Thousands quit Church of Denmark after atheist campaign

Danish Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik with their children Christian and Isabella arrive for the commemoration service in the church in Christiansborg Castle, Copenhagen on the occasion of Danish Queen Margrethe's 40th jubilee in 2012. Reuters

Thousands of people have cancelled their membership of Denmark's state Church following a campaign by atheists.

Nearly 3,000 baptised cancelled their membership last month after Denmark's Atheist Society, Ateistisk Selskab, launched a nationwide campaign advising people they could save money by opting out.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark is among several Churches in Europe subsidised by a Church tax. Although the tax is voluntary in Denmark, at a rate of around one per cent, Church members are automatically signed up and have to opt out rather than opt in. 

Nearly eight in 10 Danish people are members of the Church of Denmark, known as "the People's Church". The Church is both Protestant and episcopally-led. Everyone who is baptised automatically becomes a member. Just 2.4 per cent of members attend every week.

The monarch is supreme authorithy of the Church and has to be a member, although not the monarch's spouse. However, Mary Donaldson converted from Presbyterianism when she married Crown Prince Frederik in 2004.

article,article,article,article,article Related

Atheist Society spokesman Anders Stjernholm told Kristeligt Dagblad: "We are very pleased with the preliminary results. While our bus campaign calls for a broad debate about the foundations of faith, the withdrawal campaign targets the many Danes who have long considered leaving folkekirken, but have been putting it off because the process is too cumbersome."

One vicar, Lena Kjems, who lost 14 members, said: "We can see that in most cases these are young men aged 18-25, and so we, as a city parish with many students, have been hit especially hard." 

Stephen Evans of the UK's National Secular Society told Christian Today: "It's not at all surprising that Danish citizens are cancelling their church membership. Nobody should be auto-enrolled into a religion, particularly when it comes with the imposition of a church tax to fund an institution that you may not support.

"In secular democracies churches have to learn to stand on their own feet and not rely on unwilling citizens or the state for financial support. That goes as much for the Church of England here as it does the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark." 

related articles
The Ultimate Evidence: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Ultimate Evidence: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Ultimate Evidence: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

7 things that Christians can learn from atheists
7 things that Christians can learn from atheists

7 things that Christians can learn from atheists

How to respond to Bible skeptics who challenge our faith
How to respond to Bible skeptics who challenge our faith

How to respond to Bible skeptics who challenge our faith

Scotland Church\'s influence declines as more Scottish people quit religion, survey shows
Scotland Church's influence declines as more Scottish people quit religion, survey shows

Scotland Church's influence declines as more Scottish people quit religion, survey shows

Atheist ministers: Why religion without God is pointless
Atheist ministers: Why religion without God is pointless

Atheist ministers: Why religion without God is pointless

News
Christian teacher who said being LGBT was a sin loses High Court challenge
Christian teacher who said being LGBT was a sin loses High Court challenge

The High Court has upheld the dismissal of a Christian teacher who told pupils at the London school where she worked that being LGBT was a sin. 

Christian nurse launches legal action after investigation for calling convicted transgender paedophile ‘Mr’ 
Christian nurse launches legal action after investigation for calling convicted transgender paedophile ‘Mr’ 

A Christian senior nurse was investigated and deemed “a potential risk” after she referred to a convicted transgender child sex offender as ‘Mr’. 

AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?
AI and the visual interpretation of Scripture: A new era of biblical storytelling?

The relationship between faith and storytelling has always been central to Christianity. From the parables of Jesus to grand cinematic adaptations of biblical narratives, each generation has found new ways to bring Scripture to life. 

Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE
Report calls for standardisation and specialism in RE

An independent review into the national curriculum for schools has highlighted the urgent need for standardised religious education (RE) across the country and greater subject specialism to ensure “mastery in the subject”.