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The status of religion and The status of religion and religious life in Iceland religious life in Iceland

today today

Sigurdur Holm GunnarssonSigurdur Holm Gunnarsson

Vice President of SidmenntVice President of Sidmennt

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Topics coveredTopics covered

• Status of religion in IcelandStatus of religion in Iceland

• Religious freedom policies of Religious freedom policies of Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association. Humanist Association.

• Religious life of Icelanders compared Religious life of Icelanders compared to that of Americans to that of Americans

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Status of religion in IcelandStatus of religion in Iceland

• Iceland has a so-called state church Iceland has a so-called state church arrangement. arrangement. – This means that one denomination, the This means that one denomination, the

Evangelical Lutheran ChurchEvangelical Lutheran Church, , receives special protection and support receives special protection and support from the government over and above from the government over and above other religions in the country.other religions in the country.

– Around 84% of Icelanders are members Around 84% of Icelanders are members of the state church which is the largest of the state church which is the largest religious organization in the land. religious organization in the land.

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The Icelandic constitution The Icelandic constitution

• The Icelandic constitution specifies that The Icelandic constitution specifies that the state church must be protected.the state church must be protected.– Article 62:Article 62:

The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the State Church in Iceland and, as such, it shall be State Church in Iceland and, as such, it shall be supported and protected by the State.supported and protected by the State.

– Article 65:Article 65:

Everyone shall be equal under the law and Everyone shall be equal under the law and enjoy human rights irrespective of gender, enjoy human rights irrespective of gender, religion, opinion, national origin, race, colour, religion, opinion, national origin, race, colour, property, birth, or other status.property, birth, or other status.

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The state / church The state / church connectionconnection

• The state church, because of its The state church, because of its position, receives more financial position, receives more financial support than other religions. support than other religions. – All religious organizations in Iceland All religious organizations in Iceland

receive government funding but the state receive government funding but the state church gets considerably more money church gets considerably more money than all the others.than all the others.

– Special Christianity education takes place Special Christianity education takes place in Icelandic public schools. in Icelandic public schools. •The result is sometimes direct indoctrination The result is sometimes direct indoctrination

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Blasphemy still illegal in Blasphemy still illegal in IcelandIceland• Iceland also has a blasphemy law Iceland also has a blasphemy law

which states that: which states that: – ““Whoever publicly ridicules or belittles Whoever publicly ridicules or belittles

religious teachings or the worship of religious teachings or the worship of God of any legal religions in the country God of any legal religions in the country shall be fined or imprisoned for as long shall be fined or imprisoned for as long as 3 months. The charges cannot be as 3 months. The charges cannot be filed by anyone but a district attorney.”filed by anyone but a district attorney.”

• PLEASE be careful of what you say PLEASE be careful of what you say while you are in Iceland. while you are in Iceland.

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A short history of A short history of blasphemyblasphemy• 19971997

– Several popular Icelandic comedians who Several popular Icelandic comedians who did a satire of The Last Supper were did a satire of The Last Supper were interrogated by the police. The matter interrogated by the police. The matter was dropped. was dropped.

• 1983 1983 – Editor of a controversial publication found Editor of a controversial publication found

guilty of blasphemy. He was charged with guilty of blasphemy. He was charged with having published a critique of religious having published a critique of religious confirmation. confirmation.

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Religious freedom policies of Religious freedom policies of Sidmennt.Sidmennt.

• Siðmennt has played a leading role in Siðmennt has played a leading role in the struggle for complete religious the struggle for complete religious freedom in Iceland. freedom in Iceland.

• Siðmennt has published a detailed Siðmennt has published a detailed policy statement on religious freedom policy statement on religious freedom and distributed it to governmental and distributed it to governmental authorities, for instance every authorities, for instance every Member of Parliament. Member of Parliament.

