Is France very religious

Answer 1

Yes, and no.

France is traditionally catholic but only a small percentage actually attend church regularly and most urban French are either agnostic or athiest. However, the church is seen as a tradition and provides a focal point for family get togethers such as marriage and christenings as well as providing art and arcitecture.

Very few French Catholics are conservative in their views as education makes it impossible to be indoctrinated in to the more "anti science" ideas of the church.

There is also a large Muslim community in France, but as with bishops, the imams are state controlled. Islam is generally moderate in France and most Muslims come from the moderate countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria.

French politics insists on a secular society, but recently, Pres. Sarkosy said he would only tolerate "positive secularism" so giving in to pressure from religions not wishing to be openly criticized for their belief.

Nota: France recently awarded the Legion d'honneur to JK Rowling only a few days after the Pope had appointed Gerhard Maria Wagner as a Bishop in Austria. This bishop preaches, among other catholic conservative views, that Harry Potter is the work of Satan and that JK is spreading Satanism.

This illustrated how liberal French Catholicism is and that it does not follow the Pope too closely.