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

J 2014

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

VÁCLAVÍK, David

Basic information

Original name

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

Authors

VÁCLAVÍK, David (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

DISKUS, Bath College of HE, 2014, 0967-8948

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/14:00076522

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

census; seculariuzation; Czech Republic; modernization

Abstract

V originále

The Czech Republic is often regarded as one of the most secularized countries in the world. It seems that such a statement is supported by the majority of statistical data, for example, the results of the last census, which was held in 2011. According to this census only 12 % of the Czech population identifies explicitly with a religious institution or tradition. It also shows a radical decline of traditional religious institutions such as the Catholic Church or the main protestant denominations, which have lost more than 50 % of their members over the last ten years. What do these facts mean? Are they, as some scholars and the majority of journalist and politicians argue, clear proof of the deepening secularization or even "atheisation" of contemporary Czech society? Or is it necessary to read this data more carefully and in the context of other relevant surveys? I will argue in this paper that the above mentioned and similar facts cannot be interpreted in the "traditional way" as evidence of deepening secularization but instead should be read as an indicator of a change in the interpretation of religion in connection to a new social and cultural concept of this phenomenon.

Links

MUNI/A/0780/2013, interní kód MU

Name: Epistemologické problémy výzkumu v religionistice (Acronym: EPROVYR)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Files attached

39-149-1-PB.pdf

Request the author's version of the file

Citovat

VÁCLAVÍK, David. Deepening Secularization? How to Read Official Statistics. A Case of the Czech Republic. DISKUS. Bath College of HE, 2014, vol. 16, No 2, p. 22-30. ISSN 0967-8948.

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N2  - The Czech Republic is often regarded as one of the most secularized countries in the world. It seems that such a statement is supported by the majority of statistical data, for example, the results of the last census, which was held in 2011. According to this census only 12 % of the Czech population identifies explicitly with a religious institution or tradition. It also shows a radical decline of traditional religious institutions such as the Catholic Church or the main protestant denominations, which have lost more than 50 % of their members over the last ten years. What do these facts mean? Are they, as some scholars and the majority of journalist and politicians argue, clear proof of the deepening secularization or even "atheisation" of contemporary Czech society? Or is it necessary to read this data more carefully and in the context of other relevant surveys? I will argue in this paper that the above mentioned and similar facts cannot be interpreted in the "traditional way" as evidence of deepening secularization but instead should be read as an indicator of a change in the interpretation of religion in connection to a new social and cultural concept of this phenomenon.
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VÁCLAVÍK, David. Deepening Secularization? How to Read Official Statistics. A Case of the Czech Republic. \textit{DISKUS}. Bath College of HE, 2014, vol.~16, No~2, p.~22-30. ISSN~0967-8948.

Detailed Information on Publication Record