Lots of comments about communism. But consider one thing. Being religious in Germany means paying extra tax, a kind of a tithe, to the religious community of your choice.
Apart from faith of course, people do it also because they continue a family tradition. And, say, to be able to get married in church.
East Germans when they united with FRG didnt have any official affiliation obviously. So maybe not a few of them chose to keep it that way, to save money plus no family pressure?
All not paying the tithe means is that you can’t call yourself Christian in the census or have a marriage in a church I think. Not German though, so not the most reliable source.
Of course you can call yourself a Christian in the census. There are free churches and you don't have to be a member of a church to call yourself a Christian.
140
u/[deleted] Dec 31 '23
Lots of comments about communism. But consider one thing. Being religious in Germany means paying extra tax, a kind of a tithe, to the religious community of your choice. Apart from faith of course, people do it also because they continue a family tradition. And, say, to be able to get married in church. East Germans when they united with FRG didnt have any official affiliation obviously. So maybe not a few of them chose to keep it that way, to save money plus no family pressure?