Bratwurst and Beer: How the Far Right Replaced Germany’s Churches

(RNS) — The same churches that helped topple communism couldn’t stop this movement.

A state in Germany has seen the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party win nearly 44% of the vote — making it the state’s largest party and bringing it within three seats of a governing majority.

While Catholic and Protestant churches had been prominent opponents of AfD in this election, their influence failed to stem the tide of the growing far-right, nationalist movement.

How did this happen in a place where churches once birthed the Protestant Reformation and contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Reporter Liam Adams has the story.

This transcript was generated using AI tools and may contain minor transcription errors.

AMANDA HENDERSON: From Religion News Service and the Institute for Religion, Politics and Culture, this is Complexified, a podcast for the religiously curious and politically frustrated. I’m Amanda Henderson. Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany’s 16 states. In an election for its state parliament, the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, or AfD, won nearly 44% of the vote, making it the state’s largest party and bringing it within three seats…