One of the least religious countries in the world ?
Although it is believed that the Netherlands is one of the least religious countries in the world, that picture might be too simple considering for example the following table:
Belief in God or a higher power, in percentages:
1966 | 1979 | 1996 | 2006 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
There is a God who personally devotes himself to each person | 47 | 33 | 24 | 24 |
There must be something like a Higher Power who rules life | 31 | 40 | 39 | 36 |
I don’t know whether there is a God or a Higher Power | 16 | 18 | 27 | 26 |
There is neither a God nor a Higher Power | 6 | 9 | 10 | 14 |
Decline in church affiliation is accompanied by growth of the "spiritually unassociated” category to which, according to a recently carried out study, approximately 25 percent of the Dutch population belongs. Typical characteristics are a transcendent orientation, a pragmatic lifestyle, a sense of responsibility and an attitude aligned to harmonious coexistence with the environment. A disproportionate amount of women, people aged between 35 and 49, city dwellers and people with a high level of education are found in the "spiritually unassociated” category.
Source: Religion in the Netherlands by Sipco Vellenga.