Czech Republic: Most Atheist Country in Europe?
More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Czechs are quite proud of this. A couple of years ago, the LA Times quoted Lawrence Cada:
There’s a hostility toward what religion did to them in the past. The Czechs say they’re the most atheist country in Europe, and they say it with some pride This is how Western civilization may look in 50 years, because people here believe they live a full life without any religion.
Roman Catholicism is the traditional religion of this region, but people aren’t giving it much attention. They see it as a religion of oppression and there aren’t enough priests to meet what little demand there is for them — it isn’t uncommon or one priest to have to travel to nine parishes to celebrate Mass. According to psychiatrist Libor Growsky:
I’m a nonbeliever. It’s connected to our history. Religion limited the freedom of the people. I don’t see a difference between the Communists and the Catholics. They each want people to comply with their ideals My sense of morality comes from literature and my family.
Perhaps the most telling symbol of this is St. Vitus Cathedral, the Gothic centerpiece of Hradcany Castle. The Roman Catholic Church wants to regain control of it. The government, however, views it as a museum for the past and wants to keep it that way. A fitting state of affairs, it seems to me.
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Comments
This is wrong. besides.. a poll? Sweden is the most atheistic country. Not only in Europe, but in the world. Only about 4-5% goes to church regulary.
As Czech myself, I believe, that in Czech republic goes regulary to church less that 4%. I don’t, anyway, I and know only one people, who does - my grandparents.
What about this Czech atheist prayer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsV0Vbo-rcA
I’m Czech myself and I’m a nonbeliever, too, along with my whole family (parents, grandparents, etc.)
You do realize that religion is making a comeback in that country? Islam has really been making inroads into that country.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-03/13/article09.shtml
im pretty sure china is the most atheist country in the world
Yeah i agree with the commentor up top. Religion isn’t dying in czech just the catholic church. Islam is becoming increasingly more powerful with the soaring birth and immigration of Muslims. On top of that the countries that are most atheist also having the most rapidly declining populations in europe as well. It’s no secret that many scholars in the eu believe czech republic along with france and sweden are set to be predominantly Muslim nations by 2030.
I’m Czech and I do not know a single Muslim, I do not know about a single mosque. I have few friends from Iran and Iraq and they are mostly atheists, one is Christian. If any Muslims come in, and if few (who are luck) get visas to stay, then I think at least for one generation they stuck with the way of life here.
I’m from Czech Republic too, more corectly from Pilsen. There is almost no religon. No Christian, no Islam, no Judaism. Well, there should be some Catholics, but one can wander thru city (175.000 citizens) all day and find noone who looks like priest, nun, like these people. Some people maybe do believe in something, but almost nobody wants others to know. Not in public. Why ? They’re afraid ? Nope, we are peaceful city. So why, are they embarassed ? That’s it, they must be embarassed.
And to this Islam question, I’m traveling to school/work through city every day. One do recognize Muslim at sight, but I can’t remember that I’ve seen one bloody Islam believer in my whole life. More than twenty years, every day in Pilsen and I haven’t seen anyone who looked like he can be Islam believer. Why ? 1)They can be in disguise 2)I can just miss them 3)I’m not good at remembering things 4)They’re not here. Last one is correct and I’m glad that is.
Czech Republic here i come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am pretty certain China is NOT the most atheist country in the world. Buddhism still has a strong cultural influence in China. Most Chinese do not belong to an organized religion. However, they still believe in some forms of supernaturalism, ancestral worship, and prayers. If I had to make an educated guess I would say Japan is the most atheist country in the world.
Albania was the world’s first officially atheist country, in 1967.
Albania was the world’s first and only OFFICIALLY atheist country, in 1967, so the most atheist in the world.
japan has all your Buddhism, supernaturalism, ancestral worship, and prayers. in addition to that they have shintoism. japan is what china was before the communist revolution. while china had outlawed religion for many years, japan never had that, and therefore preserved all the buddhism, super naturalism, and ancestor worship. that skeptic is obviously an uneducated skeptic.
Officially atheist is just a stupid way of saying that the government supressed some expressions of religion, but then so what? Tons of Christian countries did this to their own Christian believers for very insignificant differences, tons of Christian countries fought against each other in the Thirty Years war and the French wars of religion. Albania is still a muslim majority and religious freedom is guaranteed nowadays.
As for Japan, it’s true that it has Buddhism. However, high estimates such as 90% come primarily from birth records, following a longstanding practice of family lines being officially associated with a local Buddhist temple. Japan has a large and thriving Buddhist community, but surveys indicate it to be closer to 20% of the population
For the vast majority of Japanese, Buddhism is just philosophy and Shintoism is just respect for nature, hardly anyone believes that trees have spirits anymore. Though once they were much more religious and had State Shinto, that period was during WW2
Phil Zuckerman concludes that two-thirds of Japanese are atheists, Professor Kisala estimated that only 30% of Japanese adhere to a religion. Japan might not be the most atheist, but with this we can conclude that Japan definitely has an atheist/irreligious majority