American Prestige E224 - Christianity and 20th Century European Politics w/ Udi Greenberg
Sep 2, 2025
Historian Udi Greenberg, an expert in modern European religion and politics, joins the discussion to share insights from his book on the dynamic interplay between Catholics and Protestants from the 1880s to the 1970s. He delves into their strategic alliances against fascism, the Cold War, and decolonization, revealing the complexities of ecumenism and Christian Democracy. Greenberg also highlights how these relationships inform current socio-political movements, emphasizing the resurgence of collaboration in the fight for social justice during the 1960s and 70s.
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Christianity Shaped Postwar Democracy
- Udi Greenberg discovered Christianity shaped postwar democratizing ideas and couldn't ignore Protestant roles.
- He shifted focus to how Catholics and Protestants reconciled politically across the twentieth century.
Animosity Rose In The 19th Century
- Late 19th-century Europe saw rising, not declining, confessional animosity between Catholics and Protestants.
- Political mobilization, press, and party formation amplified interconfessional hostility across countries.
Secularization Was Uneven
- Secularization in the 19th century was uneven; churches remained central for most of the population.
- Confessional social organizations politicized life, fueling interfaith competition rather than decline.
