Interesting French poll on supernatural beliefs and rationality

From: JDP (jacques@dtext.com)
Date: Wed May 21 2003 - 11:36:04 MDT

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    There has been a large poll on "what the French believe". I haven't
    read the original results, but based on a commentary published in Le
    Monde <http://www.lemonde.fr/article/0,5987,3232--317031-VT,00.html>
    on which I accidentally stumbled, a spectacular evolution is seen when
    one compares the results of this year with the results from the
    previous, same poll in 1994:

    Belief in the explanation of personality according to astrology has
    gone from 60% to 37%.
    Belief in foretellers has gone from 46% to 23%.
    Belief in occult practices, enchantments, etc., from 41% to 21%.

    The loss of beliefs "in the supernatural" is strongest among the young people.

    People who define themselves as "rationalists" [rationalistes] go from
    22% to 52%. (Among the young people: from 22% to 67%.)

    Still, most religious indicators are slightly on the rise:

    - "belonging" (I guess the person had to say if "she was Christian/Muslim/Other"):
    from 61% to 64%;
    - "frequent prayer": 13% to 22%;
    - "monthly practice": 5% to 17%.
    - "believe in trinity": went down (not said how much in the article)

    The 18-24 y/o who defines themselves as "believers" go from 10% to 27%
    (not said what proportion are muslims).
    The 18-24 y/o who defines themselves as "atheists" go from 17% to 28%.

    Regarding the proposition "The idea of sin doesn't mean much to me", the
    proportion of people who DISAGREE with it goes from 39 to 57% (and 35
    to 64% among the 18-24 y/o), which is interpreted by the guy
    (sociologist) as "a certain comeback of morals, in particular among
    the young people: one gives value again to authority, fidelity in the
    couple, public order. While asking more freedom in the private sphere,
    seen as the field of personal responsability."

    I don't think they asked how many expect the Singularity and when and
    if they are scared or not. Maybe in the next poll.

    Jacques



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