 20th April 2013. Program here (PDF).

Grand Rabbi of France resigns after scandal

In the last 10 days, observers of the French religious scene have been amazed by this news: the Grand Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, has been accused of plagiarism and cheating on his CV, pretending he obtained an "agregation de philosophie", a prestigious but extremely difficult to obtain achievement. After both accusations appeared to be true, Rabbi Gilles Bernheim finally resigned today after having refused to do so.

As a high moral authority, publically involved in the defense of traditional marriage in the current French debate around same-sex marriage, Gilles Bernheim has shocked many.

More news about it on Thelocal.fr (link).

War in Mali: a reminder that France is not "soft" on jihadists

Many different streams have built up the French left-wing tradition, including a growing trend in favour of multiculturalism, and a lasting pro-palestinian stance.

No wonder if according to polls, about 9 out of 10 French muslims voted for François Hollande (former leader of the Socialist Party) at the last presidential elections (2012).

However, it would be a mistake to conclude that the current French authorities play "soft on radical islam" and jihadists.

All the contrary! (click here to continue)

Face of France's 'Good King Henri IV' reconstructed

For lovers of French political and religious History, this is great news: the face of "Good Henri IV", the highly revered French king who died 400 years ago in 1610, has been reconstructed by a team of French researchers led by Philippe Charlier. Using scans of the skull believed to belong to the monarch, they created a very lively portrait of what Henry the fourth (a former Huguenot) looked like.

"Bravo"! (link here)

2012, the Year when French "cellar Evangelicals" came into fame

As a scholar working on Evangelicals, what would be my "highlight of the year"? 

As far as France is concerned, I choose  the huge media attention on "cellar Evangelicals" after a tragic accident that happened in Stains (Paris subburbs) on the 8th of April, 2012 (Easter).

Paris is not only the "city of light". It is also a multicultural metropolis where poverty, unemployment, high property prices and sometimes difficult relations with local authorities mean that minority religion have a hard time finding decent worship places.

For many years, media attention was mainly focused on islam. Scholar Gilles Kepel rightly highlighted a "cellar islam", lacking proper space in French subburbs.

French Evangelicals through an American lens (GetReligion)

In our last post, we just highlighted the paper published by the Christian Science Monitor on French Evangelicals. A few days after, the GetReligion website (worth a visit!) released a critical review of this paper, written by George Conger.

Although it may be a little bit severe, it is inspiring (read also the comments).

Link here

French Evangelicals screened by the Christian Science Monitor

"For years, intellectuals proclaimed the end of Christianity in France, swallowed by the tides of modernity, science, and reason."

Not so sure! To know more, read this month the Christian Science Monitor, one of the most US respected magazine on christian news.

Robert Marquand, CS's Staff writer, authored a must-read study on French Evangelicals in the July 2012 issue. With facts, analysis, and comparative view (France/America). Link here

Evangelicals accuse French officials of discrimination (Global Post)

Immigrant Evangelical churches are a fast-growing movment in France. Mostly related to the Francophone world (According to the La nouvelle France protestante 2011 book, there is around 40 millions of  French-speaking protestants in the World), they are often poor, and have a hard time finding proper worship places.

To know more about these issues, Clea Caulcutt just released a very well-crafted report, published in the Global Post (July 1, 2012). Link

French Evangelicals on the move: the CNEF holistic evangelism

Connexion (June 2012) is the CNEF magazine (written in French). Its third issue is the opportunity to get a confirmation that social work, social Gospel and solidarity are back on the map for French Evangelicals, after a few post World War II decades during which these themes became old-fashioned.

Under the umbrella of the CNEF organization, evangelism appears to be defined in a holistic way, starting from the individual to reach social level.  One of the reasons of this emphasis may rely on the CNEF distinctives.

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Atheism and Secularism: more and more studied

For quite a long time, atheism and secularism were understudied. Not anymore.

