Which European countries are the most secular?

[smirkymonkey]

...or least religious, if you want to look at it that way. Is Christianity as large an influence on their governments as it is in ours?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Scandanavian countries and the Netherlands

[GreenCommie]

2. According to its constitution....

Denmark is a Lutheran Monarchy... but I don't think they use that to make a theocracy-like government.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. They're a godless bunch in England, Wales and Scotland.

[saltpoint]

5. SLB: Your post was sensational.

I am still shaking with laughter.

Thank you.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. If you are serious, read this

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=167

Among Wealthy Nations … U.S. Stands Alone in its Embrace of Religion

Released: December 19, 2002

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Introduction and Summary

Introduction and Summary

Among Wealthy Nations …
U.S. STANDS ALONE IN ITS EMBRACE OF RELIGION

Religion is much more important to Americans than to people living in other wealthy nations. Six-in-ten (59%) people in the U.S. say religion plays a very important role in their lives. This is roughly twice the percentage of self-avowed religious people in Canada (30%), and an even higher proportion when compared with Japan and Western Europe. Americans’ views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations.

The 44-nation survey of the Pew Global Attitudes Project shows stark global regional divides over the personal importance of religion.<1> In Africa, no fewer than eight-in-ten in any country see religion as very important personally. Majorities in every Latin American country also subscribe to that view, with the exception of Argentina. More than nine-in-ten respondents in the predominantly Muslim nations of Indonesia, Pakistan, Mali and Senegal rate religion as personally very important. In Turkey and Uzbekistan, however, people are more divided over religion’s importance.

Secularism is particularly prevalent throughout Europe. Even in heavily Catholic Italy fewer than three-in-ten (27%) people say religion is very important personally, a lack of intensity in belief that is consistent with opinion in other Western European nations. Attitudes are comparable in former Soviet bloc countries. In the Czech Republic, fully 71% say religion has little or no importance in their lives – more than any nation surveyed – while barely one-in-ten (11%) say it is very important. And in Poland, the birthplace of the Pope and where the Catholic Church played a pivotal role during the communist era, just 36% say religion is very important. (more at link)

[smirkymonkey]

9. Thanks for the link!

I wonder why though. Personally, I think it's a good thing, but what is it that makes Christian fundamentalism flourish in the U.S. but not in Europe? Any theories?

[SOteric]

6. I think the figures could be misleading.

A higher percentage of the population of many European countries will identify themselves as churchgoers or members of a church (often Catholic). But religious observance is less a societal pressure in most, and Fundamentalists & Evangelicals are virtually unheard of. (Not that there aren't a few, just that they're rare).

[smirkymonkey]

8. Must be nice! Maybe such

fervent religiousity eventually gives way to secular humanism. After all, most European nations have lived through the horrors of the tyranny of the Church.

[amazona]

7. netherlands, great britain

I've only visited two European countries, but they were both completely secular and the churches are museums not real places of religious observance.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Atheism to be taught in British Religious Education classes

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1148578,00.html

Non-religious beliefs such as humanism, agnosticism and atheism would be covered alongside major faiths such as Christianity or Islam under draft guidelines being prepared by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which regulates what is taught in schools in England.

Although some schools already cover non-religious beliefs, there is currently no national guidance for what is taught, even though all schools must provide religious education.

The draft plans being drawn up by the QCA will not be compulsory, allowing religious schools the freedom to keep devout parents happy. But they will be regarded as best practice for heads, and are likely to be followed across the country.

Also:
While 19 per cent of Britons attended a weekly religious service in 1980, by 1999 that had fallen to 7 per cent