Church Membership Qualifications Identified by VCIOM
Revamped Reboot:
Russian Faith Landscape: An In-depth Look
Embrace the journey through the heart of Russia, as we delve into the fascinating world of religious beliefs among its people. The Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) recently published the report of its annual survey, shedding light on this significant aspect, involving a whopping 1,600 participants.
Orthodox Christians On the Rise
In a slight but notable increase, 67% of the Russian populace identified as Orthodox Christians, a 1 percentage point addition compared to 2024. Let's journey through time... In 1991, this number stood at only 34%. Fast-forward to 2004, and you'd find the percentage soared to a peak of 76.1%. However, since then, it has ebbed and flowed, with a slight boost in 2022.
The Religious Spectrum
While Orthodox Christianity dominates, Islam took the second spot, with a 1 percentage point jump from 2024, amounting to 7% of the total. The tiny fraction of the population inclined towards Buddhism or Protestantism made up 1%, while Judaism and Catholicism were favored by less than 1%. A staggering 11% of Russians embraced the tag of non-believers, leaving the rest scattered across faith and non-faith or unrestricted faith affiliations.
The Church Attendance Divide
VCIOM classified Russian believers based on their level of "church attendance" – their involvement in religious practices. By their reckoning, 15% were deemed "low-church" (involved in 1-3 practices), 46% "medium-church" (involved in 4-7 practices), and an impressive 37% "high-church" (involved in 8-10 practices). A measly 2% claimed to engage in no religious practices whatsoever.
So there you have it, folks! A calibrated, unfiltered, and uncensored odyssey through the religious beliefs and practices in modern-day Russia.
- As the religious beliefs amongst Russians continue to evolve, it's interesting to note that the increase in politics and general-news coverage hasn't solely influenced the religious landscape, with Orthodox Christians still dominating at 67%, although Islam has seen a growth of 1%.
- In the realm of religious practices, the influence of politics and general-news also seems to sway the level of religious involvement in Russia, as analyzed by the VCIOM survey, with 15% being low-church, 46% medium-church, and a significant 37% high-church, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to their faith.
