Agnosticism and atheism in the Czech Republic

[Mikula]

Wikipedia: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Czech_Republic#Irreligion)
The Czech Republic is one of the least religious countries in the world. Vera Haberlová of STEM, for example, writes about 50% representation of atheists in Czech society. In doing so, however, it comes from simple inquiries to the question "Do you believe in God?", which also indicates a very simplistic evaluation, because a high percentage of respondents classified this way that also believe in some other "Higher Power."[16] Summary group of non-believers in God was, According to STEM survey in June 1996 Represented 48.8% of the Czech population and in July 1998 it was 47.6%. In 1994 According to STEM called themselves atheists are 21.5% of persons aged 18 years and 20.3% of those aged 15–17 years, while a further 38.2%, respectively.[16] 40.8% of people said they are not religious.

[Bezprym]

Is there any reason why Czechs are mostly atheists, or is it a coincidence?

[Mikula]

Popular explanation, supported by the establisment during the Communist Era was, that Czechs always refused against the authority of Catholic Church since the time of Jan Hus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus) and of his followers - Hussites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussites).
But it is a myth. Roots of Czech atheism are in the 2nd half of 19th century.

Another incorrect explanation is that it is just for 40 years of the Communist system there.
But Communist ruled also in another countries of Europe and number of the Christians stayed high, there.


When modern Czech nationalism were formed in the 2nd half of 19th Century, one was secular. Catholicism (nor another denominations) did not played so important part of Czech identity, unlike in Poland, or even at Slovakia.

[Bezprym]

Popular explanation, supported by the establisment during the Communist Era was, that ist Czechs refused against the authority against of Catholic Church since the time of Jan Hus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus) and of his followers - Hussites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussites).
But it is a myth. Roots of Czech atheism are in the 2nd half of 19th century.

There's a nice trilogy written by Andrzej Sapkowski about the Hussites. :thumb001:

Well, first what came to my mind was communism indeed, but as you've mentioned, many countries remained religious.

[Magnolia]

Popular explanation, supported by the establisment during the Communist Era was, that ist Czechs refused against the authority against of Catholic Church since the time of Jan Hus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Hus) and of his followers - Hussites (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussites).
But it is a myth. Roots of Czech atheism are in the 2nd half of 19th century.

Another incorrect explanation is that it is just for 40 years of the Communist system there.
But Communist ruled also in another countries of Europe and number of the Christians stayed high, there.


When modern Czech nationalism were formed in the 2nd half of 19th Century, one was secular. Catholicism (nor another denominations) did not played so important part of Czech identity, unlike in Poland, or even at Slovakia.

It is not a myth.
Češi nenávidí církev a začalo to s Husem. Kdo tu mystifikuje jsi ty, milý Mikulo :).

[Harkonnen]

Jan Hus is indeed the reason for Czech atheism. You have to remember that the goal of Catholic Mafia was to keep the peasantry in a state of ignorance. Ignorance is slavery, and Catholics do love their little slaves.

Even though Protestants took their religion seriously their - for the lack of better word - progressive stand towards educating masses ultimately led to the explosion of new and wild ideas, including atheism. The more educated and intelligent the regular joe is, the more likely he is to adhere to atheism. It is no coincidence the catholic Poland is filled with rethardoids.

[Mikula]

Big part of Czech nationalists have seen in the catholic church a conservative institution what always supported the Hapsburg monarchy.

And in 19th century were Czech lands the most industrialized part of the monarchy, what means also high percentage of factory workers, and their social problems
-> popularity of socialism of various kind, there. And Socialists were naturally anticlerical.

Ideas of Freethinkers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethought), were in Czech society more popular than in another parts of the Hapsburg Monarchy.
It was appeared also among Czech emigrants in the USA, where they established Orders of Czech Freethinkers with numerous lodges (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/ethnic/czechs/cz-pg287.html).
Mostly in northern states among immigrants from Bohemia.
More conservative Moravians from traditional Catholic (but also partly Protestant) rural areas, who settled mostly at Texas did not played big rule in the Free Thought movement, there.

Generally, after WW2 were Czechs more ready to accept atheism than another Central and Eastern European nations.

[Magnolia]

:picard1:

http://www.academia.edu/12794953/Bohemian_Secularity._How_Czech_Society_and_State_w ent_from_Catholic_to_World_s_most_Atheist_

[Harkonnen]

I also believe Catholism is to blame for the slightly weaker intellectual performance of Ireland contra rest of NW Europe.

[Mikula]

It is not a myth.
Češi nenávidí církev a začalo to s Husem. Kdo tu mystifikuje jsi ty, milý Mikulo :).

Husem to nezačalo. Hus se pouze hodil jako zdůvodnění.

[Magnolia]

Husem to nezačalo. Hus se pouze hodil jako zdůvodnění.
Mikulo, chápeš co znamená kořeny něčeho. Když najednou dostaneš cukrovku, tak důvodem není, že jsi se půl hodiny předtím díval na romatickou přeslazenou komedii, ale střádalo se na to roky. Toto jestejný případ. V Bohémii byly Husem zasety sklony k atheismu, tím jak pak Habsburkové násilně konvertovali Bohémy ke katolicismu, odpor k církvi sílil. To, co se událo v devatenáctém století, vyrostlo na tomto podhoubí. Kdyby už tehdy nebyl odpor ke katolíkům, tak by se v náboženství jelo dál.

