Secular sector shrinking, study shows

[Phx_Dem]

Secular sector shrinking, study shows

Research study conducted by Israel Democracy Institute reveals percentage of seculars has dropped by 50% in past 30 years. Ashkenazi academics less observant than others; there are hardly any Sephardim who define themselves 'secular.' And how does religious affiliation affect political opinions?

A new study conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute shows that the secular sector in Israel is shrinking: Only 20% of Jewish Israeli citizens define themselves secular – the lowest number in 34 years.

According to the data, the traditional sector has maintained its dominancy over the last three decades and currently accounts for 47% of the population. The ultra-Orthodox and religious sectors comprise another 33%.

The study was conducted by Eliyahu Sapir and was based on the Democracy Institute's Guttman Center's Israeli Democracy Index. The 2007 Index polled 1,016 respondents who were a representative sample of Israel’s adult, Hebrew-speaking Jewish population.

More at:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3474605,00.html