Germany has a long and complex religious history, characterized by diversity and change over time. To understand the dominant religions in Germany today, it is helpful to examine how religion in Germany has evolved.
Religious Makeup of Medieval Germany
For much of the Medieval period in Central Europe, Christianity was the dominant religion. Most Germanic tribes, including those within modern-day Germany, converted to Christianity between the 6th and 8th century CE during the time of the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks.
The Roman Catholic Church became the most influential religious institution in medieval Germany. However, there was tension between the Pope and secular rulers over authority, which sometimes led rulers to support antipopes.
There was also diversity in monastic life and spirituality – mysticism was popular in Germany and mystics sometimes came into conflict with church authorities. Major medieval religious figures from Germany include Hildegard von Bingen and Meister Eckhart.
Table 1 summarizes key aspects of religion in medieval Germany:
| Dominant Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Major Figures & Groups | Hildegard von Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Mystics, Monastic Orders like the Benedictines |
| Religious Tensions | Struggles between Popes & Secular Rulers over Authority |
So while firmly Roman Catholic, religion in medieval Germany was also characterized by mystical movements, monastic diversity, and some dissent against church authorities.
The Impact of the Protestant Reformation
The early 16th century Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, took hold in many German states and profoundly changed the religious landscape.
Luther publicly critiqued, or protested, certain practices of the Catholic church like indulgences. His revolutionary ideas, like justification by faith alone, spread quickly, aided by the printing press. Luther translated the Bible into German to make it more accessible.
Many German princes converted to Lutheranism and established their regional churches. Other reformist branches like Calvinism also gained converts.
Centuries of religious division and conflict followed between Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists and other groups like Anabaptists. Rulers tried to enforce religious unity in a policy known as Cuius regio, eius religio. Major religious clashes like the Thirty Years’ War highlighted the tensions.
Table 2 summarizes some key effects of the Reformation period on German religion:
| New Denominations | Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptism |
| Increased Diversity & Division | Hundreds of German States had Different Policies & Official Religions |
| Religious Conflicts | Thirty Years’ War, Other Religious Wars |
So the Reformation introduced major religious diversity to Germany along with heightened tensions between groups.
19th Century Changes
The political reorganization of Germany in the 19th century led to increased religious freedom. As Prussia rose to prominence, the Calvinist tradition had significant influence.
Industrialization & urbanization brought more religious diversity. Catholic Polish immigrants moved into eastern Germany. Jewish Germans became more integrated into public life compared to the medieval period.
Secularism also grew, though religiosity remained higher than other industrialized nations. Both Catholics and Protestants founded political parties. Germany remained religiously diverse into the early 20th century.
Table 3 outlines key 19th century shifts:
| Increased Diversity | Catholic Polish Immigration, Greater Jewish Integration, Calvinist Influence |
| Continued Importance of Religion | Higher Church Attendance Than Other Industrial Nations, Confessional Parties Formed |
| Changes in Governance | Increased Religious Freedom with New Political System |
So Germany continued to diversify religiously even as religion maintained significance in public life.
Nazi Rule & Division
The changes occurring in the first half of the 20th century utterly transformed Germany’s religious makeup. When the Nazi party rose to power in 1933, it sought to undermine religious organizations and coordinate German Christian groups into a unified Reich Church.
The Nazis promoted positive Christianity, which supported Nazi ideology and rejected Jewish elements. Church leaders faced intense pressure to conform, with some protestant groups capitulating while others resisted.
After WWII, Germany was divided into East and West. Communist Eastern Germany strongly discouraged religion. Western Germany remained predominantly religious, with a mix of Catholics and Protestants across various regions.
Table 4 shows the radical 20th century shifts:
| Nazi Policies | Attempt to Create Unified Reich Church, Pressure Churches to Accept Positive Christianity |
| Post War Governance | Communist Discouragement of Religion in East, Continued Importance in West |
So Nazi policies and WWII division undermined the status and diversity of Germany’s traditional faiths.
Modern Rates of Adherence
Since reunification in 1990, Germany has grown increasingly secular. But a majority of Germans still identify with a religion, whether Catholic, Protestant, Muslim or other faith.
Roughly half the country identifies as Christian, about 30% as Protestant and 24% as Catholic according to polls. However weekly church attendance is now low, around 10%. Around 36-37% identify as non-religious. Islam has risen to become Germany’s second largest religion.
Table 5 outlines current rates:
So while secularism dominates contemporary Germany, most Germans still identify or affiliate with a religion, even if actual practice is limited. The long trajectories of traditional faiths continue to shape modern German culture and society.
Conclusion
In summary, religion in Germany has undergone profound changes over the centuries. Beginning as a monolithically Catholic society in the Middle Ages, the Protestant Reformation introduced new denominations and religious tensions in the 16th century. Germany remained religiously diverse into the 19th and 20th centuries, though secularism slowly rose.
The Nazi regime presented the greatest threat to institutional religion in Germany, attempting to subordinate churches. Post-war Communist governance in East Germany also severely discouraged religion.
In contemporary unified Germany, Christianity has declined sharply, though most Germans still identify with a faith whether Protestant, Catholic or Muslim. Significant religious diversity and freedom persists. Germany’s complex religious history continues to shape society today.
This concludes a high-level overview of the dominant religions throughout German history – from Medieval Catholicism to rising modern secularism with a minority of practicing Muslims, Protestants and Catholics. Germany’s religious shifts illustrate larger social and political transformations across Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the history of religion in Germany:
What was the dominant religion in Germany before the Reformation?
Roman Catholicism was the overwhelmingly dominant religion in Germany before the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Most Germanic tribes converted to Catholicism between the 6th-8th century CE, during the period of Frankish ruler Charlemagne. Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries in the Medieval period, further solidifying Catholic influence.
How did the Thirty Years War impact religion in Germany?
Fought 1618-1648 primarily in German states, the Thirty Years War stemmed from tensions between Catholics and Protestants after the Reformation era. The complex war weakened the Holy Roman Empire and German states. Peace settlements allowed German princes to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism for their territory, entrenching religious division for centuries. Over 20% of German speakers died during three decades of horrendous violence and displacement.
What happened to religion under Hitler and the Nazis?
The Nazi regime sought to undermine wider church power in Germany by pressuring Protestants into a unified Reich Church that supported aspects of Nazi ideology and Aryan identity. This caused a major rift between German Protestants. While some church leaders capitulated, others like theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer joined the resistance. Catholic concordats also entangled the Vatican with the Nazi regime. Ultimately the Nazis failed to eradicate faiths but severely weakened churches’ status.
How did Communism impact religion in East Germany?
After WWII, Communist leaders in East Germany discouraged organized religion which they saw as conflicting with Marxist ideals. Church property was seized and youth groups banned. While some Germans continued to practice quietly, over 40 years of explicit state atheism.