After 2016, Poland secularized the fastest in the world. Religion loses importance especially among young people – according to the research published. According to the sociologist of religion, prof. Katarzyna Zielińska from the Jagiellonian University is related to, among others with the politicization of the Catholic Church, its approach to the faithful and Pandemia.
In the study of prof. Joerga Stolz from the University of Lausanne, published in Nature Communications, was analyzed how the approach to religion in individual age groups changes. It turns out that young people around the world are now less religious than the elders. However, Poland turned out to be a country in which intergenerational differences in religiosity are the greatest (both in terms of participation in religious practices, the importance of religion in life and the sense of belonging).
– Indeed, Poland seems to be the fastest secularized country in the world now – commented for PAP prof. Stolz. In his opinion, this is related to the fact that our country is modernizing very quickly, there is significant economic and technological development. – This leads to secularization and translates into intergenerational differences in the approach to religion – added the researcher.
Sociologist of religion dr hab. Katarzyna Zielińska, a professor at the Jagiellonian University, referring to these studies, emphasized, however, that Poland is still remains behind Western Europe in terms of general secularization. – Poland is still much more religious than most other European countries. So we have late trajectory of transformation regarding secularization – she pointed out.
Until recently, in Poland there was talk of “creeping secularization”, but in the last decade people's departure from religion clearly accelerated.
– Around 2016, you can observe a rock burst in previous trends, a decrease in the number of people who declare that they are believers and participate in religious practices. We also have an increase in the number of people who declare as unbelieving – pointed out prof. Zielińska.
This can be seen even in the results of the universal list: between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of people declaring as Catholics fell from 87 to 71 percent. In turn, in CBOS research, in recent years, the percentage of people declaring themselves as unbelieving increased from a few to 14 percent.
But why is secularization in Poland right now? Prof. Zielińska explained that the high position of the Catholic Church is related to the history of the country. For hundreds of years he served as a national identity carrier and a representative of the nation towards regimes, especially in the times of partitions and communism. In the Polish People's Republic, although he united the opposition, he was also treated indulgently by the authorities – including In exchange for help in calming social moods. The church remained strong also after 1989, when many politicians in power felt obliged to repay him for their role in the PRL.
In her opinion, the perception of the role of the Catholic Church has changed clearly in the last decade – especially during the rule of the United Right (2015-2023). She added that the Church was politically involved then, telling herself on the side of the ruling party. He acted against the LGBT+ community and was seen as co -responsible for exacerbating abortion law. – Women's strikes had a very clear anti -clerical, secularist dimension – noted prof. Zielińska.
– The church was always politically involved, but in the period 2015-2023 this commitment ceased to be accepted in some Catholic environments. It was warned that such a close connection of the Church with one political side could adversely affect its position – summed up the sociologist from the Jagiellonian University.
Another factor was the Covid-19 Pandemia, which disturbed the habit of regular participation in religious practices-so far typical for Polish religiosity. The faithful who had previously not imagined leaving the mass during the lockdowns stopped going to church and often did not come back to it.
More and more people – according to the sociologist – also began to feel the need to change in the way the Church communicates with the faithful and with society. As she explained, in the times of the Polish People's Republic, when other European countries secularized and forced the churches of changes, there was no pressure on reforms in Poland. – As a result, we still have a traditional church, where the priest is the most important figure, and the lay people are only to help – said prof. Zielińska. She added that young people are discouraged at this institution because they believe that the Church does not respond to their needs and voices.
People outraged by his reaction to scandals related to sexual abuse also leave the church. – Many religiously involved may think that the Church does not fulfill their mission – said the researcher.
According to her, the change of sexual roles and a larger share of women in the labor market also contribute to secularization. Women in Poland – who were traditionally more religious than men – are secularize now faster. And they traditionally were responsible for raising children in faith.
Another factor is the breakdown of traditional religious socialization: fewer and fewer parents, especially in large cities, sends children to religion at school, which weakens the transfer of religious knowledge and practices.
When asked if the secularization in Poland would continue to proceed until she matches the level of Western European countries, prof. Zielińska replied that it is difficult to predict. – Much depends on how the Catholic Church will react here to processes occurring in society. The international situation is also important – including the war behind the eastern border. History shows that in crisis situations, when there is a lack of a sense of existential security, religion often becomes an attractive solution – she concluded.
Ludwika Tomala (PAP)
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