Irreligion in Estonia pertains to atheism, agnosticism, and secularism of the people and institutions of Estonia. Irreligion is prominent in Estonia, where a majority of citizens are unaffiliated with any religion. Estonian irreligion dates back to the 19th century, when Estonian nationalists and intellectuals deemed Christianity a foreign religion in opposition to Estonian independence. Irreligion in Estonia was later accelerated by the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states, in which state atheism was enforced. By some metrics, Estonia is the most irreligious country in the world.
Religion in Estonia, 2011. Irreligious communities are denoted in grey.
As Estonia achieved independence in 1918, irreligion became relevant in the Estonian national identity. Separation of church and state was implemented, and the practice of religious education became the subject of debate. During the 1920s, marriage was secularized and placed under government control. Atheist thought was co-opted by Communist movements during the 1920s and 1930s in order to advance the cause of Marxism–Leninism. This association with Communism led to renewed distrust of irreligion as memories of the Red Terror's influence in Estonia still lingered. Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia, religion was largely eradicated from public life. State atheism was enforced, but it was of relatively low priority for the Communist government in Estonia, and religion was not a major issue during Soviet occupation. In contrast to Soviet atheism, anti-Communist atheists were also active at the time.[3]
Since achieving independence from the Soviet Union, religion has not been prominent in Estonian life, and irreligion in Estonia has become passive in nature.[4] However, religious education in Estonia continues to be a subject of debate. Courses on religion are currently optional in Estonian schools, and proponents of secularism oppose expanding religious education in fear that it would be dominated by Christian teachings.[5]
Demographicsedit
Due to its prevalence, irreligion in Estonia is typically marked by indifference or ignorance toward religion rather than opposition to it. Most Estonians have little experience with formal religion or religious ideas, and as a result, irreligious Estonians don't consider irreligion to be part of their identity.[4] In 2008, Gallup found that only 14% of Estonians consider religion to be an important part of their life, lower than any other country they surveyed.[6]
In the 2000 census, 40.16% of Estonians identified as irreligious.[7] In the 2011 census, 54.14% of Estonians identified as irreligious. Irreligion is more common among ethnic Estonians, where irreligion was found to be as high as 65.47% in 2011.[8] Despite the limited presence of religion and the church in Estonian society, spirituality is still prevalent. New Age ideas and belief in the supernatural maintain a significant presence in Estonia.[9]
^"PC0454: Persons at Least 15-Years-Old, by Religion, Sex, Age group, Ethnic nationality and county, 31 Dec 2011". Statistics Estonia. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^. Statistics Estonia. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^ abRemmel, Atko; Friedenthal, Meelis (February 26, 2020). "Atheism and Freethought in Estonian culture". In Bubík, Tomáš; Remmel, Atko; Václavík, David (eds.). Freethought and Atheism in Central and Eastern Europe. Routledge. pp. 84–110. ISBN9781032173795.
^ abRemmel, Atko (2017). "Religion, Interrupted? Observations on Religious Indifference in Estonia". In Quack, Johannes; Schuh, Cora (eds.). Religious Indifference: New Perspectives From Studies on Secularization and Nonreligion. Springer. pp. 123–142. ISBN3319484745.
^Kiviorg, Merilin (2012). Davis, Derek; Miroshnikova, Elena (eds.). The Routledge International Handbook of Religious Education. Routledge. ISBN9781138577183.
^Crabtree, Steve; Pelham, Brett (February 9, 2009). "What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common". Gallup. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
^"PC231: POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND ETHNIC NATIONALITY". Statistics Estonia. 31 March 2000. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^"PC0454: Persons at Least 15-Years-Old, by Religion, Sex, Age group, Ethnic nationality and county, 31 Dec 2011". Statistics Estonia. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^Uibu, Marko (2015). "Reemerging religiosity: the mainstreaming of new spirituality in Estonia". Journal of Baltic Studies. 47 (2): 257–274.
