Religious opinions, beliefs and attitudes

According to a recent study undertaken in Switzerland, the majority of the Swiss population of Christian origin maintain a distanced relationship with religion and spirituality in general. 64% of those interviewed only draw on and make active use of religious and spiritual references in exceptional situations. 17% of the population fit into the category of belonging to institutions and they differentiate themselves by adhering to a set of Christian beliefs and practices and, especially, by the prevalence of the latter in their daily lives. Numbers in this category have significantly diminished since the 1960’s. The remaining population is then divided between the “alternatives” (13%), active in esoteric spiritualities and beliefs, and laypersons (10%) characterised by an attitude of indifference or even hostility towards the religious domain. Christianity is thus no longer seen by the majority of the Swiss as the fundamental religion of today’s society. However, national churches are still perceived as institutions of public utility for their work and support of the socially disadvantaged.

Jörg Stolz, Judith Könemann, Mallory Schneuwly Purdie, Thomas Engleberger, Religiosité dans le monde moderne : conditions, constructions et mutation sociale, Université de Lausanne, ISSRC, 2011. Rapport final.

D 8 October 2012    AJoëlle Sanchez AJörg Stolz

Most Swiss are born into one of the two major Christian Churches, that is to say that they are baptised and formally raised as Protestants or Catholics. However, since religious socialisation has less and less influence on individual beliefs and practices today, Switzerland is witnessing a considerable movement of disaffiliation. It should be pointed out that in most cantons this comes with the advantage of not having to pay the church tax.

Lastly, in our modern society, religion is slowly becoming a malleable good used by individuals independent of their membership group. The weakening of the national Churches’ influence reinforces the increased gap that can be noticed between individual practices and group standards. People can belong without believing, believe without belonging, customise their beliefs, leave the Church, and so forth.

Sources of data:
– Projet FNSRS Nr. 12-52643.97 : Religion et lien social : construction et régulation des mobilisations religieuses. Directeur de projet: Roland J. Campiche; Basis: Representative survey, 1999.
– Campiche, Roland, Dubach, Alfred et al., Croire en Suisse(s). Lausanne: éditions l’Age d’Homme, 1992. Basis: representative survey, 1989.

D 8 October 2012    AJoëlle Sanchez AJörg Stolz