Iran’s secular shift: new survey reveals huge changes in religious beliefs
Large-scale data on Iranians’ post-revolutionary religious beliefs has been lacking, but the results of an online survey confirm Iranian society’s unprecedented secularisation. Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution was a defining event that changed how we think about the relationship between religion and modernity.
Reaching Iranians online
Because of the anonymity of digital surveys, it is possible to learn what Iranians really think about religion. Since the revolution, literacy rates have risen dramatically and the urban population has exploded; internet penetration in Iran is comparable to that of Italy, with around 60 million users.
A secular and diverse Iran
Younger Iranians report higher levels of irreligiosity and conversion to Christianity, with 78% believing in God but only 37% believing in life after death.
Religion and legislation
According to a GAMAAN poll, the majority of Iranians believe religious prescriptions should be excluded from legislation, with 72% opposing the law requiring all women to wear the hijab, or Islamic veil, and 43% believing no religion should proselytize in public.
How many Iranians are atheists?
According to a Gamaan Online Survey conducted in 2020, a much higher percentage of Iranians (8.8%) identify as atheists, with a large percentage (22.2%) identifying as not following an organized religion and 60% identifying as non-Muslims.
Can you practice Christianity in Iran?
Iran’s Christians have played an important role in the history of Christian mission, with at least 600 churches and 500,000u20131,000,000 Christians.
How did Iran become Muslim?
Except for a brief period following Mongol raids and the establishment of the Ilkhanate, Islam has been the official religion of Iran since then, and Iran became an Islamic republic after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended the Persian monarchy.
Is there any Hindu in Iran?
The Arya Samaj built two Hindu temples in the late 19th century, one in Bandar Abbas and the other in Zahedan, both funded by Indian merchants. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Tehran in 1976, and ISKCON has operated a vegetarian restaurant in Tehran since 1977.
Can you be Catholic in Iran?
The Catholic Church in Iran is a part of the worldwide Catholic Church, which is led by the Pope in Rome. There are approximately 21,380 Catholics in Iran, out of a total population of approximately 78.9 million, who follow the Chaldean, Armenian, and Latin Rites.
What is the punishment for blasphemy in Iran?
In June 2004, the Supreme Court replaced the blasphemy charge with a charge of “insulting religious values,” and imposed a three-year prison sentence, among other penalties.
Are there Armenians in Iran?
There are about 150,000 to 300,000 Armenians left in Iran today, half of whom live in the Tehran area, a quarter in Isfahan, and the other quarter in Northwestern Iran or Iranian Azerbaijan. The majority of Armenians live in the Tehran suburbs, particularly Narmak, Majidiyeh, and Nadershah.
What is the fastest growing religion in Iran?
According to the 2011 General Census, Christianity is the largest non-Muslim religion in Iran, with Evangelical Christianity growing at 19.6% annually, making Iran the country with the highest annual Evangelical growth rate.
How did Persia become Iran?
When Persia became Iran Because Germany had good relations with countries of Aryan descent at the time, Persia was renamed Iran to reflect the changes that had occurred under Reza Shah’s rule, namely that Persia had freed itself from the grip of the British and Russians.
Is Egypt Sunni or Shia?
With an estimated 90.3% of the population, Islam is the most popular religion in Egypt. The majority of Egyptian Muslims are Sunnis, with a small minority of Shias who are not recognized by Egypt. Islam has been recognized as the state religion since 1980.
Was Iran a Buddhist country?
Buddhist sites have been discovered in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, as well as in Iran.” The Arab conquests brought the end of Buddhism in Eastern Iran and Afghanistan, though it survived until the 8th or 9th century in some places like Bamiyan and Hadda.
Can you drink in Iran?
Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic government in 1979, alcohol has been illegal for Muslim Iranian citizens; however, in 2017, 5.7% of the adult population was found to have consumed alcohol in the previous year.
Is Hinduism allowed in China?
Despite the fact that Hinduism is not one of the five official state recognized religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Catholic Christianity, Protestant Christianity, and Islam) and that China is officially a secular state, Hinduism is practiced on a limited scale in China.