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Being Christian in Western Europe Neha Sahgal Alan Cooperman Associate Director Director of Religion Research About the Pew Research Center Independent, nonprofit fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and

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Being Christian in Western Europe

Alan Cooperman

Director of Religion Research

Neha Sahgal

Associate Director

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June 6, 2018

About the Pew Research Center

Independent, nonprofit “fact tank” that informs the public about the issues,

attitudes and trends shaping the world.

Conducts
public opinion polling,
demographic research,
content analysis,
ther data-driven social science research.
Committed to meeting the highest methodological standards — and to exploring

the newest frontiers of research.

Generates a foundation of facts that enriches the public dialogue and supports

sound decision-making.

Does not take policy positions.
Primarily funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, named after the Pew family.

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June 6, 2018

About the survey

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Secularization is evident in Western Europe but most people still identify as Christian

Across 15 countries, median % who % who say they are Christian 91% 81 71 22

Baptized Raised Christian Currently Christian Attend services monthly or more

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Non-practicing Christians are the largest group in most countries

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Christian identity in Europe remains a marker of religious beliefs

Across 15 countries surveyed, median % who Believe in God as described in the Bible Believe in some other higher power or spiritual force (non-biblical)

June 6, 2018

27% 64 24 1

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

38% 32 51 28

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

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Christians in Europe more likely than religiously unaffiliated to express negative views of immigrants

Across 15 countries surveyed, median % who

Say number of immigrants coming to country should be reduced uced Say immigrants from the Middle East are NOT hones est

June 6, 2018

38% 40 37 28

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

26% 26 29 18

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

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Christians more likely than religiously unaffiliated adults to have negative views of Islam/Muslims

Across 15 countries, median % who Say Islam is fundamentally incompatible with national culture and values Are NOT willing ng to accept Muslims in their family

June 6, 2018

42% 49 45 32

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

24% 29 30 11

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

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ATTITUD ITUDES S TOWARD RD RELIGIO GIOUS US MINOR ORITIE ITIES

Being Christian in Western Europe

June 6, 2018

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34% 34 42 40 43 44 44 31 42 41 40 37 48 53 62 52% 48 48 47 47 46 46 46 46 45 45 44 42 33 29 France Sweden Switzerland Belgium Denmark Germany Netherlands Portugal UK Ireland Norway Spain Austria Italy Finland

Region divided over whether Islam is compatible with national culture/values

Islam is fundamentally incompatible with country culture and values There is no fundamental contradiction between Islam and national culture/values

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Most people favor at least some restrictions on Muslim women’s religious clothing

% who favor

28% 14 23 24 30 24 22 19 19 22 24 22 14 16 12 51% 65 56 52 46 50 50 53 52 43 38 39 39 32 32

78% 78% 80 80 79 79 76 76 76 76 73 73 72 72 71 71 71 71 65 65 62 62 61 61 53 53 48 48 44 44

Belgium Netherlands Switzerland Austria Italy Germany France Norway United Kingdom Ireland Spain Denmark Finland Sweden Portugal

No religious clothing Restrictions on clothing that covers the face

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56% 49 58 60 58 62 61 66 70 67 73 75 73 65 69

41% 40 37 35 35 34 31 30 27 27 25 24 23 23 23

Belgium Spain Denmark Italy Norway Netherlands Finland Austria Germany Ireland Switzerland UK France Portugal Sweden

Most disagree: “In their hearts, Muslims want to impose their religious law on everyone else in [COUNTRY]” Disagree Agree

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55% 43 42 59 73 67 68 75 66 77 70 76 81 77 75 36% 33 30 28 22 22 21 21 19 18 17 17 16 15 11

Italy Portugal Spain Belgium Austria Ireland Norway Switzerland Finland Germany Denmark France UK Netherlands Sweden

Vast majorities disagree: “Jews always overstate how much they have suffered”

Disagree Agree

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Substantial minorities say they would NOT be willing to accept Muslims in their family

43% 36 34 33 31 30 28 24 20 18 16 16 14 13 9 Italy United Kingdom Austria Germany Switzerland Ireland Finland France Portugal Spain Belgium Denmark Sweden Norway Netherlands

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Fewer people say they would NOT be willing to accept Jews in their family

25% 23 21 19 18 18 17 17 13 13 8 6 5 3 3 Italy United Kingdom Austria Germany Ireland Portugal Switzerland France Spain Finland Belgium Denmark Sweden Norway Netherlands

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ATTITUD ITUDES S TOWARD RD IMMIGR GRATION TION

Being Christian in Western Europe

June 6, 2018

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In most countries, public opinion leans toward keeping immigration levels steady