January 01, 1970
irreligion, estonia, pertains, atheism, agnosticism, secularism, people, institutions, estonia, irreligion, prominent, estonia, where, majority, citizens, unaffiliated, with, religion, estonian, irreligion, dates, back, 19th, century, when, estonian, nationali. Irreligion in Estonia pertains to atheism agnosticism and secularism of the people and institutions of Estonia Irreligion is prominent in Estonia where a majority of citizens are unaffiliated with any religion Estonian irreligion dates back to the 19th century when Estonian nationalists and intellectuals deemed Christianity a foreign religion in opposition to Estonian independence Irreligion in Estonia was later accelerated by the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states in which state atheism was enforced By some metrics Estonia is the most irreligious country in the world Religion in Estonia 2011 Irreligious communities are denoted in grey Religion in Estonia 2011 1 2 Unaffiliated 64 87 Eastern Orthodox 19 87 Lutheran 12 02 Other Protestant 1 20 Other Christian 0 93 Other religions 1 10 Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editModern irreligion in Estonia began during the Estonian national awakening in the 19th century amid a period of anti German sentiment Lutheranism was the dominant religion in Estonia at the time and Estonian intellectuals began to reject the religion due to its German associations Anti clericalism freethought socialism Darwinism and nationalism all contributed to atheist thought during this time Journalists such as Juhan Lilienbach and Ado Grenzstein played a major role in spreading these ideas to the public 3 As Estonia achieved independence in 1918 irreligion became relevant in the Estonian national identity Separation of church and state was implemented and the practice of religious education became the subject of debate During the 1920s marriage was secularized and placed under government control Atheist thought was co opted by Communist movements during the 1920s and 1930s in order to advance the cause of Marxism Leninism This association with Communism led to renewed distrust of irreligion as memories of the Red Terror s influence in Estonia still lingered Following the Soviet occupation of Estonia religion was largely eradicated from public life State atheism was enforced but it was of relatively low priority for the Communist government in Estonia and religion was not a major issue during Soviet occupation In contrast to Soviet atheism anti Communist atheists were also active at the time 3 Since achieving independence from the Soviet Union religion has not been prominent in Estonian life and irreligion in Estonia has become passive in nature 4 However religious education in Estonia continues to be a subject of debate Courses on religion are currently optional in Estonian schools and proponents of secularism oppose expanding religious education in fear that it would be dominated by Christian teachings 5 Demographics editDue to its prevalence irreligion in Estonia is typically marked by indifference or ignorance toward religion rather than opposition to it Most Estonians have little experience with formal religion or religious ideas and as a result irreligious Estonians don t consider irreligion to be part of their identity 4 In 2008 Gallup found that only 14 of Estonians consider religion to be an important part of their life lower than any other country they surveyed 6 In the 2000 census 40 16 of Estonians identified as irreligious 7 In the 2011 census 54 14 of Estonians identified as irreligious Irreligion is more common among ethnic Estonians where irreligion was found to be as high as 65 47 in 2011 8 Despite the limited presence of religion and the church in Estonian society spirituality is still prevalent New Age ideas and belief in the supernatural maintain a significant presence in Estonia 9 See also edit nbsp Estonia portal Demographics of Estonia Religion in EstoniaReferences edit PC0454 Persons at Least 15 Years Old by Religion Sex Age group Ethnic nationality and county 31 Dec 2011 Statistics Estonia 31 December 2011 Retrieved 9 January 2014 PHC 2011 over a quarter of the population are affiliated with a particular religion Statistics Estonia 29 April 2013 Archived from the original on 24 November 2017 Retrieved 9 January 2014 a b Remmel Atko Friedenthal Meelis February 26 2020 Atheism and Freethought in Estonian culture In Bubik Tomas Remmel Atko Vaclavik David eds Freethought and Atheism in Central and Eastern Europe Routledge pp 84 110 ISBN 9781032173795 a b Remmel Atko 2017 Religion Interrupted Observations on Religious Indifference in Estonia In Quack Johannes Schuh Cora eds Religious Indifference New Perspectives From Studies on Secularization and Nonreligion Springer pp 123 142 ISBN 3319484745 Kiviorg Merilin 2012 Davis Derek Miroshnikova Elena eds The Routledge International Handbook of Religious Education Routledge ISBN 9781138577183 Crabtree Steve Pelham Brett February 9 2009 What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common Gallup Retrieved 21 February 2010 PC231 POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND ETHNIC NATIONALITY Statistics Estonia 31 March 2000 Retrieved 9 January 2014 PC0454 Persons at Least 15 Years Old by Religion Sex Age group Ethnic nationality and county 31 Dec 2011 Statistics Estonia 31 December 2011 Retrieved 9 January 2014 Uibu Marko 2015 Reemerging religiosity the mainstreaming of new spirituality in Estonia Journal of Baltic Studies 47 2 257 274 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irreligion in Estonia amp oldid 1162653159, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
