Religion in Poland
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Religion in Poland
Most residents of Poland adhere to the Christian faith, with 89.8% belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.[1] Catholicism plays an important role in the lives of many Poles and the Roman Catholic Church in Poland enjoys social prestige and political influence.[2] The Church is widely respected by its members, who see it as a symbol of Polish heritage and culture.[3] The rest of the population consists mainly of Eastern Orthodox (about 806,000 believers, Polish and Belarussians[4]), Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland (about 85,000) and various Protestant (about 250,000, with about 130,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the largest religious minorities.[5][6]
According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005:[7]
- 80% of Polish citizens responded that "they believe there is a God" (which was the fifth highest result in Europe).
- 15% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
- 3% answered that "don't know".
- 2% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".
According to the most recent CBOS opinion poll published in the fall of 2008:[8]
- 94% of Poles claim "they believe in God",
- 6% claim they "do not believe in God or do not know",
- 52% of believers claim "they attend to mass, religious meetings etc. at least once a week",
- while 17% do so "once or twice a month",
- 18% do so "a few times a year",
- and 13% "never do so".
From the beginning of its statehood, different religious coexisted in Poland and some minorities were tolerated by rulers of Poland. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Poland was famous for its unique religious tolerance (see Statute of Kalisz (1264) and Warsaw Confederation (1573)).
However in the 15th and 18th century, pressure from the Catholic Church caused tensions to rise between Catholics and Protestants after the Edict of Wieluń and later the Tumult of Torun contributing to the Age of Enlightenment.
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The Polish Constitution and religion
According to Poland's Constitution freedom of religion is ensured to everyone. It also allows for national and ethnic minorities to have the right to establish educational and cultural institutions, institutions designed to protect religious identity, as well as to participate in the resolution of matters connected with their cultural identity.
Religious organizations in the Republic of Poland can register their institution with the Ministry of Interior and Administration creating a record of churches and other religious organizations who operate under separate Polish laws. This registration is not necessary; however, it is beneficial when it comes to serving the freedom of religious practice laws.
Rodnover groups, registered with the Polish authorities in 1995, are Rodzimy Kościół Polski (the Native Polish Church) which represents a tradition that goes back to Władysław Kołodziej’s 1921 Święte Koło Czcicieli Światowida (Holy Circle of Worshipper of Światowid), and Polski Kościół Słowiański (the Polish Slavic Church),[9] Zrzeszenie Rodzimej Wiary (ZRW, "The Native Faith Association"), "Association for Tradition and Culture 'Niklot'" (founded in 1998).
Major denominations in Poland
| Denomination | Members | Leadership |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Church in Poland[10] • Roman Catholic • Byzantine-Ukrainian • Armenian |
33,550,000 | • Józef Kowalczyk, Prymas of Poland • Józef Michalik, Chairman of Polish Episcopate • Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to Poland • Jan Martyniuk, Archbishop Metropolite of Byzantine-Ukrainian Rite |
| Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church | 806,000 | Metropolitan of Warsaw Sawa |
| Jehovah's Witnesses in Poland | 126,488[11] | Warszawska 14,Pl-05830 Nadarzyn |
| Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland | 100,000 | Bishop Fr. Jerzy Samiec |
| Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland | 23,300 | Chief Bishop Fr. Michał Maria Ludwik Jabłoński |
| Pentecostal Church in Poland | 21,200 | Bishop Fr. Marek Kamiński |
| Polish Catholic Church | 20,000 | Bishop Wiktor Wysoczański |
| Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland | 9,600 | Fr. Paweł Lazar, President of the Church |
| Christian Baptist Church in Poland • Baptist Union of Poland |
6,500 | President of the Church : Gustaw Cieślar |
| Islamic Religious Union in Poland | 5,100 | President of the Supreme Muslim College Stefan Korycki |
| Evangelical Methodist Church in Poland | 4,460 | Ruler of the Church, Bishop Edward Puślecki |
| Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland | 3,500 | President consistory Dr. Witold Brodziński |
| Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland | 2,150 | Bishop Damiana Maria Beatrycze Szulgowicz |
| Union of Jewish Confessional Communities in Poland | 1,222 | • President of the Main Board Piotr Kadlcik • Chief rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich |
There are roughly 125 other minor religions registered in Poland.[10]
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Cathedral in Wroclaw
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Eastern Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Warsaw.
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St. peter and St. paul Cathedral in Legnica
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Basilica in Licheń Stary - the largest church in Poland.
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Włocławek Cathedral
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St. peter and St. paul Cathedral in Poznan
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St. Stanislaus Kostka Cathedral in Łódź
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Church of Our Lady Queen of the Polish Crown, Warsaw
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Cathedral in Radom
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Cathedral in Lublin
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Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family in Częstochowa seen from the square, John Paul II.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Poland
- Eastern Orthodoxy in Poland
- Polish anti-religious campaign (1945–1990)
- Islam in Poland
- Buddhism in Poland
- Hinduism in Poland
- History of the Jews in Poland
- Bahá'í Faith in Poland
- Slavic Neopaganism
References
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pl.html
- ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica-Religion in Poland".
- ^ Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007. "Poland".
- ^ http://www.poland.gov.pl/Koscioly,i,zycie,religijne,w,Polsce,126.html
- ^ (Polish) Kościoły i związki wyznaniowe w Polsce. Retrieved on June 17, 2008.
- ^ http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko%C5%9Bcio%C5%82y_i_zwi%C4%85zki_wyznaniowe_w_Polsce
- ^ Eurobarometer Poll 2005
- ^ (Polish) 94% Polaków wierzy w Boga
- ^ Simpson, Scott (2000). Native Faith: Polish Neo-Paganism At the Brink of the 21st Century
- ^ a b "Society". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2002. http://www.poland.gov.pl/?document=397. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
- ^ Retrieved November 21, 2011
External links
- (Polish)/(English) Selected religious denominations in Poland, official statistics from 2001 (published in 2003)
- List of churches and religious unions registered according to special legislation
- List of churches and religious unions from the Register of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration
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