Episcopal Press and News

Religious Belief Remains Vital Around the World

Episcopal News Service. May 27, 1993 [93108I]

Religious belief remains strong among most of the 19,000 people surveyed in 14 western Christian and Jewish countries, sociologist Andrew Greeley reported May 17 to members of the International Social Survey Program at their annual meeting in Chicago. "God didn't die, even under socialism," he said. Greeley found belief strongest in the United States, Ireland and Poland, and weakest in East Germany and the Netherlands, with some signs indicating renewed religious belief in parts of Eastern Europe. The report, Religion Around the World, is the most comprehensive international study of religion based on representative national samples ever undertaken. Nine of 10 people in Ireland and the United States believe in God, as do eight of 10 in Italy and more than two of three in Israel, Britain and New Zealand. The survey found East Germany and the Netherlands to be the least religious countries, with the majority rejecting belief in God. Belief in life after death is higher among people younger than 35 in East Germany, West Germany, Slovenia, Israel and Hungary than those in the middle years of life. However, only 12 percent of all people in East Germany believe in life after death, compared with 33 percent in Slovenia and 42 percent in Israel.