Life and Tradition
The Church plays a central role in the life of Bijbelgordel communities and they typically oppose the liberal practices of Dutch society, such as euthanasia, gay rights, abortion etc. In Bijbelgordel communities, strong religious tone in public life is accompanied by conservative outlook, preference for large families (the region has relatively high fertility rates), and an emphasis on traditional values. An aspect of Bijbelgordel society that has drawn the attention of the Dutch general public in recent years (when concerns of a measles epidemic emerged) is the suspicion of parents towards state-run vaccination programmes.
The Bijbelgordel provides a base of support for Christian Democratic parties, especially the two (small) Christian parties; SGP and ChristenUnie.
Read more about this topic: Bible Belt (Netherlands)
Famous quotes containing the words life and/or tradition:
“The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience ... not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life.”
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910)
“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes—our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking around.”
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)