Religion

tama

(9,137 posts)

12. Estonia

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 02:52 PM

Jan 2013

"Estonia is one of the least religious countries in the world, with 75.7% of the population claiming to be irreligious. The Eurobarometer Poll 2005 found that only 16% of Estonians profess a belief in a god, the lowest belief of all countries studied (EU study).[172]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia#Religion

However most Estonians support/believe in some sort of nature spirituality:

"Aigar says his place of worship is the forest yet with neither ceremony nor routine nor religious text, it is hard to say it is an organised religion.

His daughter, Kotre, 22, chips in: "Most of us say, yes, we're Maausk but we don't go into [detail]. We just know that it is in harmony with nature and our own souls."

I am invited to a midsummer festival with Aigar and his family at which they dance around a huge bonfire, mount a giant wooden swing and sing songs.

Young girls pick wild flowers and make crowns, which, apparently, according to ancient beliefs, they must put under their pillow at night in the hope it will bring them a husband.

Traditions like these are deeply embedded in the Estonian culture: well over 50% of Estonians say they do believe in a spirit or life force, however ill-defined."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14635021

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Highlight:

When 1 in 5 Americans Don't Belong to a Religion, is God Dead in 2013? [View all] cbayer Jan 2013 OP

Less people going to churches EvilAL Jan 2013 #1

I predict some rather rather significant changes among mainstream religious/spiritual institutions. cbayer Jan 2013 #3

Yeah, the only way to change EvilAL Jan 2013 #5

From my reading, the nones have walked away from both organized religion and cbayer Jan 2013 #6

yeah, they will EvilAL Jan 2013 #41

The majority still believe in god. They will find new groups - some will include cbayer Jan 2013 #42

And the number of atheists is steadily increasing. trotsky Jan 2013 #43

Estonia tama Jan 2013 #12

My take is that the baltic peoples often cherish deeper roots in terms of spirituality. cbayer Jan 2013 #14

Yup tama Jan 2013 #16

Sounds like a good old-fashioned Beltane ceremony. okasha Jan 2013 #21

Actually tama Jan 2013 #23

It would be a beautiful thing indeed if paganism roared back to kick Christianity's ass in the end. Arugula Latte Jan 2013 #28

Better than to "kick ass" tama Jan 2013 #30

Aww, how about a little revenge for centuries of Xtian malfeasance? Arugula Latte Jan 2013 #31

Like stripping them naked tama Jan 2013 #33

I can think of a number of reasons, all highly speculative. longship Jan 2013 #2

Agree that the extremists are cooking their own goose. cbayer Jan 2013 #8

The nones are rejecting dogma, extremism, AND gods. trotsky Jan 2013 #13

I find it interesting how at every turn, you need to reassure yourself that people believe in a god. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #46

Oh, yawn, are we at this again? I thought we got over the shock! shock! shock! of "god is dead"... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #4

Your thoughts are not inconsistent with the thoughts of the author. cbayer Jan 2013 #9

Yeah, like calling creationists a "bunch of dumbasses", right? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #11

How very nice of him, as for me... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #17

Those charts are extremely misleading. Real church participation is MUCH lower than that BlueStreak Jan 2013 #7

Disagree about you choices for the 60%. cbayer Jan 2013 #10

With such an ambiguous characterization, how can one be sure? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #15

I am an atheist, but I believe in god BlueStreak Jan 2013 #19

You pretty much nailed what I wanted to say. trotsky Jan 2013 #20

Still playing the poor abused atheist card, I see? humblebum Jan 2013 #26

How would you react to someone saying LeftishBrit Jan 2013 #45

The difference is that okasha Jan 2013 #47

So have atheists. LeftishBrit Jan 2013 #48

Pehaps I'm missing some history here. okasha Jan 2013 #49

It's more complicated because atheists are often grouped with 'heretics' LeftishBrit Jan 2013 #50

i think we're actually pretty much on the same frequency, here. Thanks for the clarification. okasha Jan 2013 #51

Um? Statements such as those are quite common around here. nt humblebum Jan 2013 #52

Or because skepticscott Jan 2013 #27

I will not respond to trolls. I will not respond to trolls. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #39

I think he's a step ahead of you and put me on ignore long ago. But comments are still warranted humblebum Jan 2013 #40

And those who "believe in a god" but are largely absent on Sunday mornings okasha Jan 2013 #22

The members of our state church tama Jan 2013 #34

I don't believe in a God; but IF there were a God, he would not die just because people didn't LeftishBrit Jan 2013 #18

Have you read "Small Gods" by Terry Pratchet? nt tama Jan 2013 #36

So if there is indeed a god, does that being's life depend on how many believe in humblebum Jan 2013 #24

Years ago I remember reading something on Misotheism.... white_wolf Jan 2013 #25

Same question as above to LB nt tama Jan 2013 #37

Wow, affiliated religious believers down to 80%? demwing Jan 2013 #29

Anyone any more writing an article skepticscott Jan 2013 #32

He is simply 20% less filling but with more taste. n/t 2on2u Jan 2013 #35

Poor Nietzsche! How he suffered (true) and was rejected by kith and kin. Now God dances on his dimbear Jan 2013 #38

Not on Fox News Coyotl Jan 2013 #44