While Religioscope devoted a big article in French on this issue this year, a new review devoted to these topics just appeared in 2012: its name is Secularism and non religion. 

Last but not least, let's remind the very interesting issue of the open access e-journal Approching religion (vol 2, n°1, 2012). Theme  "The New Visibility of Atheism in Europe".

A new leading figure of the European research field on African churches

Remember Annalisa Butticci’s name (picture left) : as the Padova International Conference on Pentecostalism reaches its end today, she’s the one to be praised (along with her mentor Enzo Pace) for boosting studies on Pentecostal and immigrant churches in Latin Europe.

 After having completed her Ph.D in Sociology and Methodology for Social Science Research from the Catholic University of Milan (Italy), she conducted an ambitious field work, both in Nigerian immigrant churches and in Nigeria (she spent 8 months in Lagos), and she just achieved an amazing task in organizing such a large and successful conference in Padova. (Click to continue)

French pastor André Thobois (1924-2012) remembered

Often nicknamed "pastors' pastor" ("le pasteur des pasteurs"), French Evangelical leader André Thobois (1924-2012) passed away on the 26th of March, 2012.

A memorial service was held on the 31th of March, 2012, in the Avenue du Maine Baptist Church (Paris, France).

Christians from all denominations came to express their thanksgiving for what they considered to be such a lasting and fruitful ministry.

(click to continue)

Cocorico to "The Artist"

At the beginning of 2012, a BVA survey among 51 countries confirmed that France appear to be World Champion of pessimism: 81% of French fear a year with increasing Economic difficulties.

A recent IFOP survey published by the French daily La Croix confirmed this pessimism.

But should the French be so pessimistic? The triumph of "The Artist", a French movie just winning 5 oscars including a best director Oscar for Michel Hazanavicius and a best actor trophy for Jean Dujardin invites also to say COCORICO (the victory song of the rooster, the French national emblem).

Death of a megachurch leader in France: Selvaraj Rajiah (1952-2011)

Megachurches are not just a US (or Nigerian, Korean...) phenomenon.

Even Secular France has got some, including Paris Christian Center in La Courneuve (North of Paris), attracting more than 4,000 regular attenders every week.

This is why the sudden and unexpected death of Selvaraj Rajiah, senior pastor of PCC, is a major event in the French protestant news.

Understanding French Muslims' History: 3 films

Even more than the Evangelical growth (between 600,000 and 750,000 Evangelicals in today's France), the Muslim growth is "the" big religious news of the last 40 years.

In 2011 France, there are an estimated five million Muslims living in the country. A century ago, they were referred to as "colonials". During the 1960s, they were known as "immigrants". Today, they are "citizens".

But how have the challenges facing each generation of immigrants changed?

In order to answer to these questions, Al Jazeera just released 3 films worth beeing seen (from Karim Miské). Link

Now in bookstores and on Amazon: La nouvelle France protestante

An IFOP national Survey in 2010 reveals a brand new Protestant map in France.

While many speak openly about the collapse of organized Christianity in contemporary France, the heirs of French Reformers (including French-born John Calvin) are currently growing.

Although this is unexpected, it can't be denied. This process goes along with the spread of Evangelical new communities. A third of all current French protestants are Evangelicals, while 60% remain attached to the presbyterian and lutheran traditions. This new landscape draws questions and requires analysis.

All Saints's Day in Paris

Today, is a National Holiday for France. Most French people will go to the cemetery.

Why? Because they celebrate the TOUSSAINT feast (ALL SAINTS's day), a Catholic day designed to honour the memory of the dead.

As millions of French people place flowers on the graves of their loved ones, let's have a look on some famous Parisian cemeteries, thanks to Heather Stimmler-Hall, who posted a very nice illustrated note on her Parisian blog.

Link

French Evangelical News: a new portal

Under the umbrella of an Evangelical network whose main ambition is to support Christian witness in France, let's highlight this website: http://www.scoop.it/t/french-evangelical-news.

