Do you think Greek culture is becoming more Westernized? ?

Question

As of 2007, the divorce rate in Greece is 22%, the birthrate is 1.26, and since 1996 Greece has been having the highest abortion rates in Europe. Also 55% of the modern Greek students graduate from a 4 year University, which is one of the highest in the EU. Also just couple months ago same s*x marriages have been allowed.

One more interesting fact. According to Eurostats, Greece is the 4th most religious country in Europe, with 81% responding to "i believe in God"

I know the Church made a big fuss about the first g*y and L*****n marriages to occur in Tilos. But how about holding the highest abortion rates (which is considered one of the biggest sins in Christianity) and having high divorce rates, claim to be religious at the same time?

What are your thoughts about this? Although foreigners are welcomed, I would like people who live in Greece to explain better. Thank you for your answers.

Answer 1

1. g*y marriages are not legal in Greece. A mayor did them, but they are not valid.

2. Abortion rate is just a sign of idiocy and lack of sexual  education, not culture or religion. With today's means of contraception, you must be stupid to get pregnant without wanting to.

3. Believing in God doesn't make anyone religious. I believe in God but I don't follow what the church says and I go to church every Easter.

4. Birth rate also is an index of society's welfare, not westernisation. people who have many children are either very poor (as in developping countries, where their children will grow up with no financial means anyway, so why bother to have few?) or very rich (like Angelina Jolie, who makes some of her own and takes in also a few more, and I respect her for that). Greek society is mostly middle calss, there are no facilities for working parents, and many children need space, time, and sacrifices from the parents, that perhaps they are not willing to do.

So all these interesting observations of yours are in fact signs of the particularities of Greek society as opposed to the rest of the western world, I think.

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

Yes, just like the rest of Europe if you ask me.

Answer 4

No actually last years greece became more conservative and i see people around are having huge complexes in almost every field of life..Except a 10% of people who might be kinda open-minded the others need too many years to become 'westernised' as u said...Don't forget the fact that the family institution n religion is still too strong,unfortunately :-P p.s. the divorce rate got bigger coz most greek women r 'gold diggers' or men r cheating them with the russian girlzzz :-P  

Answer 5

yes

all i saw in crete was football and beer , i dont want a little england i wanted culture , i was very disappointed  

Answer 6

People can sin even if they believe in God. The divorce rate is pretty low in comparison with other EU countries. The abortion number is indeed high but i have no official statistics. Same s*x marriages are not allowed, at least yet.

Answer 7

Greece is the birthplace of western civilization, so your point is what exactly?

Answer 8

Abortion is higher because girls are greatly discouraged to use the Pill

Not taking the pill and relying on killing an unborn baby as a means of contraception as well as smoking etc heightens the need for IVF and causes a low birth rate - and alarming number of twins!

Greece is a country that still encourages 'marriage' whereas many other countries are quite happy to 'co inhabit' instead of feeling the need to be binded in wedlock. Many young people (girls especially) do not get much of a life pre-marriage and many make up for it or are unhappy after marriage - many affairs - sometimes seen as norm! Years ago people didn't divorce because of affairs (mostly by men back then) but nowadays no one (worth their salt) will accept their partner having an affair - so Divorce!

g*y marriages are not legal in regards to the church and are performed with a civil ceremony

Religion is absolutely pushed down Greeks throat from as early as day 1 - they are bombarded at schools and never given the chance to question nor disbelieve. This, in my opinion does not mean that they are religious - just brain washed into Orthodox Christianity without being given a chance to learn about other religions / evolution or other.

Just because someone says 'I believe in God' - does not make them religious - it makes them scared of thinking anything else - many people who 'believe' in Greece do not know the first thing about the Bible and many have not read it. Fear in God and 'securing' your place in heaven does not make you religious.

Answer 9

Definately.... and you know... if we continue like this (the "modern fashioned western american way") ... next generations will forget the tradition and maybe the good use of language, two critical elements of the national identity

Answer 10

Hello. My short answer is yes, greek culture is becoming more westernized. I'll try to comment on the other things you mention later (no time now, sorry)!

Answer 11

It is not about Greek culture...

It is about NEW Generation of the World....and it is terrible...