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Irreligion in Poland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Religion in Poland (2021)[1]

  Catholicism (71.3%)
  Other Christian denominations and religions (1.2%)
  Unanswered (20.6%)
  No religion (6.9%)
Vice President of Polish Atheist Coalition Nina Sankari speaks on "In the Shadow of the Church in Poland" at the Secular Conference 2014.

Atheism and irreligiosity are uncommon theological beliefs in the country of Poland, with a majority of the country's population subscribing to Roman Catholicism. However, religious demographics have declined in recent decades, contributing to social tension within the country.[2][3][4][5][6] According to a 2020 CBOS survey, non-believers now make up 3% of Poland's population.[7]

History

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Renaissance

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Atheism in Poland dates back to the Renaissance. In the sixteenth century, individuals who were considered to be atheists include the royal courtier Jan Zambocki, the geographer Alexander Skultet, and a professor of the Academy of Krakow, Stanislaw Zawacki. In 1588, Krakow released a pamphlet Simonis simoni Lucensis ... Athei summa Religio, suggesting that the doctor Simon of Lucca staying at the royal court says the idea that God is a figment of the mind.[8] An important figure in the history of atheism on Polish territories was Kazimierz Łyszczyński, sentenced in 1688 (the judgment was made a year later) on the death penalty for his work on the work of De non existentia Dei ("The Non-Existence of God").[9]

Nineteenth century

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In the nineteenth century, open proclamation of atheist views were rare, although a certain part of the intelligentsia openly admitted to atheism (including Wacław Nałkowski[citation needed] and Maria Sklodowska-Curie[10][11][12]).

During the Second Republic, President Gabriel Narutowicz was said to be an atheist.[13][14]

In general, then Polish overt atheism was a widespread view, even among anti-clerical and secular intelligentsia, as evidenced by the fact that in the Second Republic the traditional association of atheists – Freemasonry of the Great East - has not been established despite the existence of acting freethinking organizations: Polish Association of Freethinkers, Polish Association of Free Thought or Warsaw Circle of Intellectuals. They were also issued a letter Rationalist.

Recent developments

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In the twentieth and twenty first centuries, Poles declaring a lifelong or temporary atheistic worldview include Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński, Tadeusz Kotarbiński, Ludwik Krzywicki, Irena Krzywicka, Witold Gombrowicz,[12] Władysław Gomułka, Jan Kott, Jeremi Przybora, Mariusz Szczygiel, Wisława Szymborska,[12][15] Stanisław Lem,[12][15] Tadeusz Różewicz, Marek Edelman, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Zygmunt Bauman, Maria Janion, Tadeusz Łomnicki, Włodzimierz Ptak, Jacek Kuroń,[12] Kazimierz Kutz, Jerzy Urban, Roman Polański, Jerzy Vetulani, Karol Modzelewski, Zbigniew Religa,[12][16] Jan Woleński, Andrzej Sapkowski, Kora Jackowska, Lech Janerka, Wanda Nowicka, Magdalena Środa, Jacek Kaczmarski, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Kazik Staszewski, Kuba Wojewódzki, Janusz Palikot, Jan Hartman, Maria Peszek, Dorota Nieznalska and Robert Biedroń.

After World War II to the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, atheist worldview has been propagated by the state, which manifested itself, among others, in limiting building permits, as well as the expansion of the temples, the persecution of the clergy (e.g. illegal[17] arrest of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski) and harassment of members of the Communist Party taking regular participation in religious practices. In 1957, the decision of the Central Committee at the propaganda and agitation department of the Central Committee was established committee. Atheistic propaganda.[18][clarification needed]

In the communist Poland Association of Atheists and Freethinkers worked well – supported by the authorities – and later also Society for the Promotion of Secular Culture, formed on its basis in 1969. On the other hand, some declared atheists were involved in the activities of the democratic opposition, like[citation needed] Jacek Kuroń,[12] and Adam Michnik.

Banner of the Atheistic Coalition carried during the march of atheists in Warsaw (2023).
Foundation Kazimierz Łyszczyński at the Equality Parade in Warsaw in 2023.

