Irreligion in Spain explained

Irreligion in Spain is a phenomenon that has existed since at least the 17th century.^[1] Secularism became relatively popular among rich people (although the majority of the lower classes were still very religious) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with anti-clericalism and progressive, republican, anarchist or socialist movements.^[2]

During the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1936) Spain became a secular state, placing limitations on the activity of the Catholic Church and expelling the church from education. During the Spanish Civil War irreligious people were repressed by the Francoist side, while religion was largely persecuted among the republicans.

During the Francoist Spain period (1939–1975) irreligion was not tolerated, following the national-catholic ideology of the regime; Spanish citizens had to be Catholic by law, though this changed after the Second Vatican Council. Irreligious people could not be public workers or express their thoughts openly.

After the Spanish democratic transition (1975–1982), restrictions on irreligion were lifted.^[3] In the last decades religious practice has fallen dramatically and irreligion has grown in popularity.^[4]

Demographics

According to a 2018 study by the Ferrer i Guàrdia Foundation, 27% of Spanish people are either atheist, agnostic or non-believers, with 49% of 18-24 year olds in one of those categories.^[5] A survey by Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas in October 2014 showed that 67.8 percent of Spanish people would today describe themselves as Catholic, although only 16.9 percent of Spanish people attend mass at least once a month. 10.8% define themselves as atheist and a further 16.7% as non-believers.^{[6] [7]} In 2008, several reports indicated that as much as 60% of the population of Madrid and its metropolitan area identified as non-religious. According to a 2009 study, the 46% of Spaniards aged 18–24 declare themselves atheist or agnostic.^[8] In 2019, a study carried out by the CIS found that 48.9% of Spaniards aged 18–24 declared themselves atheist or agnostic, therefore becoming a majority over those who declared themselves as religious.^[9]

In government

The close alliance of Francoist Spain and the Catholic Church is said to have had a considerable amount of influence on the decline of religion in Spain. The prevalence of the Church on the people and the subsequent end of the Spanish State caused the Spanish to detach themselves from Catholicism as political coercion was relaxed.^[10] In the 16 years after the transition from a dictatorship to democracy, there was a significant drop in levels of religious practice. According to Miguel and Stanek, there was a 14% decrease in religious practice in Spain in just those 16 years, decreasing at an annual rate of −2.1%.

In 1966 Francoist Spain passed a law that freed other religions from many of their earlier restrictions, although it also reaffirmed the privileges of the Catholic Church. In 1978 the new Constitution confirmed the right of Spaniards to religious freedom and began disestablishing Catholicism as the state religion and declaring that religious liberty for non-Catholics is a government-protected right.^[11]

The process of secularization was already clearly recognizable by the end of the eighteenth century. The depth, influence, and continuity of Spain's liberal and democratic traditions are particularly important in trying to understand the values connected with the ideals of tolerance and religious freedom. Seen in this light, it becomes clear why Spain in particular was one of the first countries in the world to introduce women's rights and why the divorce law of the Second Republic (1931–1936) was one of the most progressive ever passed. It is the foundation for today's law on same-sex marriage, which has led to conflict recently.^[7]

Although more than 19 out of every 20 Spaniards were baptized Catholics, the secularization process has become more intense both on an institutional level as well as in the everyday lives of the people. It is argued that in return for the subsidy that the Church receives, society receives the social, health, and educational services of tens of thousands of priests and nuns. Instead, a system was set up to allow citizens to delegate up to 10% of their pay check to the church so that it was no longer government funded.

In education

There exists an inverse relationship between the level of education and the social significance of religion. By 1980, a study was conducted that showed the more educated a person was, the more likely he or she was to be irreligious. This is attributed to the Church's new self-restraint in politics. The church began accepting the need for separation of religion and the state.

