Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Generally, Russians would like to live in a secular state, however, they do not oppose the church`s intervention into the life of society.

MOSCOW, June 24, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing the Russian attitudes towards the current role of the church in the Russian society.

From 2007 to 2015 the share of Russians who approve of the constitutional norm about secularism  has considerably increased (from 54% to 64%). Every tenth (10%) thinks that the country needs certain religious component  (17% in 2007). As before, about 10% of Russians support the idea to establish official religion in the constitution (13% in 2007 and 12% in 2015). Compared to the followers of other religions, fewer Orthodox Christians oppose this point of view (19% and 13%, respectively); however, compared to the non-believers, this proportion is bigger (3%).

Forty-seven percent of Russians think that ideally church should influence the spiritual life of the society but should not intervene in the political affairs. The same share of Russians (47%) mark that today the church is drawing up relations with the society correctly, as it does not deal with issues not related to religion and expresses its position only if it is needed.   

Every third (32%) considers that church officials should not intervene in social life; they should deal with religious issues. Eighteen percent of respondents are confident that church`s participation in the social life is excessive (36% of atheists, 15% of Orthodox Christians). Fourteen percent of Russians oppose them saying that the church should take more active part in the social life. At the same time, 18% of Russians complain that the role of the church in social life is insufficient. 

Our society is more likely to be secular. More than half of Russians (57%) would like to live in a country where religion does not have any substantial impact on the life of people, and it is a private matter. They are opposed by 34% of respondents who want religious values to play an important role in social life. The first point of view is shared by non-believers (70%), rural area residents (63%) and active Internet users (62%), whereas the second stance is supported by the Orthodox Christians (36%) and followers of other religions (39%), as well as Muscovites and Petersburgians (46%).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted May 16-17, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

The secular principle of our state is enshrined in the constitution of the Russian Federation; it means that church and religion is separated from the state. What is your attitude towards this constitutional provision?

(closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2007

2015

This provision should be preserved

54

64

Official religion should be established, as it is in Greece, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, etc.

13

12

There should not be single religion; at the same time, the state should not be completely secular; there should be a religious component (like in the U.S.A)

17

10

Don`t know

17

14

In your opinion, what kind of relations should be between the church and the state/society?

(closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2009

2013

2014

2015

Church should deal with religions affairs; it should not intervene in the life of society and state

27

31

30

32

Church should influence spiritual life of society but it should not intervene in politics and public affairs

43

44

50

47

Church should take an active part in the life of state and society

17

17

15

14

Don`t know

14

7

5

7

How would you describe the current relations between the church and the Russian society/state? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2012 *

2015

The influence of church on the life of society is insufficient; the church should be more active in discussing/solving important social problems 

23

18

The way how the church is drawing up relations with the state  is right; the church expresses its point of view and does not intervene in the public affairs

43

47

Church is too active ; it should spend more time to dealing with spiritual issues

19

18

Don`t know

14

17

*In 2012, the question was “What are current relations between the Orthodox Church and the Russian society/state?”   

What country would you like to live in? In a country where religious values play an important role in social life? Or in a country where religion is a private matter and does not influence social life?

(closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2000

2015

Definitely the first statement

14

18

Rather the first statement

21

16

Rather the second one

40

31

Definitely the second one

25

26

Don`t know *

-

9

*In 2000 this answer option was absent

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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