Open AccessMagyarország vallásföldrajzi jellemzői a 21. század elején
Author(s) -
József Pete
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
vallástudományi szemle
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2939-6336
pISSN - 1786-4062
DOI - 10.55193/rs.2020.1.35
Subject(s) - census , suspect , politics , balance (ability) , sociology , composition (language) , ideology , political science , demography , law , psychology , population , criminology , philosophy , neuroscience , linguistics
Our aim is to study the results of the latest census in Hungary and draw conclusions for the religious composition of Hungary in the early years of 21st century. The results show that even though the geographical balance has not changed significantly in the last 10 years, its composition and structure has gone through a serious change. Behind this change, one can suspect the effects of sociological, political and cultural developments that affected the different denominations in different ways. As we study the demographical and geographical data from denominations (Catholic, Reformed, Lutheran) and other groups (other denominations, non-religious, non-respondents) we can discern spatial and sociological changes as well. One of the most conspicuous results is the shifting balance of denominations. Comparing the results of the 2001 and 2011 census, we must ask the question: which one reflects the religious landscape of Hungary more accurately? Which one is distorted and why? Which one is “over-exaggerated”? The answer may be that none of them and the difference lies in the different questioning techniques that lead to different results. As a summary, instead of a „loss of religion”, it may be more accurate to speak of a changing attitude to religion, a form of religious individualisation. Religion has not disappeared from the life of individuals, but its roles and expressions have certainly changed, and these are the factors that need to be further researched in the future.