New Delhi, India - Faith in religion is increasing in India and the educated, urban people are more religious than those living in villages, says a Hindustan Times-CNN-IBN State of the Nation Survey conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
Four out of every ten Indians believe they are very religious, five think they are also religious but not to a great extent. Only one among ten Indians considers himself or herself to be non-religious.
The survey found that among people of various religious communities Hindus are the least religious and Sikhs are most religious. This is not surprising for minority communities tend to be more religious all over the world.
The survey found:
* 93 per cent believe in God; education makes no difference to this.
* 64 per cent visit a temple or mosque or gurudwara etc. regularly.
* 53 per cent of the Indians offer prayer daily; the more educated pray more regularly.
* 46 per cent, more villagers than believe in the existence of ghosts.
* 24 per cent consult a palmist at least occasionally.
* 68 per cent participate or get involved or take interest in religious functions of religions other than their own.
The rise of BJP has little to do with this belief in religion. The survey found that the party has little more than average support among those who are very religious, but so does the Congress.
Indian prayer
It is also interesting to note that, people living in small towns and cities are much more religious compared to those living in villages. One would expect women to be more religious compared to men, but what might surprise is, the urban women are more religious compared to the rural women.
Among Indians, the level of religiosity has also gone up considerably during the last five years. While 30 percent said they had become more religious during last five years, only 5 percent mentioned in negative.
While this has increased among people from all religious communities, but much more among the Muslims, the Sikhs compared to the Hindus. Among Hindus, more among upper castes admitted becoming more religious compared to people from other castes.
Among Adivasis, only 19 percent admitted becoming more religious during last five years. It is important to note that this change has happened more in urban areas compared to the villages since more people in towns and cities admitted becoming more religious during last five years.
People believe being very religious precisely because their engagement with religious activities seems to have increased over the years. Majority among Indians pray every day, more among those living in cities and town compared to those living in villages. The engagement with offering prayer daily is seen more among the upper castes Hindus compared to other castes.
Education builds faith
People generally associate the act of engagement with religious activities with those who are low on level of educational attainment. But the survey’s findings indicate, higher the level of education, more is the frequency of offering prayer.
How religious are people
All
Very Religious - 42%
Some what religious - 45%
Not religious at all - 9%
Rest: No Opinion
Hindus
Very Religious - 38%
Some what religious - 47%
Not religious at all - 9%
Muslims
Very Religious - 55%
Some what religious - 35%
Not religious at all - 5%
Sikhs
Very Religious - 56%
Some what religious - 39%
Not religious at all - 3%
Christians
Very Religious - 50%
Some what religious - 35%
Not religious at all - 11%
The level of people’s engagement with various public religious activities is also high. Majority participate in Katha, visit temple or mosque while only little less than that visit shrine and participate in public gathering of religious nature.
People's faith has increased in the last five years
Question: Do you think you have become more religious than before, less religious or there has been no change in the last five years?
Increased - 30
Decreased - 5
Rest mentioned no change
Hindus
Increased - 27
Decreased - 11
Muslims
Increased - 38
Decreased - 8
Sikhs
Increased - 33
Decreased - 9
Christians
Increased - 47
Decreased - 7
No wonder, such deep engagement with various religious activities have made all Indian, whether illiterate or educated, whether living in villages or cities equally theist.
Majority of Indians admitted observing fast, and only little less admitted going for pilgrimage during last one year. A sizeable number also read religious books and magazine quite regularly and nearly 10 percent also admitted being member of religious organisation.
Widespread acceptance of beliefs that challenge rationality
Sizeable proportions of Indian also believe in things like ghosts, re-birth, and the concept of heaven and hell. People have faith in numerology and sun sign and nearly 24 percent consult palmist either frequently or occasionally. Considering the total population of India, in absolute numbers these would constitute large numbers of people.
Those who believe in Ghost 46%
Sun sign 50%
Numerology 42%
Re birth 44%
Heaven and Hell 57%
Question: How often do you consult palmist?
Frequently 7%
Occasionally 17%
Rarely 23%
Never 53%
Whatever one may take about religious difference among people of different religions living in this country, but the findings of the survey indicate, there are sizable numbers among Indian cutting across religion, who, participate in religious festivals of religion other then their own.