The Ukrainian people belong to the number of the religious nations: almost 90 percent of the population identify themselves with certain religious faiths or trends and only about 10 percent name themselves atheists or agnostics. It is marked in sociological research ISSP (Internazional Sozial Survey Programme), carried out by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, the Center "Social Indicators" and the chair of National University "Kiev-Mohyla academy" within the limits of the international project.
2036 respondents who represented adult population of all Ukraine took part in the scientific research, informs Institute of religious freedom referring to UKRINFORM.
The general director of the Kiev International Institute of Sociology Vladimir Paniotto declared that religion has always been connected with public values and norms – it is enough to recollect one of the most known systems of values – "Ten Commandments". Inclusion into sociological research of more wide range of questions which are falling outside the limits of theology, in his opinion, "gives the chance to consider connections of religion with some other parties of a social life and to understand its role in a society better".
As an example, the scholar notices, the given social research in which was brought the question on happiness in human life, proved that believing people are much happier than non-believers.
Religiousness of a person remains to be one of the largest social phenomenon which has to be investigated at high scientific level. Direct participants of research are convinced of it – the senior teacher of chair of sociology of NaUKMA Elena Bogdanova and the scientific employee of the department of social psychology of the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine Maxim Parashchevin. In the scientific conclusions presented by them Ukraine appears as rather religious society where it is possible to profess a belief freely and to satisfy one's spiritual needs irrespective of national identity.
The plenipotentiary Ambassador of Norway in Ukraine Olaf Berstad with which financial support of whom together with the fund "Open Ukraine" was carried out this large-scale research, declared that the project ISSP which started in 1984, nowadays totals 45 countries-participants from Europe, Northern and the South America, Asia and South Africa.
"Without a good dialogue between the nations professing various religions, it is impossible to solve any socially important problems", Olaf Berstad emphasized. Therefore, in his opinion, experience of religious mutual understanding will be useful in Ukraine, too.
Let's remind that according to the previous research within the limits of the international project ISSP religiousness of Ukrainians was recognised as one of the highest in Europe. Overwhelming majority of believing Ukrainians (91 %) profess Christianity. The quantity of followers of Islam in Ukraine, by different estimations, varies from 500 thousand to 2 million persons. Most of all Muslims (70 % if to accept number of the Ukrainian Muslims as equal to 500 thousand) live in Crimea.
By the Institute of Religious Freedom
Related Links:
More than Half of Ukrainians Supported Right to Criticize Religion Publicly
63 % of Ukrainians Consider Church Must Be Separated from State
