Friday, November 11, 2011

Is Estonia really the least religious country in the world? | Ringo Ringvee

11:51 AM | Posted by Free Game Zone | Edit Post

Estonians, especially young people, have turned their backs on organized religion, but belief in neo-paganism is more and more

Estonia and the Czech Republic are the two nations often argue that less religious in Europe. And it seems to be proud of their unbelief. According to the 2000 census, 29% of the total population considered themselves followers of a religion. Nearly 14% of them were Lutherans (in the 1930s, the percentage of Lutherans was over 80), and about 13% of Orthodox Christians, divided between two churches:

A Eurobarometer survey in 2005 revealed that only 16% of the Estonian population believed in God. With this issue, Estonia has hit the bottom of the list. However, while more than half of Americans (54%) believe in a kind of spirit or life force. So you could say that 70% of the Estonian population are believers, at least some sense. Professor Grace Davie description of religiosity British "believe without belonging" seems to be in the context of Estonia as well.

Sunday

most churches empty and ignorance of religion is widespread. According to available statistics and surveys, members of religious associations in Estonia is still less than one fifth of the total population.

non-Estonians (mainly Russian immigrant stock) are much more religious, and it becomes even more evident among younger generations. Surveys show that young Estonians generally moved away from any form of religion that could be considered as a traditional religion.

For this situation there are several reasons, from the distant past (the close relationship between the churches with the ruling classes Swedish or German) in the Soviet period, when the policy chain atheist religious traditions broken in most families.

In Estonia, religion has never played an important role in the battle political or ideological. Institutional religious life was dominated by foreigners until the 20th century. Trends that have prevailed in the decade of 1930 to strengthen relations between the state and the Lutheran Church with the Soviet occupation ended in 1940. While the Roman Catholic Church has maintained its role as a dissident in the Soviet countries, the Lutheran Church has failed in this area. This may have something to do with the Lutheran tradition, in general, the role of the Lutheran church in Germany also declined significantly during the days of the GDR.
Although there were some dissenting clergy associated with the churches remained within the limits set for them by the Soviet authorities. The national awakening in the 1980s was accompanied by the religious revival. Religion was something that was seen as a connection to the golden age of pre-Soviet era. However, in early 1990, interest in organized religion began to decline. Currently, the Lutheran church, is considered the most traditional religious institution in Estonia, has fewer members than it had in the first half of the 1980s when the number of contributors has reached its lowest point the Soviet Union.

The big question for the coming decades on the religious situation in Estonia will be the future of the Lutheran Church? Although the church was dominant among the Estonians since the Reformation, the great majority of the younger generations have moved away from her and the members are in decline.


Find best price for : --Estonia--

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Blog Archive

Blogger Template created with Artisteer.