Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:07 PM Apr 2015

Gallup: Israel one of least religious countries

04/21/2015 18:13
By SAM SOKOL

Israel is one of the least religious nations in the world, according to a recent WIN/Gallup poll of residents of 65 countries around the world. According to Gallup, 63 percent of respondents across the globe identified themselves as religious.

While the Middle East was determined to be the most religious region on earth, with 86%of those polled describing themselves as religious, in Israel, 65% “said that they are either not religious or convinced atheists compared to just 30% who say they are religious,” Gallup reported.

Gallup’s findings seem to directly contradict a 2009 study by the Israeli Democracy Institute which found that while religious observance in Israel declined in the decade following the influx of Soviet immigrants at the end of the cold war, it has since risen and there was actually an increase in those who observe Jewish traditions.

More than 60% of respondents in the IDI’s study indicated that “tradition is ‘very important’ or ‘fairly important’ in their choice of a spouse” while 80% affirmed their belief in God, either wholeheartedly or with occasional doubts.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Gallup-Israel-one-of-least-religious-countries-398823

8 replies

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Gallup: Israel one of least religious countries (Original Post) rug Apr 2015 OP

Hmmm. The problem with that article is that the definition of "religious" is not really defined. MADem Apr 2015 #1

Here's the press release. rug Apr 2015 #2

Yeah. I think that "from a distance" people take a different view of religiosity (religousness?)! MADem Apr 2015 #8

Curious that the American stats are just the opposite. procon Apr 2015 #3

It seems really difficult to tease out the cultural/religious aspects of being a jew. cbayer Apr 2015 #4

I want a photographer at the ready to capture Michelle Bachmann's eyes bugging out as she reads AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #5

It doesn't contradict the Gallup poll. Behind the Aegis Apr 2015 #6

that's the other narrative Israeli FP can take advantage of (a la Steven Weinberg) MisterP Apr 2015 #7

MADem

(135,425 posts)

1. Hmmm. The problem with that article is that the definition of "religious" is not really defined.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:17 PM

Apr 2015

From all the statistics presented, they seem pretty religious to me, even if they don't attend formal ceremonies each week to mark said religiosity! And this is a big number:

Last year Economy Minister Naftali Bennett announced that “32 percent of first grade students in Israel are haredim” while the CBS has forecast that the ultra-orthodox will comprise thirty percent of Israel’s population within the next half century, indicating that religiosity may in fact be on the rise in the long term.

rug

(82,333 posts)

2. Here's the press release.

Reply to MADem (Reply #1)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:28 PM

Apr 2015

http://www.wingia.com/en/news/losing_our_religion_two_thirds_of_people_still_claim_to_be_religious/290/

Methodology:

The question “Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not would you say you are: a. a religious Person, b. not a religious person, c. a convinced atheist, d. do not know/no response.” Was asked as part of the WIN/Gallup International End of Year Survey.

Looking for a link to the raw data.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

8. Yeah. I think that "from a distance" people take a different view of religiosity (religousness?)!

Reply to rug (Reply #2)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 05:49 PM

Apr 2015

Some things look "religious" when they are in fact "culture."

procon

(15,805 posts)

3. Curious that the American stats are just the opposite.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:52 PM

Apr 2015

Even though the survey shows that richer countries also tend to be less religious than poorer ones, the US stands out as an outlier.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

4. It seems really difficult to tease out the cultural/religious aspects of being a jew.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:52 PM

Apr 2015

What does saying you are not religious really mean?

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

5. I want a photographer at the ready to capture Michelle Bachmann's eyes bugging out as she reads

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 01:22 PM

Apr 2015

this report.

Behind the Aegis

(53,956 posts)

6. It doesn't contradict the Gallup poll.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 01:47 PM

Apr 2015

At least not by what they are claiming is the contradiction. I observe a number of Jewish traditions but am not religious. Most of it is out of respect for my parents and how I was raised.

MisterP

(23,730 posts)

7. that's the other narrative Israeli FP can take advantage of (a la Steven Weinberg)

Reply to rug (Original post)

Tue Apr 21, 2015, 02:15 PM

Apr 2015

it's a clash between us secular liberal science-lovin' proxy Europeans/Americans vs. those fanatic hordes (who're Palestinian Christians? and have a Politburo? but that goes against the narrative!)

framing I/P as a "religious war" means erasing a LOT of Israeli history--66% of the country's history doesn't fit that in any way

more internally the two polls seem to indicate a slew among Russian- and American-Isarelis, between "Neo-Orthodox" and "Jewish atheist" branches, though with massive overlap when it comes to politics and ethnic policy: this presents a Belgium-level political crisis

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