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General indications are that the US is more than twice as religious as anywhere in Europe (Poland might be highest, catholic countries seem to have mpst persist

General indications are that the US is more than twice as religious as anywhere in Europe (Poland might be highest, catholic countries seem to have mpst persistence of religion). We are atheist, muslim, or generally not bothered.

kcovia 12y ago
If any Poles say otherwise, feel free to correct me, but my impression of Poland's religiosity is largely dependent on the strong role of the Catholic Church in recent historical affairs (Pope John Paul II, keeping Polish culture alive during USSR era, etc.) and less on the population being more "religious". I don't think the majority of Poles are actively "Catholic" in their religious metaphysical beliefs, but rather they all belong to the church because of its cultural importance. I could be wrong, however, as I don't live there. It makes me wonder about other countries where the church plays an important cultural role (Italy, for example.)
- justincormack 12y ago
  It is hard to tell from raw data whether there are cultural differences. Who knows why Americans appear to be more religious?
  - ma2rten 12y ago
    Americans (outside of big cities) are genuinely more religious.
tzs 12y ago
51% in Europe believe in a God, and another 26% believe in some sort of spirit or life force. 20% do not believe in a God, spirit, or life force. Source: Eurobarometer Poll 2010, quoted in Wikipedia [1]. Poland is not the highest for belief in God. They are bested by Malta (94%), Croatia (93%), Romania (92%), Cypress (88%), and tied with Greece (79%). Others above 50% are Italy (74%), Ireland (70%), Portugal (70%), Slovakia (63%), and Spain (59%). Germany is at 44%, the UK at 37%, France at 27%, and Sweden at 18%. Note the above is belief in a God. When you add in the spirit or life force belief, some of the countries shoot way up. Sweden is only 18% belief in God, but 45% spirit/life force, with only 34% not believing any of that. That still leaves Sweden with the third highest unbelief, behind the Czech Republic (37%) and France (40%). Germany is 27% unbelief and UK is 25%. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_European_Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_European_Union

kcovia 12y ago

If any Poles say otherwise, feel free to correct me, but my impression of Poland's religiosity is largely dependent on the strong role of the Catholic Church in recent historical affairs (Pope John Paul II, keeping Polish culture alive during USSR era, etc.) and less on the population being more "religious". I don't think the majority of Poles are actively "Catholic" in their religious metaphysical beliefs, but rather they all belong to the church because of its cultural importance. I could be wrong, however, as I don't live there. It makes me wonder about other countries where the church plays an important cultural role (Italy, for example.)

justincormack 12y ago
It is hard to tell from raw data whether there are cultural differences. Who knows why Americans appear to be more religious?
- ma2rten 12y ago
  Americans (outside of big cities) are genuinely more religious.

tzs 12y ago

51% in Europe believe in a God, and another 26% believe in some sort of spirit or life force. 20% do not believe in a God, spirit, or life force. Source: Eurobarometer Poll 2010, quoted in Wikipedia [1]. Poland is not the highest for belief in God. They are bested by Malta (94%), Croatia (93%), Romania (92%), Cypress (88%), and tied with Greece (79%). Others above 50% are Italy (74%), Ireland (70%), Portugal (70%), Slovakia (63%), and Spain (59%). Germany is at 44%, the UK at 37%, France at 27%, and Sweden at 18%. Note the above is belief in a God. When you add in the spirit or life force belief, some of the countries shoot way up. Sweden is only 18% belief in God, but 45% spirit/life force, with only 34% not believing any of that. That still leaves Sweden with the third highest unbelief, behind the Czech Republic (37%) and France (40%). Germany is 27% unbelief and UK is 25%. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_European_Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_European_Union