PDS Russia Religion News July 2009

...72.6% of those questioned called themselves Orthodox and only 7.3% considered themselves atheists. Adherence to other branches of Christianity, including Catholicism, is claimed by only 1.2% and to Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism, 6.3% of the participants in the investigation.

However, not everything is pleasing for RPTs if one looks at the answers to the underlying questions. It turns out that only 42% of the Orthodox unconditionally believe in God. The remainder either doubt his existence or acknowledge some higher power. Twelve percent of Orthodox children have not been baptized. Only 3% attend church every week or more often, while 55% attend several times a year, primarily on special holidays, and 12% never attend. The average length of time in prayer is 8 minutes, while the church prescribes that prayer may not last less than 20 minutes. "It is remarkable that, despite awareness of and approval of religious norms, such as fasting, prayer, and confession, people do not intend to observe them, while still considering themselves Orthodox," says Natalia Zorkaia of the Levada Center. Thus, 73% of Orthodox never fast and 77% of those questioned eat meat even on Good Friday, knowing its impermissibility.