New religious movements and their perception as conflict religious groups: the case of the Czech Republic

Authors

• David Václavíc Masaryk University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67319

Keywords:

Religious movements, Popular, Czech Republic, Secularization (Sociology), Religious change, Communism and Christianity, Religions -- Relations

Abstract

At first sight, both the role and the position of religion in the Czech Republic may appear to confirm the secularization thesis. The results of sociological surveys and census statistics show a clear decline in religious faith and practice. According to last national census of 2001 more than 59 per cent of Czech people declared themselves to be ‘non-believers’, while only 32 per cent of Czechs declared themselves to be ‘believers’. And if we look at the statistics that concern the intensity of religious life, we can see a more ‘secularized picture’ of Czech society. For example, only 5 per cent of the Czech population attends religious services regularly, and only 20 per cent of population is willing to contribute 1,50 euro a month to a religious group or church. But do these data present a true picture of secularization in Czech society? What exactly is the attitude of Czech society towards religion? These and other questions are examined in this article.