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Poland is not that Catholic as some media and popular polls insinuate. It looks like there is more stereotypes than truth in it.
Only 23% of Poles under 25 regularly go to church, a third the level of three decades ago. The Catholic Information Agency reported that only 20% of young people now disapprove of sex before marriage.
There is a “systematic decline” in the number of children attending Catholic catechism classes in schools.
Only 9% of young people in Poland view Catholic church positively.
In 1989 when Communist rule ended, nearly 90% of Poles approved of the Church, according to the state-affiliated CBOS opinion poll. That figure is now 41% - the lowest since 1993.
The “creeping secularization” of Poland had “turned into a gallop.”
Churches are filled mostly with old generation, more in rural areas than in the cities.
Poland is not that Catholic as some media and popular polls insinuate. It looks like there is more stereotypes than truth in it.
Only 23% of Poles under 25 regularly go to church, a third the level of three decades ago. The Catholic Information Agency reported that only 20% of young people now disapprove of sex before marriage.
There is a “systematic decline” in the number of children attending Catholic catechism classes in schools.
Only 9% of young people in Poland view Catholic church positively.
In 1989 when Communist rule ended, nearly 90% of Poles approved of the Church, according to the state-affiliated CBOS opinion poll. That figure is now 41% - the lowest since 1993.
The “creeping secularization” of Poland had “turned into a gallop.”
Churches are filled mostly with old generation, more in rural areas than in the cities.
My maternal great-great-grandfather's family lived in a german settlement in Drzewianowo, Naklo, Posen, Prussia (Posen - Poland) in the early 19th century. They were Lutherans, but other than recording births and baptisms in the local church records, I've not found any records of them being religious in any way. I know my grandfather used to send my mom and aunt to church when they'd misbehaved, but the closest church to their farm was baptist. He didn't care, church was church and in his book, as long as you knew how to behave you didn't need it.
Last edited by LookinForMayberry; 11-28-2022 at 12:01 PM..
Reason: added Polish connection
Right, but media is still saying how religious people are in Poland...
Most people "celebrate" religious holidays for tradition not faith.
The number of people formally leaving the Catholic church in the archdiocese of Poland’s second largest city, Kraków, in 2020 was over three times higher than the previous year. The 2019 figure was itself more than double the recent annual average.
Churches are disguising the true number of apostates because the numbers aren't favorable.
Pope John Paul II died in 2005. That means an increasing number of young adults don’t remember him. They may be less likely than their parents or grandparents to think of him as a hero.
Right, but media is still saying how religious people are in Poland...
Most people "celebrate" religious holidays for tradition not faith.
The number of people formally leaving the Catholic church in the archdiocese of Poland’s second largest city, Kraków, in 2020 was over three times higher than the previous year. The 2019 figure was itself more than double the recent annual average.
Churches are disguising the true number of apostates because the numbers aren't favorable.
IMO, church attendance reporting is all about proving their social power. The church-state equation has always been about power over the masses. Globally, the "masses" are seeing less relevance of either in their day to day lives. In the distant past, churches provided succor from life's grim realities, but then they became all about tithing -- with very little in return. Governments used to provide protection from instability and threats from outsiders. Now they are all about taxes.
Now people are pretty much on their own. I cannot imagine Poland is much different than the rest of the world.
Poland seems to be going the way of Ireland, perhaps for slightly different reasons. But it's not particularly surprising. The church/clergy establishment in Ireland had integrated themselves into many aspects of society, beyond just religious teaching. Health care and education being the most prominent. After several scandals the church came to be seen as unworthy of the trust it had asked the people to place in it. Today, while 70% nominally identify with Catholicism, fewer than 20% attend church regularly.
Pope John Paul II died in 2005. That means an increasing number of young adults don’t remember him. They may be less likely than their parents or grandparents to think of him as a hero.
As mentioned above, Rod Dreher (at American Conservative) writes about Poland and its Catholicism.
Poland is not that Catholic as some media and popular polls insinuate. It looks like there is more stereotypes than truth in it.
Only 23% of Poles under 25 regularly go to church, a third the level of three decades ago. The Catholic Information Agency reported that only 20% of young people now disapprove of sex before marriage.
There is a “systematic decline” in the number of children attending Catholic catechism classes in schools.
Only 9% of young people in Poland view Catholic church positively.
In 1989 when Communist rule ended, nearly 90% of Poles approved of the Church, according to the state-affiliated CBOS opinion poll. That figure is now 41% - the lowest since 1993.
The “creeping secularization” of Poland had “turned into a gallop.”
Churches are filled mostly with old generation, more in rural areas than in the cities.
It is not surprising. However, this trend on the decline in numbers of the Catholic church in number will certainly decline in the future, yet the few that are remaining in the church will be highly committed to the faith.
When I was in Krakow, Poland I noticed that most young people did not attend church on sunday or any of that silly old school nonsense.
Different story in American were most people attend church, especially in redneck/dixieland/bible belt backwards southern states were Trump and Mike Pence are bigger than Jesus.
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