About half (49%) of Portuguese young people aged 14 to 30 say they are Catholic, according to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Peoples and Cultures of Portuguese Self-Expression (CEPCEP) for the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP).
The results of a study carried out by this branch of the Catholic University in the context of World Youth Day (WYD) and after the covid-19 pandemic also indicate that, taking into account other religions, “56% of Portuguese youth are religious”.
Religiosity “is an important aspect of the lives of young people in Portugal”, where about 88% of those who claim to be religious are Catholics. [seguindo-se 6% evangélicos ou pertencentes a uma religião cristã protestante e 1% testemunhas de Jeová]and of those, 68% say they are practitioners, according to a paper published this Thursday and conducted between April and October 2022, with 2,480 survey responses.
The team, coordinated by Patricia Diaz, points out in their findings that these are important values, given the “more or less common perception” that we live in a “desacralized society.”
The study notes that “a third of all young people (34%) say that they are not only religious, but also practice, pray regularly, participate in holidays or are in groups of their religious community.”
As for non-practicing believers, “the main reason for the lack of religious practice is the lack of purpose and commitment”, but in the age group from 18 to 30 years old (young adults) “the absence of religious practice is based rather on disagreement with some norms of this practice (44%)” .
On the other hand, the poll concluded that religious practice is “accompanied by a great deal of tolerance towards various manifestations of religiosity”, with 51% believing that “there is truth in all religions”, with a minority of those who say that only their religion religion is true (5%) or more true than others (12%).
It is also confirmed that “11% of practicing believers claimed to participate in the activities of other religions (…) because they find inner peace (4%) to accompany family or friends (3%) or because they feel welcome . (3%)”.
Another point that the survey focused on was discrimination based on religious beliefs and confirmed that 18% of the total number of young people answered that they had already been discriminated against, with the highest percentage being young people. [18-30 anos], 24%. Among friends and at school/university, this discrimination was most observed.
The Jovens, Fé e Futuro study also touches on the concerns of new generations regarding the coming times, with war (63%), climate change (55%), justice and discrimination (54%) being the most sensitive. questions for the entire population of respondents (religious and non-religious).
On the other hand, the CEPCEP paper notes that it is “not important for non-religious youth to create a family with children”, which is “important for religious people” who “do not value the opportunity to earn money”. the choice they so desire, regardless of family or society.”
“More than stability at work, Catholics value work that makes them happy and finding a partner with whom to share life, as well as starting a family with one or more children.”
In terms of the values they consider most important, the universe of the study indicated respect (59%), freedom (57%), love (52%), and honesty (51%). in freedom and religious in love.
It should also be noted that “young people are not very active in terms of being active (15%) or volunteering (26%)” and that “45% of Catholics believe that prayer can contribute to a better future.”
The group responsible for the study concludes that there are differences based on religiosity, with regard to ordering interests or factors that determine the future happiness of young people, but adds that by choosing “the factor that most marks the difference between religious youth and non-religious there would be a family both as a concern and as a factor of happiness.
“Knowing their beliefs, the values that guide their behavior, how they see the future, are crucial goals for better understanding and accompanying young people on their path of spirituality and faith (religious or not),” they say. as well as those responsible for the study.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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