In theory I - along with my parents - are - still - protestantic Christians, as we are members of the Church and have been baptised. Furthermore, we've all gone through the so-called "confirmation".
That aside, neither of us practice any particular Christian traditions, besides Christmas, which has turned into a universal, capitalistic phenomenon anyway.
Ipso facto; when I was born, I automatically became a member of the Church making me somewhat (protestantic) Christian already - together with the baptizing and confirmation gimmick. Anyway, this is - as with the Danish population and a large portion of my family in general - due to sheer laziness; people don't believe in God, or rather, they don't express any religious beliefs and practices attributable to Christianity. I myself, even being agnostic, haven't pulled myself together to cancel my "membership" of the Church, since this, a measly yearly amount charged aside, is more of a symbolic act than a personal choice or path taken.
As for the confirmation.
At age 14, you, after having gone through a course of weekly "confirmation preparation" lasting one or two hours or so over a span of estimately six months, together with tending the obligatory number of sermons, recite a piece about God, Satan and all of the other holy blokes and entities. A
lot of people go through this ritual, which to... orthodox or at least more strict believers like the American Christians may seem like a pledge of allegiance.
The answer to this is two-sided: Firstly, you receive loooads of money or expensive gifts - or both - when you finish your confirmation; a prize well worth going the dullest experience in your life for, despite one not being Christian and believing the teachings of Jesus/The Bible. To emphasize this argument is the fact that other families - e.g. agnostic ones - have invented the so-called "nonfirmation" - in my opinion - as an excuse to shower their children with gifts so they won't grow jealous of the children that have gone through the confirmation to receive their fair share. It is, of course, another way for critics of Christianity to deter their children from the religion with its temptation of the insane gifts ready for those "confirming" their faith.
Secondly, people in Denmark are, as said, creatures of habit, tradition and laziness and simply continue the pattern their parents and ancestors went through, even though they might not think the same way about Christianity as they did. Perhaps peer pressure also has played its part in the going on of confirmation, since children might feel outside when the others are going through their confirmation preparation, having a party and gift shower thrown et al.
To sum up, the average Dane is, in theory, Christian, but in reality pretty agnostic... There is an exception, though; I'm pretty sure the majority gets religious when the national football team is playing a crucial match.
)
I messed up my vote...
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