budapest (part 2)

*note: this is a continuation of part 1. click here to read it.

the effects of the socialist state are evident to this day. public places are strangely quiet. it took a bit to realize this was because people weren't talking (or at least not very loud). the older section of the populace almost never talks in public. the middle aged will talk a bit, but very quietly...so no one can eavesdrop on them. it's only in the young ones (the ones born after the end of the socialist era) that the locals act in a way that westerners consider normal. this results in their youth having more in common with the rest of the world than their own older countrymen. americans think there's an age gap here? they haven't seen anything.

their views on religion seem to be equally disparate. christianity's roots are in europe. the people have had centuries to watch the rise and fall christendom. in their eyes, the remaining few (very few) that still cling to their faith are an anachronism; the last vestiges of dark historical times. or at least the old ones think this. the youth are inquisitive and open. if religious fervor is to return to hungary, it will be at the hands of the young.

most of the populace is familiar with church, and biblical history. i didn't get a chance to verify this, but i suspect it's part of their schooling. many of the concepts that take some explaining to americans outside the church system are already understood by hungarians. all the knowledge is there; they just haven't had many examples to demonstrate the walk. after decades of oppression, this is not surprising, but it does demonstrate their need to be exposed to true believers.

on the flight between budapest and frankfurt (on the way home), i had a long conversation with hungarian man. he was very curious to know what i thought of his country. we talked for almost 2 hours about things like: socialism vs. capitalism, what form of government the unites states truly is (hint, it's not the republic it was created to be), government policies and their effect on the economy and religion, welfare vs. charity, challenges to missionaries in developed countries, etc. it was amazing! i wish i had the opportunity to share with more people in that way.

the whole trip was a positive, learning experience. there's a lot of potential in this [now] little country. i imagine most of the eastern european countries have similar stories. tales of a dark, almost unspeakable past with the potential for a bright, amazing future.