Organizations

Unión de Ateos y Librepensadores (UAL)

The UAL is a new organization based in Barcelona which promotes atheism and unites atheists within Spain.^[12] The first post on their website is dated 11 January 2008, but they do not have information about their founding. The goal of the group is to inform Spanish-speakers who want to know more about atheism and unite those who have already chosen the atheist lifestyle. Their website contains links to atheist books, groups, and articles. The group has scheduled meetings every Thursday. They host events monthly with atheist speakers and writers. Similar local groups also exist within each autonomous community of Spain.

Irreligious public figures

Agnostics

• José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero (1964 – ...), Prime Minister of Spain (2004–2011)^[13]
• Manuela Carmena (1944 – ...), former mayor of Madrid^[14]
• Javier Bardem (1969 – ...), actor^{[15] [16]}
• Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira (1952 – ...), vicepresident of the Catalan government (2006–2010) and leader of Republican Left of Catalonia (1996–2008).^[17]
• Cristina Cifuentes (1964 – ...), former President of the Community of Madrid^[18]
• Rafael Nadal (1986–), Professional tennis player^[19]
• Horacio Vázquez-Rial (1947–2012), writer and journalist^[20]
• Bernardo Bonezzi (1964–2012), film music composer^[21]

Atheists

• Alejandro Amenábar (1972 – ...), film director, screenwriter and composer^[22]
• Luis Buñuel (1900–1983), film director^[23]
• Pepe Rubianes (1947–2009); actor and theater director
• Antonia San Juan (1961 – ...), actress, director and screenwriter^[24]
• Pío Baroja (1872–1956), writer^[25]
• Javier Cercas (1962 – ...), writer^[26]
• Najat El Hachmi (1979 – ...), Moroccan – Spanish Catalan-language writer^[27]
• Pablo Picasso (1881–1973); painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright^[28]
• Pep Guardiola (1971 – ...), professional football manager and former player,^{[29] [30] [31]}
• Ignacio Escolar (1975 – ...), blogger and journalist. He currently leads the digital newspaper eldiario.es and he is also a political analyst in radio and television. He was founder and first director of the newspaper Público^[32]
• Pablo Iglesias Posse (1850–1925), founder of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and MP for Madrid (1910–1923)
• Ignacio Fernández Toxo (1952 – ...); labor and anti-francoist activist and leader of Comisiones Obreras, the biggest union in Spain^[33]
• Pedro Sánchez (1972 – ...), Prime Minister and leader of the PSOE, the largest political party in Spain^[34]
• Pablo Iglesias Turrión (1978 – ...), former leader of Podemos, the third biggest political party of the country^[35]
• Albert Rivera (1979 – ...), current leader of Citizens, the fourth biggest political party of the country^[36]
• Xosé Manuel Beiras (1936 – ...), Galician nationalist thinker and politician. Spokesperson of the BNG (1985–2002), leader of the opposition in the Parliament of Galicia (1997–2002) and spokesperson of Anova-IN (2012 – ...)^[37]
• Javier Nart (1947 – ...); journalist and member of the European Parliament for Citizens^[38]
• Fernando Alonso (1981–); two-times world champion between 2005 and 2006, driver of Aston Martin.
• Francesc Sunyer i Capdevila (1826–1898); radical republican, militant atheist, mayor of Barcelona (1869) and overseas minister (1873)^[39]
• Buenaventura Durruti (1896–1936), anarchist activist^[40]
• Francisco Ferrer Guardia (1859–1909), anarchist activist and founder of the Escuela Moderna^[41]
• Ricardo Mella (1861–1925); anarchist thinker, journalist and writer^[42]
• José Ortega y Gasset (1883–1955), liberal philosopher, and essayist^[43]
• George Santayana (1863–1952), Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist^[44]
• Gustavo Bueno (1924–2016), materialist philosopher^[45]
• Fernando Savater (1947 – ...), philosopher^[46]
• Juan Pinilla (1981 – ...), flamenco singer
• Miss Shangay Lily (1963–2016); drag queen, writer, filmmaker and gay activist^[47]

See also

• Religion in Spain

External links

• Ateus de Catalunya
• L'Associació Valenciana d'Ateus i Lliurepensadors (AVALL)
• Ateos de Madrid
• Ateos de Albacete
• Asociación de Ateos y Librepensadores de Andalucía
• Ateneu Eclèctic I Liberal D'ateus I Agnóstics

