amy- National Gallery

One of the things I heard most about Prague before coming was the lack of religion. About ninety five percent of people in Prague are apparently agnostic or atheistic. I had heard different perspectives concerning the reasons for such a low percentage. Some said it was the tumultuous history of church in politics and the Catholic and Protestant conflict. I was always curious when this decline started. Back in the 17th and 18th centuries it seemed there were many Protestants trying to stand up for what they believed in. When we went to the National Gallery and saw the Czech display, I found it interesting that it seemed the decline was in the early 20th century. I tend to speculate that perhaps the hundred years of religious conflict frustrated the people of that age. Then to go on and see the political hardships that the country went through nonstop after World War II really puts things in perspective. If religious belief was already on the decline then I can only imagine that Communism would be enough to stifle any wavering decision-makers. After studying about Czech history, it seems far less surprising at the number of agnostics and atheists. In the displays, and from Doctor Kabat, it seems that the first people the Communist leaders went after were the church leaders. They felt that these leaders were just as dangerous to their regime as the anarchists, fascists, artists and other political dissidents. I find this to be a testament to how the teaching of faith is influential and radical. The National Museum’s display allowed me to have an interactively wider perspective on the history of the Czech nation and religion.