It is one of those iconic churches, a huge draw for tourists in downtown Freiburg. I hadn’t planned on going inside, but the organ music drew me in.

The Munster is a dark place – you really shouid visit it on a sunny day. I don’t think i have ever managed that, but this particular Wedesday was partly cloudy and the church didn’t seem to be as dark as usual – and the organ concert was lovely. And I say that as someone who is not a big fan of the instrument.

Older European churches always make me reflect on religion, society and the future of humanity. We don’t build them like that anymore.

The Munster is a couple of decades past its 800th birthday. Take some time to let that sink in. Almost everything that we take for granted wasn’t even a dream when this cathedral rose above the young city. It was built by hand. No power tools, just willing workers showing their devotion to God.

That was then, when Christianity was part of the culture. Times have changed. Today you would have difficulty getting zoning and building permits for such a structure. And the people would be unlikely to put in the effort to build it.

Europe, once the heart of Christianity, is now a mere appendage. Asia, Africa and South America all have more Christians. In Europe almost all that remains is history.

Which isn’t the whole story. The Munster is still a church, not just a tourist attraction. People gather for worship, to have fellowship with each other and listen for God’s voice.

Societies change. That is one of the givens of the human experience. The world of my childhood was vastly different from today. I can’t even imagine what my grandchildren’s world will look like 50 years from now.

The Munster will probably still dominate downtown Freiburg. Maybe there will be a societal shift and it wilk be filled with worshippers instead if tourists. Maybe, liie today, there will only be a faithful few

One thing that is certain is that the Church with a capital C will survive. The old buildings, as beautiful as they are, really don’t matter. The Church is the prople in eelationshio with God – and that will endure.