Notes and References

1. Andreu Navarra Ordoño. El ateísmo. La aventura de pensar libremente en España. Editorial Cátedra, Madrid, 2016.
2. Alfonso Pérez-Agote. Sociología histórica del nacional-catolicismo español. Universidad Complutense de Madrid,
3. http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2013/12/04/actualidad/1386184107_688211.html España aconfesional y católica.
4. http://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/Espana-dejado-catolica-practicante_0_249875385.html España ha dejado de ser católica practicante.
5. Web site: Losing their religion? New report shows Spaniards are turning their backs on faith. El Pais English. 15 April 2019. 11 May 2020.
6. Web site: Barómetro octubre 2014. Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (Centre for Sociological Research). October 2014. 27. 8 November 2014.
7. Web site: Costa. Xavier. Spain between tradition and the modern. eurotopics. 21 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130720025201/http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/magazin/gesellschaft-verteilerseite/religion/religion_spanien. 20 July 2013. dead.
8. http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/ecg/jovenes-espanoles-declaran-abiertamente-ateos-agnosticos/idEdicion-2009-07-29/idNoticia-453019/ Los jóvenes españoles se declaran abiertamente ateos o agnósticos.
9. Web site: 2019-04-20. 5 gráficos sobre la religiosidad en los jóvenes españoles. 2021-02-07. Verne. es.
10. Web site: Requena, Stanek. Miguel, Mikolaj. International Sociology. International Sociological Association. Sage Publications. 21 October 2013.
11. Web site: Scofield. James. Spain: Religion. Library of Congress Country Studies. 21 October 2013.
12. Web site: admin. Unión de ateos y librepensadores. 21 October 2013.
13. http://elpais.com/diario/2008/06/29/domingo/1214711554_850215.html El diccionario de Zapatero.
14. http://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2015-09-02/manuela-carmena-soy-agnostica-pero-me-gusta-mucho-el-papa-1276556153/ Manuela Carmena: "Soy agnóstica pero me gusta mucho el Papa".
15. News: Javier Bardem: 'People watch me. I feel absurd' – Profiles – People . The Independent . 16 January 2011 . 25 December 2012.
16. Web site: Religious Backgrounds of Latino & Latina Hollywood Celebrities. www.latina.com. 13 June 2016.
17. http://www.elmundo.es/suplementos/magazine/2006/331/1138375968.html Esta semana: Carod-Rovira.
18. Cifuentes pide al PP que mantenga los derechos de los homosexuales.
19. Web site: Jon Wertheim: Nadal talks history, Wimbledon, spirituality . . 2010-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208104402/https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/07/16/nadal-interview . 2023-02-08 . live . Wertheim . Jon.
20. http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2012/09/06/actualidad/1346937986_822304.html Fallece el escritor argentino Horacio Vázquez-Rial.
21. http://www.farodevigo.es/sociedad-cultura/2012/03/15/agnostico-ciencia-agarrarse/632570.html "Para un agnóstico la ciencia es algo a lo que agarrarse"
22. http://www.fotogramas.es/Noticias-cine/Alejandro-Amenabar-Fui-catolico-despues-agnostico-y-ahora-soy-ateo ALEJANDRO AMENÁBAR: "FUI CATÓLICO, DESPUÉS AGNÓSTICO Y AHORA SOY ATEO".
23. http://www.elcultural.com/revista/especial/Ateo-por-la-gracia-de-Dios/18088 Ateo por la gracia de Dios: Buñuel y la religión.
24. http://www.ambienteg.com/cine/antonia-a-san-juan-las-religiones-son-el-autentico-cancer-de-todas-las-culturas/ Antonia San Juan: "Las religiones son el auténtico cáncer de todas las culturas".
