Irreligion in Sweden

Sweden is one of the world's most secular and irreligious nations,[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] partly because many Swedish people define themselves as irreligious but spiritual people.[11] Phil Zuckerman, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Pitzer College,[12] writes that several academic sources have in recent years placed atheism rates in Sweden between 46% and 85%, with one source reporting that only 17% of respondents self-identified as "atheist".[13]

Sweden's official website asserts that that just three out of 10 Swedes state that they have confidence in the church. The article lists the following facts about religion in Sweden:

Many Swedes attend church due to traditional or cultural reasons, but otherwise are not practicing Christian. One poll found that only 15% of Church of Sweden members actually believe in Jesus.[16]

Relatedly, the Swedish government has passed several secular reforms over the years; a legal opt-out of the previously mandatory 1.1% church tax was allowed in 1951, automatic birthright membership in the Church of Sweden - the organization's enrollment practice since the 1850s - ended in 1996, and the Church of Sweden was formally separated from the state in 2000, leaving Sweden as "the only Nordic country without a state church".[17][18][19]

References

  1. ↑ "DOES SWEDEN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHRISTIANS?". Vice. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  2. ↑ Phil Zuckerman. "Atheism, Secularity, and Well-Being: How the Findings of Social Science Counter Negative Stereotypes and Assumptions" (PDF). Oitzer.edu. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  3. ↑ "Swedish church losing 1 million members by 2020". Local. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  4. ↑ "Swedish Church members 'don't believe in Jesus'". Local. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  5. ↑ "Evolutionary Psychology: Original Article/Essay" (PDF). Epjournal.net. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  6. ↑ "Beliefs about God across Time and Countries" (PDF). -Norc.org. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  7. ↑ "Atheism and Secularity - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  8. ↑ "What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common". Gallup. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  9. ↑ "Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  10. ↑ "Beliefs about God across Time and Countries" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  11. ↑ "Scandinavian Nonbelievers, Which Is Not to Say Atheist". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  12. ↑ "Phil Zuckerman, Professor of Sociology - Faculty Profiles - Pitzer College". Pitzer.edu. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  13. ↑ Zuckerman, Phil (2006). "Atheism—Contemporary numbers and Practices". In Michael Martin. The Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 47–50. ISBN 0-521-84270-0. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  14. ↑ "Are Swedes losing their religion? - SWEDEN.SE". Archive.is. 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  15. ↑ "Only one in ten Swedes trusts religious leaders". Thelocal.se. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  16. ↑ "Swedish Church members 'don't believe in Jesus' - The Local". Thelocal.se. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  17. ↑ "Swedes End Long Union Of Church And State". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1995-12-31. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  18. ↑ "Sweden 'least religious' nation in Western world". The Local. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  19. ↑ Scott Sutherland (2015-08-28). "10 fundamentals of religion in Sweden". Swedish Institute. Retrieved 2016-01-27.


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