[Mikula]

Mikulo, chápeš co znamená kořeny něčeho. Když najednou dostaneš cukrovku, tak důvodem není, že jsi se půl hodiny předtím díval na romatickou přeslazenou komedii, ale střádalo se na to roky. Toto jestejný případ. V Bohémii byly Husem zasety sklony k atheismu, tím jak pak Habsburkové násilně konvertovali Bohémy ke katolicismu odpor k církvi sílil. To, co se událo v devatenáctém století vyrostlo na tomto podhoubí. Kdyby už tehdy nebyl odpor ke katolíkům, tak by se v náboženství jelo dál.

Real history and their inerpretation is not the same thing. Deal with it :)

Luther also started a resistance against the authority of Pope and catholic clergy. Does it means that Luther started the same process what (by your favorite interpretation) started at Bohemia by Hus and led to the atheism?

[Magnolia]

Real history and their inerpretation is not the same thing. Deal with it :)

Luther also started a resistance against the authority of Pope and catholic clergy. Does it means that Luther started the same process what (by your favorite interpretation) started at Bohemia by Hus and led to the atheism?

It is a different thing. What about Habsburgs and re-catholization? Bohemian!!! history is full of resistance against the Catholic Church. I would like to see a person who believes in God and suddenly stops because of a new wave of intellectuals... your theory doesn't make sense.

[Mikula]

It is a different thing. What about Habsburgs and re-catholization? Bohemian!!! history is full of resistance against the Catholic Church. I would like to see a person believes in God suddenly stops because of a new wave of intellectuals... your theory doesn't make sense.

I hate to say it but re-catholization of Bohemia and Moravia (Silesia was a special case) was a succesfull process.
Yes, enclaves of protestants survived (and after Edict of Tolerance, became visible), but generally, each new generation after 30 Years War became more and more catholic.
Reversal appeared in the end of 19th Century, actually.

[Mikula]

Off topic:
Which religion in our country has the highest increase, percentuallly (thanks to immigration)?

No, it is not Islam but Orthodox church

[Mikula]

Number of believers in 2011 - percentually
https://www.czso.cz/documents/10180/20534544/verici1.jpg

[Dandelion]

You sure that Hus hadn't planted the seeds for it all? Every European nation had atheistic intellectuals in the 19th century, after all. Czech just could have been lapsed Catholics compared to the Catholics elsewhere.

[paprika]

good, i have a lot of respect for them for that

[Mikula]

You sure that Hus hadn't planted the seeds for it all? Every European nation had atheistic intellectuals in the 19th century, after all. Czech just could have been lapsed Catholics compared to the Catholics elsewhere.

I think that Hus will be very upset listening it.
Hus was a catholic priest, and despite the fact that he was burned at stalk as a heretic, he considered himself as a true christian.
Hussites - his followers were more radical than Hus, but they were everything but atheists. They were fanatically religious.
Percentage of freethinkers, agnostics and atheists among the Czechs were since 19th century higher (and increasing), comapring with another nations.
But what had Hus and Hussites common with it?

[Mingle]

Is the Czech Reoubluc even less religious than Estonia?

[Mikula]

Is the Czech Reoubluc even less religious than Estonia?

There are wiki data for European countries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Europe)

[Dandelion]

I think that Hus will be very upset listening it.
Hus was a catholic priest, and despite the fact that he was burned at stalk as a heretic, he considered himself as a true christian.
Hussites - his followers were more radical than Hus, but they were everything but atheists. They were fanatically religious.
Percentage of freethinkers, agnostics and atheists among the Czechs were since 19th century higher (and increasing), comapring with another nations.
But what had Hus and Hussites common with it?

It was a heresy and a radical change sprouted from criticising the official line of the Catholic Church. Also, our understanding of the world was different centuries ago, so obviously more people were very devout. I still think it's linked to atheism finding its way to Czech effectively at a later stage. Mentalities are shaped by history and the Hussite Reformation as later irreligiosity were caused by what we can call the 'Czech mentality'. They're still linked in that regard if you ask me.

[Mikula]

Disseration about the subject in PDF (file:///C:/Users/Martin/Downloads/atheism%20in%20the%20czech%20republic%20(2).pdf)

[Satem]

I know the question is off-topic, if most of Czechs are atheists, does it mean that most Czechs don't celebrate Christmas?

[Mikula]

I know the question is off-topic, if most of Czechs are atheists, does it mean that most Czechs don't celebrate Christmas?

No, we celebrae Christmas , as well as, Easter. It is a part of our culture.
Anyway, Christmas gifts is bringing not by Satan Claus, here but by Ježíšek (Jesus-baby)

[Satem]

No, we celebrae Christmas , as well as, Easter. It is a part of our culture.
Anyway, Christmas gifts is bringing not by Satan Claus, here but by Ježíšek (Jesus-baby)

That's interesting

[Aldaris]

Percentage of atheists among Czechs is actually way higher than the numbers in the OP. Those 'I kinda believe there's some higher power' guys should really be labeled as atheists for practical purposes. I would require slightly more than such vague statements to consider someone to be religious. How do they commit to their beliefs? In almost all the cases, not at all.