% who say the number of immigrants coming into their country should be …

8% 7 10 6 9 12 15 21 17 13 16 11 5 9 13 58% 57 53 52 51 50 47 43 42 40 40 39 36 36 32 31% 32 30 39 38 35 31 30 29 42 39 45 52 48 39

Switzerland UK France Austria Germany Finland Ireland Norway Portugal Netherlands Sweden Denmark Italy Belgium Spain Increased Remain the same Reduced

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More people see immigrants from Eastern Europe than Middle East as hardworking

% who say immigrants from ___ are hardworking Immigrants from Eastern Europe Immigrants from Middle East

82% 78 77 75 74 74 74 74 73 70 70 65 57 55 52 Norway Netherlands United Kingdom Ireland Belgium Germany Sweden Switzerland France Austria Denmark Finland Portugal Italy Spain 65% 61 61 58 57 53 51 45 45 41 41 39 38 35 34 Switzerland France United Kingdom Germany Sweden Ireland Austria Italy Spain Finland Netherlands Norway Belgium Denmark Portugal

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NATIONAL IONALISM SM

Being Christian in Western Europe

June 6, 2018

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Most people see respecting the country’s institutions and laws and speaking national language as important to national identity

% Across 15 countries, median % who say ___ is important to truly be a national of their country 94% 87 53 51 34

To respect country's institutions and laws To be able to speak the national language To have family background in the country To have been born in the country To be a Christian

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Nativist views of national identity

% who say being born in the country/having ancestry in the country is important to truly be a national of the country

Important to be born in the country Important to have family background in the country

81% 68 66 59 58 57 53 51 49 48 48 41 41 36 22 Portugal Italy Spain Ireland Switzerland United Kingdom Austria Finland Belgium France Germany Netherlands Norway Denmark Sweden 80% 75 64 61 59 58 57 53 51 49 42 40 38 35 21 Portugal Italy Ireland Switzerland Spain United Kingdom Austria France Finland Germany Belgium Norway Netherlands Denmark Sweden

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58% 50 49 47 47 47 46 45 44 42 36 31 26 23 20 38% 48 46 49 49 48 52 51 51 53 61 67 69 75 75

Norway Switzerland Finland Austria Italy Portugal United Kingdom Germany Denmark Ireland France Netherlands Sweden Belgium Spain

In many countries, people are split over whether their culture is superior to others % who agree/disagree, “Our people are not perfect but our culture is superior to others” Disagree Agree

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NATION ONALIS LISM, M, ANTI-IMM MMIGR IGRATION TION, , ANTI-MINO MINORIT ITY VIEWS WS (NIM)

Being Christian in Western Europe

June 6, 2018

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Share in each country who score higher than 5 on the 10-point index

38% 29 25 25 25 25 23 22 20 19 19 18 17 16 8

Italy Austria Denmark Germany Ireland Switzerland Finland United Kingdom Belgium France Norway Portugal Spain Netherlands Sweden

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Christians more likely than religiously unaffiliated adults to score above 5

Across 15 countries surveyed, median % who score above 5 on the 10-point NIM

22% 26 24 14

General population Church-attending Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

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Christians more likely than religiously unaffiliated adults to score above 5 on the 10-point NIM

Churchgoing Christians Non-practicing Christians Religiously unaffiliated

49% 42 41 38 34 29 27 26 26 26 22 21 17 16 8

Italy Austria Germany Ireland Switzerland France UK Belgium Denmark Finland Spain Portugal Nethrlnds. Norway Sweden

38% 31 27 26 25 25 24 24 24 23 23 21 21 19 10

Italy Denmark Switzerland Austria Finland Norway Belgium Germany UK France Spain Ireland Nethrlnds. Portugal Sweden

18% 17 16 16 15 14 14 14 13 12 11 11 10 7 7

Germany Austria Italy Norway UK Belgium Denmark Finland Switzerland Nethrlnds. Ireland Portugal France Spain Sweden

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Factors associated with scoring above 5 on the 10-point NIM

+35% pts. +15 +15 +7 +6 +4

Right-wing political ideology (vs. left) Church-attending Christian (vs. unaffiliated) Non-practicing Christian (vs. unaffiliated) Male All friends belong to same religion as respondent Know a great deal/some about Islam Young (ages 18 to 34) Personal economic situation good Know a Jewish person Satisfied with country's direction College educated (vs. less education) Know a Muslim

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June 6, 2018

www.pewresearch.org

Alan Cooperman

Director of Religion Research

Neha Sahgal

Associate Director