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Policy statement on religious Policy statement on religious freedomfreedom• The introduction in this booklet states the The introduction in this booklet states the

following:following:– “ “The board of Siðmennt considers that the aim The board of Siðmennt considers that the aim

of government is to guarantee freedom to of government is to guarantee freedom to individuals and protect their right to live individuals and protect their right to live according to the life stance that they choose for according to the life stance that they choose for themselves. Government should be neutral, themselves. Government should be neutral, independent of religion, and should not give independent of religion, and should not give preferential treatment to one life stance over preferential treatment to one life stance over any others. That is why separation of church and any others. That is why separation of church and state is necessary. Separation of church and state is necessary. Separation of church and state consists of, among other things, equalizing state consists of, among other things, equalizing the legal, financial, and social status of groups the legal, financial, and social status of groups which embrace different life stances. Otherwise, which embrace different life stances. Otherwise, freedom of religion and therefore individual freedom of religion and therefore individual freedom, is not guaranteed.”freedom, is not guaranteed.”

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Siðmennt’s main goalsSiðmennt’s main goals

• Regarding religious freedom are to Regarding religious freedom are to work for:work for:1.1. Separation of church and stateSeparation of church and state2.2. To guarantee that all religious and life stance To guarantee that all religious and life stance

organizations receive comparable treatment organizations receive comparable treatment by public authorities.by public authorities.

3.3. To guarantee that religious indoctrination is To guarantee that religious indoctrination is not practiced in public schools and other not practiced in public schools and other public agencies.public agencies.

4.4. To abolish the blasphemy law since it To abolish the blasphemy law since it contradicts freedom of expression.contradicts freedom of expression.

• In short, we work for equal rights and In short, we work for equal rights and governmental neutrality.governmental neutrality.

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Most Icelanders on our sideMost Icelanders on our side

• Around 65% of the nation is in favor of Around 65% of the nation is in favor of separation of church and state. separation of church and state.

• Most agree that Humanist life stance Most agree that Humanist life stance organizations such as Siðmennt should organizations such as Siðmennt should receive the same public support as receive the same public support as religious organizations.religious organizations.

• Most Icelanders today seem to understand Most Icelanders today seem to understand the necessity of having a clear line the necessity of having a clear line between religious and secular authority. between religious and secular authority.

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Icelanders are well educated, Icelanders are well educated, broad-minded, and tolerant broad-minded, and tolerant • General support among Icelanders for gay General support among Icelanders for gay

rights rights • Great tolerance for various forms of Great tolerance for various forms of

cohabitation. cohabitation. • Very few people doubt a woman’s right to Very few people doubt a woman’s right to

abortion.abortion.• Almost no one wants creationism taught in Almost no one wants creationism taught in

schools as science. schools as science. • Public officials and other civil servants almost Public officials and other civil servants almost

never discuss their religious views openly or never discuss their religious views openly or make decisions based on their religious views.make decisions based on their religious views.

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Religious life of Icelanders Religious life of Icelanders compared to that of Americans compared to that of Americans

• Icelanders are generally disinterested Icelanders are generally disinterested in religious matters and there is very in religious matters and there is very little religious fervor in Iceland.little religious fervor in Iceland.

• Despite Despite 95%95% of the population being of the population being in Christian congregations, a new in Christian congregations, a new survey commissioned by the state survey commissioned by the state church showed that only around church showed that only around 50%50% call themselves Christian.call themselves Christian.

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Religious life of Religious life of IcelandersIcelanders

• 95%95% are members of Christian are members of Christian congregations.congregations.

• 84%84% are in the state church. are in the state church.

• 69%69% consider themselves religious. consider themselves religious.

• 53%53% call themselves Christian. call themselves Christian.

• 17%17% say they subscribe to a private, say they subscribe to a private, personal belief.personal belief.

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Does God exist?Does God exist?

• 39.4%39.4% --- “There is a loving God to whom --- “There is a loving God to whom we can pray”.we can pray”.

• 26.2%26.2% --- ”There is no other God than the --- ”There is no other God than the one that human beings have created”.one that human beings have created”. (Atheists?) (Atheists?)

• 19.7%19.7% --- “We have no certainty that God --- “We have no certainty that God exists”. (Agnostics)exists”. (Agnostics)

• 19.2%19.2% --- “God must exist, otherwise life --- “God must exist, otherwise life would have no purpose. would have no purpose.