After the fall of the Polish People's Republic, despite the lack of state support, atheism and the process of secularization have not disappeared. In 2007, the wave of popularity of the book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins.[19] and his social campaign under the name of The Out Campaign started in the Anglo-Saxon countries and reached Poland. Thus the List of Internet Atheists and Agnostics was established,[20] led by Polish Association of Rationalists. On that list a person could openly admit their atheism or agnosticism. The initiative aims to promote ideological assertiveness among the unbelievers, checking the presence of believers in the social life and the consolidation and strengthening of cooperation between free thinkers. Many leading Polish media have written dozens of articles about this initiative, causing a discussion on the situation of unbelievers in Poland (Gazeta Wyborcza,[21] Cross-section,[22] Overview,[23] Republic,[24] Newsweek,[25] Trybuna,[26] Gazeta Pomorska,[27] Kurier Lubelski,[28] Wirtualna Polska,[29][30] Życie Warszawy[31][32]), and on the radio TOK FM was a debate about atheism between the academic priest Gregory Michalczyk and the founder and then-president of the Polish Rationalist Association, Mariusz Agnosiewicz.[33] After two months since the launch of Letters, inscribed on it more than 7500 participants of the action. Agnosiewicz went a step further by organising a campaign under the name Internet Photo Atheists, which was launched on 6 December 2009.[34]

In response to the rapid progress of atheism in Poland,[35] a Parliamentary Group for prevention of atheism in Poland was established in 2012 by the Polish Sejm.[36] It consists of 39 deputies and 2 senators.[37] At the turn of 2012/2013, the Polish Association of Rationalists, together with the Foundation Freedom of Religion organized in several Polish cities including Rzeszow, Lublin, Czestochowa, Kraków and Swiebodzin an action under the slogan "Do not steal, do not kill, do not I believe" and "If you do not believe, you are not alone". According to the organizers they serve to consolidate the people of atheistic worldview.[38][39] On March 29, 2014, an Atheists' March was organized in Warsaw in the framework of Days of Atheism, during which there was a staging of the execution of Kazimierz Łyszczyński, sentenced in 1689 to death for treaty "the non-existence of the gods," in which the role was played by Jan Hartman, a professor of philosophy, bioethics and then an activist of Your Movement, a progressivist political party.[40]

The 2014 Procession of Atheists in Poland commemorated Kazimierz Łyszczyński, who is considered to be the first Polish atheist.[41][42]

Statistics

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In 2004, 3.5% of the citizens of Poland identified as non-believers or indifferent religiously.[43] According to the Eurobarometer survey taken in 2005, 90% of Polish citizens said they believed in the existence of God, a further 4% not determined.[44] In 2007, 3% identified as a non-believer.

Polish citizens – this means that this group has doubled its size within two years[45] However, according to the survey from 2012 the number of people in Poland declare atheism, agnosticism or atheism was 3.2% and disbelief 4%. And, according to studies Eurobarometer in the same year 2% of the population of Poland were atheists, and 3% were agnostics and otherwise non-denominational.[46]

According to the results of Census of Population and Housing 2011, individuals who claim not to belong to any religion accounted for 31 March 2011 were 2.41% of the total Polish population. While taking into account that 7.1% covered by the census did not answer the question on religion, and to 1.63% not determined the matter, they accounted for 2.64% of those who responded to the question about religious affiliation.[47]

Atheist of the Year award by Kazimierz Łyszczyński Foundation.

According to data published in 2015 by GUS concerning the faith of Poles, most atheists are in Warsaw and Zielona Góra.[48]

Organizations

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Currently, some atheists in Poland are grouped around:[49]

