Swedes Trust IKEA More than the Church
"Billy" vs. God: Swedes Trust IKEA More than the Church - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News
Perhaps the news shouldn't come as much of a surprise, coming as it does from a country best known for its meatballs and the bright blue and yellow warehouses selling cheap and cheerful furniture around the globe. Still, preacher men the world over must be reeling. A new poll taken of Swedes indicates that more people trust IKEA than the church in the largely Protestant country. According to the poll, taken by the business weekly Dagens Industri, 80 percent of Swedes said they had "much or very much trust" in the world's largest furniture store chain, which was founded by Ingvar Kamprad. But only 46 percent of the 800 people surveyed said they trusted the Swedish church, which counts 80 percent of the 9 million residents living in Sweden as members. IKEA isn't the only company Swedes trust more than the church -- the list also includes Volvo (69 percent), Ericsson (59), Saab (57) and pharmaceutical giant Astra Zeneca (47) as well as four other companies that beat out the church on the trust factor. Indeed, the church landed in slot 14, behind Sweden's public television station, its universities, small business, the central bank and the daily paper Dagens Nyheter. There was, however, some positive news for the church: It got better marks than the conservative party of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (30 percent). And it fared better than foreign companies like Coca-Cola, which only 22 percent of Swedes said they trusted.Don't be surprised if such a fate is the future for our rapidly declining country. We too are becoming largely "post-Christian" as some have called it. Obviously Sweden has other issues with their "church" which until recently was state-run. "Membership" is nothing more than being a member of AAA or AARP... a few "benefits" like baptisms for the kids and a pretty church for the weddings. We have largely avoided that tempting use of church in our country. Yet we too face the same decline where "trust" in the church cannot outrank a furniture maker. (Granted, IKEA makes nice furniture for a great price. We like our kitchen island and toyed with the idea of using their modular cabinets for a kitchen overhaul.) The idea that people trust an institution like church is a silly question. They shouldn't put their trust in a bunch of folks. They should be trusting in God, His Word, and His Sacraments. So, in the end, its a silly question. I don't trust my "church" either. Big deal! Point me in the direction of a denomination that is orthodox... good luck!
