Deepening Secularization? How to Read Official Statistics. A Case of the Czech Republic

VÁCLAVÍK, David. Deepening Secularization? How to Read Official Statistics. A Case of the Czech Republic. 2013.

Basic information

• Original name: Deepening Secularization? How to Read Official Statistics. A Case of the Czech Republic
• Name in Czech: Prohlubující se sekularizace? Jak číst oficiální statistiky. Případ České republiky
• Authors: VÁCLAVÍK, David.
• Edition: 2013.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords (in Czech): Sekularizace; náboženství; modernizace; střední Evropa
• Keywords in English: Secularization; Religion; Modernization; Central Europe
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The Czech Republic is often reflected as one of the most secularized country in the world. It seems that such statement is supported by majority of statistic data, for example by results of the last census, which underwent in 2011. According to it only 12 % of the Czech population identify explicitly with some religious institution or tradition. It also shows radical decline of traditional religious institutions such as Catholic Church or main protestant denominations, which have lost more than 50 % of their members during last ten years. What do these facts mean? Are they, as some scholars, majority of journalist and politicians argue, clear proof of the deeping secularization or even atheisation of the contemporary Czech society? Or it is neccessary to read them more carefuly in the context of other relevant surveys? I will argue in my paper that above mentioned and similar facts is not possible to interpret in „traditional way“ as a evidence of deepening secularization but rather as an indicator of the change in interpretation of the religion connected with new social and cultural concept of this phenomenon.

Abstract (in Czech)

Česká republika je často považována za nejvíce ateizovaná. Toto přesvědčení se opírá i o výsledky ze sčítání lidu. Tyto výsledky je ovšem třeba brát s rezervou a je nutné je zasazovat do širšího kontextu a porovnávat s dalšími provedenými výzkumy.