References

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  1. ^ "Tablice z ostatecznymi danymi w zakresie przynależności narodowo-etnicznej, języka używanego w domu oraz przynależności do wyznania religijnego - NSP 2021". stat.gov.pl/. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ Deboick, Sophia (28 October 2010). "Poland's faith divide". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Catholicism and sex shops: the struggle for Poland's soul". Reuters. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Polish Catholics in decline". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 30 May 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Poland: Freedom for Atheists". DW. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Atheists on the March". Krakow Post. Archived from the original on 25 December 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Religijność Polaków w ostatnich 20 latach" (PDF). 2020.
  8. ^ Praca zbiorowa, "Dzieje Polski a współczesność", Wydawnictwo Książka i Wiedza, Warszawa 1966, s. 97–98
  9. ^ Wielka Encyklopedia Polski, t.VI, wyd. Kluszczyński, Kraków 2004 ISBN 83-89550-33-4.
  10. ^ "Maria Skłodowska-Curie". interia.pl. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Maria Curie-Skłodowska (1867–1834)". interia.pl. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "SACRUM ATEISTY". magazyntrendy.pl. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  13. ^ Łukasz Kosiński (12 September 2009). "Gabriel Narutowicz – Niechciana prezydentura" (in Polish). Historia.org.pl. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  14. ^ M. Ruszczyc, Strzały w Zachęcie, Katowice 1987, s. 163. ISBN 83-216-0619-9.
  15. ^ a b "Ziemkiewicz: Niech zostanie uszanowana i wiara katolika, i niewiara ateisty". fronda.pl. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Religa: utwierdzam się w przekonaniu, że Boga nie ma". wp.pl. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  17. ^ Jolanta Hajdasz. "Wierny towarzysz w cierpieniu". Przewodnik Katolicki (Nr 32/2012). opoka.org.pl. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  18. ^ Praca Zbiorowa (2003). Leksykon historii Polski po II wojnie światowej 1944–1997. Warszawa. ISBN 83-87988-08-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ^ Richard Dawkins (2007). Bóg urojony. Wydawnictwo CiS. ISBN 978-83-85458-28-9.
  20. ^ "Internetowa Lista Ateistów i Agnostyków". Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  21. ^ Małgorzata I. Niemczyńska. "Nie wciskajcie mi Boga" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  22. ^ Małgorzata Święchowicz. "Ciężkie życie ateisty" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2007.
  23. ^ Radosław Tyrała. "Czy ateiści są dyskryminowani?" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  24. ^ Bronisław Wildstein. "Jak czuć się dobrze" (in Polish). Rzeczpospolita. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  25. ^ Sebastian Duda (7 October 2007). "Bezbożna krucjata" (in Polish). Newsweek Polska, nr 40/07. p. 90. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  26. ^ "Żaden wstyd. Internetowa akcja ateistów" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  27. ^ Małgorzata Święchowicz. "Temat dnia: Siła niewierzących" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  28. ^ Aleksandra Dunajska. "Być ateistą nie jest łatwo" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  29. ^ Adam Przegaliński. "Agnosiewicz dla WP: ateiści wychodzą z ukrycia" (in Polish). wiadomosci.wp.pl. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
  30. ^ Adam Przegaliński. "Nie wierzę w Boga.pl" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
  31. ^ Marcin Szymaniak. "Ateiści chcą walczyć z dominacją religii" (PDF) (in Polish). 2007-08-18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  32. ^ Marcin Szymaniak. "Jestem człowiekiem z listy niewierzących" (in Polish). 2007-09-07. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  33. ^ Ewa Wanat (6 September 2007). "O ateizmie – dyskusja duszpasterza akademickiego z parafii św. Jakuba ks. Grzegorza Michalczyka i szefa Polskiego Stowarzyszenia Racjonalistów Mariusza Agnosiewicza" (in Polish). Radio TOK FM. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  34. ^ "Internetowa Galeria Ateistów". ateistyczni.org.pl. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  35. ^ "Szybko postępuje ateizacja Polski / Polska / Wiadomości". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  36. ^ ""Inkwizycja po polsku", czyli jak działa Sejmowy Zespół ds. Przeciwdziałania Ateizacji Polski". Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  37. ^ "Parlamentarny Zespół ds. Przeciwdziałania Ateizacji Polski". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Ateiści na wielkich billboardach promują niewiarę". Gazeta Wyborcza. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  39. ^ "Ateiści będą wieszać antyreligijne billboardy. Po co? Aby niewierzący mogli "wyjść z cienia"". WPolityce.pl. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  40. ^ "Marsz Ateistów w Warszawie. Inscenizacja egzekucji na rynku [ZDJĘCIA] – Naszemiasto.pl". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ^ "Marsz Ateistów w Warszawie. Inscenizacja egzekucji na rynku". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  42. ^ "Koalicja Ateistyczna: An Encounter with Polish Atheists". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  43. ^ Witolda Zdaniewicza; Sławomira Zaręby (2004). Kościół katolicki na początku trzeciego tysiąclecia w opinii Polaków. Warsaw. p. 48. ISBN 838594513X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  44. ^ "ReportDGResearchSocialValuesEN2.PDF" (PDF). Ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  45. ^ "CENTRUM BADANIA OPINII SPOŁECZNEJ : POLACY WOBEC KOŚCIOŁA ORAZ NAUCZANIA PAPIEŻA BENEDYKTA XVI : DWA LATA PO ŚMIERCI JANA PAWŁA II" (PDF). Cbos.pl. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  46. ^ "Discrimination in the European Union in 2012, str. 234 – T98 i T99" (PDF). Ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  47. ^ Główny Urząd Statystyczny (2013). Ludność. Stan i struktura demograficzno-społeczna. Narodowy Spis Powszechny Ludności i Mieszkań 2011 (PDF) (in Polish). Zakład Wydawnictw Statystycznych. p. 99. ISBN 978-83-7027-521-1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  48. ^ Katarzyna Miłkowska. "Najwięcej ateistów w Polsce jest w Warszawie i... Zielonej Górze! "Nie tyle świadoma świeckość, co pewne zobojętnienie"". naTemat.pl. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  49. ^ a b Szumlewicz, Piotr (2010). Niezbędnik ateisty: rozmowy Piotra Szumlewicza – Piotr Szumlewicz – Google Książki. Wydawn. Czarna Owca. ISBN 9788375541373. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
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