Religiosity of Latvian society

1. Religiosity of Latvian society Asoc.professor Dr.Paed.Laima Geikina 2010

2. Basic Facts • Latvia (Lettland, Lettonie) – one of the three Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania), borders with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Byelorussia • Capital – Riga • Currency – Lats (1.4 €) • 1991 – Independence from the Soviet Union • 2004 – Accession to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

3. Ethnic groups in Latvia in 2006.Population – 2.29 mln (2006)

4. Number of Schools

6. Do you believe in God? March, 2009 believe in God and consider themselves as Christians (42,3%) believe in God, but don’t consider themselves as Christians (31,5%) do not believe in God (18,5%) NA (7,7%)

7. Do you believe Darwin or Rational Creator? IOctober, 2008 Whom one position you support more? life on the Earth is created by God (Rational Creator) (43,2%) life on the Earth developed in the natural way by natural selection (31,6%) NA (25,2%)

8. Do you believe Darwin or Rational Creator? IIOctober, 2008 life on the Earth is created by God (Rational Creator) life on the Earth developed in the natural way by natural selection NA

9. Multireligious context of education

10. Self-identification I (2005) • In what faith you include yourself? • Orthodox (24,1%) • Catholic (20,7%) • Lutheran (20%) • Old Believer (4,4%) • Baptist (1%) • 6) Adventist (0,5%) In what faith you include yourself? 7) Jewish (0%) 8) Consider myself as a believer, but can not account to some confession (10,6%) 9) Non believer (15,8%) 10) Other (1%) 11) NA (1,7%)

11. Self-identification II (2005) • In what faith you include yourself? • Orthodox • Catholic • Lutheran • Old Believer • Baptist • Adventist • Jewish • Consider myself as a believer, but can not account to some confession • Non believer • Other • NA

12. How often doyou read Bible?June, 2005 • Total • Orthodox • Lutheran • Catholic • Consider myself as believer, but can not account to some confession • Non believer every day or almost every day seldom as one time throughyear few times every month do not read few times through year NA

13. We celebrate Easter by national traditions in our familyMarch, 2006 completely agree rather agree rather disagree completely disagree NA

14. Processes in society will happen better, if Church will have more powerFebruary, 2006 completely agree rather agree rather disagree completely disagree NA agree disagree NA

15. The most confess sins by people in Latvia IMarch, 2009 • Laziness • Anger, bate • Arrogance • Insatiability • Envy • Carnality, desire • Greediness, stinginess • No one from the list • NA

16. The most confess sins by people in Latvia IIMarch, 2009 • Laziness • Anger, bate • Arrogance • Insatiability • Envy • Carnality, desire • Greediness, stinginess • No one from the list • NA Christians other people in Latvia

17. Number of confessed sins by Latvian people • Laziness • Anger, bate • Arrogance • Insatiability • Envy • Carnality, desire • Greediness, stinginess Did not sins

18. Research on Readiness for RE, 2003(Sabiedrisko pētījumu centrs - SKDS)parents= 616 and school administrators = 303 • 57% of parents and 32% of school administrators have a positive attitude toward the possibility to choose between Christian education and Ethics; • 67% would choose Ethics; • 23% -Christian education; • 10% - no opinion.

19. Thank you!