Across Europe, churches and other Christian religious buildings stand increasingly empty. These empty churches are being repurposed. That means they are being changed into other things like hotels, sport climbing businesses, and even dance places. Supporters say the changes remove the need for costly repairs and care of the buildings. But critics say such changes raise ethical concerns. Empty churches can be seen over much of Europe - from Germany to Italy and many nations in between. But the empty churches really stand out in Flanders, in the northern part of Belgium. The area has some of the greatest cathedrals in Europe. Yet there are not enough people attending the churches. In 2018, the PEW research group released an opinion study of religion in Belgium. The study found that 83 percent of people said they had been raised as Christians. But only 55 percent still consider themselves to be Christians. And only 10 percent of Belgians still attend church regularly.
Title: In Belgium, Empty Churches Are Being Turned into Businesses
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/T19.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='In Belgium, Empty Churches Are Being Turned into Businesses' data-article-id='6544'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='9042'>Across Europe, churches and other Christian religious buildings stand increasingly empty.</span> <span data-start-time='9042' data-end-time='13521'>These empty churches are being repurposed. </span> <span data-start-time='13521' data-end-time='23604'>That means they are being changed into other things like hotels, sport climbing businesses, and even dance places.</span> <span data-start-time='23604' data-end-time='31021'>Supporters say the changes remove the need for costly repairs and care of the buildings. </span> <span data-start-time='31021' data-end-time='36396'>But critics say such changes raise ethical concerns.</span> <span data-start-time='36396' data-end-time='46313'>Empty churches can be seen over much of Europe - from Germany to Italy and many nations in between.</span> <span data-start-time='46313' data-end-time='54750'>But the empty churches really stand out in Flanders, in the northern part of Belgium. </span> <span data-start-time='54750' data-end-time='60042'>The area has some of the greatest cathedrals in Europe.</span> <span data-start-time='60042' data-end-time='64479'>Yet there are not enough people attending the churches. </span> <span data-start-time='64479' data-end-time='73375'>In 2018, the PEW research group released an opinion study of religion in Belgium. </span> <span data-start-time='73375' data-end-time='82229'>The study found that 83 percent of people said they had been raised as Christians. </span> <span data-start-time='82229' data-end-time='88667'>But only 55 percent still consider themselves to be Christians. </span> <span data-start-time='88667' data-end-time='94917'>And only 10 percent of Belgians still attend church regularly.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/T19.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=19603 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/across_europe_churches_and_other_christian__blank__buildings_stand_increasingly_empty.wav'>Across Europe, churches and other Christian <span class='blank'>religious</span> buildings stand increasingly empty.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='religious'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/retirement.wav'><span>retirement</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/reheated.wav'><span>reheated</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/religious.wav'><span>religious</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/litigation.wav'><span>litigation</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=19604 data-hint-location='46313' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/in_which_european_nation_is_there_a_region_called_flanders.wav'>In which European nation is there a region called Flanders?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Belgium'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/belgium.wav'><span>Belgium</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/romania.wav'><span>Romania</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/croatia.wav'><span>Croatia</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/scotland.wav'><span>Scotland</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=19605 data-hint-location='31021' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/which_of_the_following_best_defines_the_word_ethical_within_the_context_of_the_article.wav'>Which of the following best defines the word "ethical" within the context of the article?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='relating to moral principles'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/relating_to_education.wav'><span>relating to education</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/relating_to_moral_principles.wav'><span>relating to moral principles</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/relating_to_regional_trends.wav'><span>relating to regional trends</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5937/relating_to_mathematics.wav'><span>relating to mathematics</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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