This new portal puts together news from many different origins (including this blog), and appears to be a valuable ressource in order to document French Evangelicals' contemporary life.

Immigration impact on an old Parisian congregation: a case study

As migrants flow in increasing numbers in "old Europe", changing forever social and cultural landscapes, more and more studies are currently undergone about new multicultural and immigrant churches.

Although all Christian traditions are impacted by immigration, Evangelicalism is at the frontline, as warm, grassroot and zealous Evangelical congregations appear more attractive to migrants than other more traditional religious forms.

A rare insight on a French Evangelical "hub"

In demographic terms, Evangelicalism in France amounts to a third of all French Protestants.

In terms of practicing Protestants, however, the rate is very different. Around two thirds (if not three quarters) of practicing Protestants in contemporary France are Evangelicals.

But lots of research still needs to be done in order to know better these French born-again citizens.

A French woman at the head of the IMF

Who knows Christine Lagarde?

In France, everybody knows her for sure, as she served as an able and hard-working Finance minister for 3 years. But the world still needs to get more familiar with the new head International Monetary Fund (IMF), where she replaces…. Another French politician, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, currently facing criminal charges in New York.

Regulating religion in the PARISIAN area

On the 14th of June, 2011, I've had the priviledge to be part of an international conference jointly organized by my French research team (the GSRL) and Washington University (St Louis, USA).

My topic was: Regulating religion in the Parisian area. You want to know more? Here is my PDF draft paper (sorry, you won't see the Powerpoint presentation, but there was one also).

S.Fath, Regulating religious diversity in the Parrisian area.pdf

It is a preliminary document which will need to be revised, improved and extended.

French, Most Useful Second Language ?

Watching the French media, one of the many things that puzzles me during the current Arabic revolutions (from Tunisia to Egypt) is that in spite of the French decline, French language is still used by many (even by some in Lybia).

Why? Many strong historical reasons explain that. But there are also some more pragmatic reasons. I just found a quite well-documented article (published online in 2008) which explains pretty well why French language might remain "the most useful Second Language for English speakers".

Severe cuts : France and UK compared

In France, UK and whole Europe, severe cuts are announced.

How do the French and the Brits react to this time of sacrifice ?

Glory be to Schrank, everything is explained in one single drawing (see below).

Click to continue

BBC page on French laïcité (laicity, secularism)

I have recently discovered an interesting BBC page about French laïcité (particuliar French way to deal with Secularism). 

 

Here is the link: BBC page on French Laïcité (secularism).

This page rightly emphasizes the importance of French History:

"Because of past precedent it is very easy for the French to interpret any strong religious views as a direct threat to their freedom and way of life".

French ban on face-covering veils (Burqa): some explanations

In a very cruel, unfair and misleading editorial, the New York Times criticized the French will to ban the Burqa in the streets (one should say the Niqab: full radical muslim face-covering veil). This editorial was published on January 26, 2010.

The title was: "The Taliban would applaud" (sic).

Click to continue

2009 Protestant Festival in Strasbourg (Oct., 30 - Nov.,2)

During the whole 2009 year, French Protestant have been celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, the French-born church reformer who inspired a movement that now has tens of millions of adherents worldwide.

No doubt that this Year's climax has been the huge Protestant Festival organized by the Protestant  Federation of France (FPF) in Strasbourg (Alsace, Eastern part of France).

 

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The rise of French Evangelicals: an article from the Guardian

Lizzy Davies, a journalist from the Guardian, called me a few days ago to ask me some questions about French Evangelicals.

 

Unfortunatly, I was not in my home and I did not have the opportunity to answer in due time.

 

Click to continue

Norway best place to live, France 8th, USA 13th (2009)

The annual United Nations Human Development Index has been released today (Monday 5th of October).

According to this index, based on such criteria as life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, Norway is the best place to live in.

 

Click to continue