Religious Views and Beliefs Vary Greatly by Country, According to the Latest Financial Times/Harris Poll

People in the U.S. more likely to believe in God or any kind of Supreme Being than those in five European countries

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and LONDON – December 20, 2006 – A Financial Times (FT)/Harris Poll conducted among adults in the United States and in five European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain and Spain) shows that Americans are more likely than Europeans to believe in any form of God or Supreme Being (73%). Of the European adults surveyed, Italians are the most likely to express this belief (62%) and, in contrast, the French are the least likely (27%).

Among those adults who stated they do have religious beliefs, almost two-thirds (62%) of Italians say they have the same religious beliefs as both their parents. In stark contrast, just under two in five (39%) British adults share the same religious beliefs as either of their parents. In the U.S. about half (48%) of adults who stated they have religious beliefs say they share the same as both of their parents.

This FT/Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive^® among a total of 12,507 adults (aged 16 and over), within France (2,134); Germany (2,127); Great Britain (2,090); Spain (1,991); the United States (2,078), and Italy (2,087), aged 18 and over, between 30^th November and 15^th December 2006.

Majorities in all five European countries favor separation of church and state. However, majorities in only three of five countries favor the teaching of religion in state schools.

Across the five European countries surveyed, large majorities believe that the church and state should be kept separate in modern Europe. Adults in France (86%), Spain (84%) and Germany (77%) are more likely to say this, while British and Italian adults are somewhat less likely to agree with this sentiment (70% and 71% respectively).

Modest majorities in Germany (56%) and in Britain (56%) and a larger majority in Italy (68%) favor the teaching of religion in public schools. However, many people in the United States (59%) and France (72%) are opposed to this, as are half (49%) of adults in Spain.

Humphrey Taylor, Chairman of The Harris Poll^®, Harris Interactive, states, "Given that the Queen is Head of the Church of England, and that Italy and Spain are usually thought of as Catholic countries, this is a remarkable finding."

French and U.S. adults show a large difference in their attitudes toward the wearing of religious symbols and veils while in school.

While just one in 10 French adults believe children should be allowed to wear religious signs or articles of clothing at school, more than three-quarters (77%) of Americans believe that this should be allowed.

Among other European adults, Italians (61%) are significantly more likely than British (48%), German (40%) or Spanish (44%) adults to agree that children should be allowed to wear religious signs or articles of clothing.

Slightly more than two in five (43%) of all respondents indicated they were aware that the Dutch government has plans to draw up legislation that will ban the public wearing of all Islamic veils such as burqas, which cover the body and face. British, French and Italians are most likely to believe that the Dutch government should have the right to ban all Islamic veils which cover the body and face in all public places (39%, 39% and 35% respectively). In contrast, Americans are most likely to state that Islamic women should have the right to wear the Islamic veils if they wish to do so (59%).

More than half (58%) of Italians believe that governments should legislate against forms of religious blasphemy, such as depriving something of its sacred character (for example, burning a bible or the Koran). This view was less prevalent in Spain (46%), France (42%), Germany (41%), Great Britain (37%), and the U.S. (31%)

Other notable findings from the survey include:

Only 35 percent or fewer adults in all five European countries think the European Union (EU) is predominantly a "Christian club," while majorities or pluralities in all of the countries surveyed think it is not. Italians are significantly more likely than all other Europeans surveyed to feel that religion is no barrier to entry to the EU (62%).

Minorities across six countries favor making non-Christian holy days public holidays. However, Germans are most likely to believe that no other religions’ holy days besides Christian holy days should be officially recognized as public holidays (63%).

Half (50%) of all adults in Pope Benedict’s home country of Germany think that he has been successful in promoting a dialogue with other religions. However, in most of the other countries, adults are not as confident in the Pope’s success. A majority in both France and Spain think the Pope has not been successful in promoting a dialogue (58% & 57% respectively) while British (44%) and U.S. (41%) adults say they are not sure. In Italy, attitudes are more mixed – three in 10 (29%) say Pope Benedict has been successful, while 43 percent say he hasn’t and 28 percent are unsure.

Only small minorities in all six countries would object to their children marrying outside their religion. One in five (21%) Italian adults would object to their child marrying someone of a different faith. The Spanish and French are the least likely of the nations surveyed to object (each 7%).

TABLE 1

BELIEF IN GOD OR SUPREME BEING

Q3005_1 "Thinking now about religion, would you say that you are a…?"

Base: All adults in six countries

	Great Britain	France	Italy	Spain	Germany	United States
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Believer in any form of God or any type of supreme being	35	27	62	48	41	73
Agnostic (one who is sceptical about the existence of God but not an atheist)	35	32	20	30	25	14
Atheist (one who denies the existence of God)	17	32	7	11	20	4
Would prefer not to say	6	6	8	8	10	6
Not sure	7	4	3	3	4	3