• 9.4%9.4% --- “God created the world and runs --- “God created the world and runs it.” (Christian idea)it.” (Christian idea)

• 9.7%9.7% say they can’t answer the question. say they can’t answer the question.

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Religious life of Religious life of IcelandersIcelanders• 10-30%10-30% of Icelanders accept the basic dogma of of Icelanders accept the basic dogma of

the church unconditionally.the church unconditionally.• About About one thirdone third of the nation considers Jesus of the nation considers Jesus

Christ to be their savior. Christ to be their savior. • One quarterOne quarter of the population, believe in the of the population, believe in the

existence of elves and the hidden people. existence of elves and the hidden people. • More than halfMore than half of all Icelanders are convinced of all Icelanders are convinced

that it is possible to communicate with dead that it is possible to communicate with dead people during séances. people during séances.

• 80%80% believe in some kind of life after death believe in some kind of life after death • 14%14% think that after death a person rises up to think that after death a person rises up to

heaven to dwell with God. heaven to dwell with God. • 8%8% of Icelanders believe in the existence of the of Icelanders believe in the existence of the

devil and even fewer, or 6%, believe in the devil and even fewer, or 6%, believe in the existence of hell. existence of hell.

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Comparing religious life of Comparing religious life of Icelanders and AmericansIcelanders and Americans

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Worldcreated

10.000 yearsago

Believe inDevil

Believe inHell

IcelandersAmericans

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Piety of Icelanders Piety of Icelanders

• 43%43% never go to church. never go to church.

• 15.9%15.9% say they go once a year. say they go once a year.

• 17.4%17.4% go 2-3 times a year. go 2-3 times a year.

• 13.8%13.8% go between 4 and 11 times a go between 4 and 11 times a year.year.

• 10%10% of Icelanders go to church once of Icelanders go to church once a month.a month.

• 2%2% go once a week. go once a week.

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Church attendance joke Church attendance joke

•Icelanders go to church 4 Icelanders go to church 4 times in their lives and they times in their lives and they have to be carried in on 2 of have to be carried in on 2 of those occasions.those occasions.

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Bible reading in IcelandBible reading in Iceland

• 58% of Icelanders never read the Bible. 58% of Icelanders never read the Bible. • 5% browse through the Bible once a month.5% browse through the Bible once a month.• 1% read the Bible daily. 1% read the Bible daily.

– Those who take it upon themselves to read the Those who take it upon themselves to read the Bible say they do it for pleasure and information.Bible say they do it for pleasure and information.

– Far fewer say they read the holy book for Far fewer say they read the holy book for directly religious purposes. directly religious purposes.

• Considerably more Icelanders read mystical Considerably more Icelanders read mystical material such as books about spiritualism material such as books about spiritualism and New Age matters than the Bible.and New Age matters than the Bible.

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Comparing piety of Icelanders Comparing piety of Icelanders and Americansand Americans

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Never go tochurch

Go to churchevery week

Read Bibleevery day

IcelandersAmericans

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ConclusionConclusion

• In other words, most Icelanders have a personal, In other words, most Icelanders have a personal, private religion and deny all the major tenets of private religion and deny all the major tenets of Christianity but consider themselves Christian Christianity but consider themselves Christian anyway. anyway.

• Most Icelanders are probably Deists. Most Icelanders are probably Deists. • There are few fundamentalists in Iceland. There are few fundamentalists in Iceland.

– They have little influence although they sometimes They have little influence although they sometimes make a lot of noise in the media. make a lot of noise in the media.

• Religious practice in Iceland is primarily linked Religious practice in Iceland is primarily linked with spiritualism, reincarnation, psychics, with spiritualism, reincarnation, psychics, astrology, healing, alternative medicine and other astrology, healing, alternative medicine and other New Age practices.New Age practices.

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Thank youThank you

•Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

•Questions, if any, will be Questions, if any, will be answered during the panel answered during the panel discussions. discussions.

Sigurður Hólm GunnarssonSigurður Hólm Gunnarsson

(Feel free to call me Siggi (Feel free to call me Siggi ) )