25. http://elcultural.com/blogs/entre-clasicos/2015/08/pio-baroja-el-hombre-malo-de-itzea/ Pío Baroja, "el hombre malo de Itzea".
26. http://www.ieturolenses.org/revista_turia/index.php/actualidad_turia/cat/conversaciones/post/javier-cercas-quien-no-asuma-riesgos-que-no-sea-escritor/ Javier Cercas: "Quien no asuma riesgos, que no sea escritor".
27. http://www.elcritic.cat/entrevistes/najat-el-hachmi-tothom-esta-sorpres-que-jo-escrigui-sobre-sexe-per-que-perque-soc-marroquina-3627 Najat El Hachmi: "Em sembla molt negatiu que per mostrar dubtes sobre el procés sobiranista siguis llençat a la foguera".
28. https://encolombia.com/educacion-cultura/arte-cultura/notasdecienciayarte/picasso-bajo-la-lupa-del-psicoanalisis/ Picasso bajo la lupa del Psicoanálisis.
29. Web site: Vídeo | Pep Guardiola: "Cataluña es mi país y Dios no existe" - EcoDiario.es . 2 September 2011 .
30. Web site: Entrevista a Pep Guardiola . .
31. name="profilearticle">News: Feldenkirchen . Markus . Juan Moreno . 14 June 2013 . The Pep Challenge: A Superstar Football Coach Comes to Munich . Der Spiegel . 15 June 2013 . He doesn't believe in the existence of God, except in the form of Messi and Maradona . 18 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130618085239/http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/how-pep-guardiola-came-to-bayern-munich-a-905688-2.html . live.
32. http://www.escolar.net/MT/archives/2011/04/carta-de-un-ateo-a-zapatero.html Carta de un ateo a Zapatero.
33. http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/826704/0/fernandez/toxo/angel-luna-gonzalez/ Ignacio Fernández Toxo, el hombre que durante 4 años fue Ángel Luna González.
34. http://www.elplural.com/2014/09/25/pedro-sanchez-primer-aspirante-a-la-moncloa-que-se-declara-abiertamente-ateo Pedro Sánchez, primer aspirante a La Moncloa que se declara abiertamente "ateo".
35. http://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2014/06/01/53899911268e3e4c468b456c.html El monaguillo Pablo Iglesias.
36. http://www.lavanguardia.com/television/programas/20150701/54433643354/albert-rivera-pp-psoe-toxicos.html Albert Rivera: "El PP y el PSOE son partidos tóxicos".
37. Web site: Xosé Manuel Beiras: "Continuamos a estar sometidos ao colonialismo lingüístico" . 25 August 2016 . 28 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160828092436/http://www.galiciahoxe.com/mare/gh/xose-manuel-beiras-continuamos-estar-sometidos-ao-colonialismo-linguistico/idEdicion-2008-06-02/idNoticia-308019/ . dead .
38. http://www.abc.es/elecciones/elecciones-generales/abci-javier-nart-puede-rojo-y-ateo-ciudadanos-y-no-ocultado-201606170118_noticia.html Javier Nart: «Se puede ser rojo y ateo en Ciudadanos; yo lo soy y no lo he ocultado».
39. Andreu Navarra Ordoño. El ateísmo. La aventura de pensar libremente en España. Editorial Cátedra, Madrid, 2016. Pages 53 and 54.
40. Abel Paz: Durruti en la revolución española. 1978
41. http://www.federacionlibertaria.org/BAEL/Archivo/Tesis,%20monografias/Francisco%20Ferrer%20Guardia%20y%20la%20Pedagog%C3%ADa%20Libertaria%20-%20%C3%81NGEL%20CAPPELLETTI.pdf FRANCISCO FERRER GUARDIA Y LA PEDAGOGÍA LIBERTARIA.
42. Andreu Navarra Ordoño. El ateísmo. La aventura de pensar libremente en España. Editorial Cátedra, Madrid, 2016. Page 97.
43. http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/ocio-y-cultura/legado-invisible-ortega-gasset-3284353 El legado invisible de Ortega y Gasset.
44. http://elpais.com/diario/2008/05/14/paisvasco/1210794004_850215.html La Biblia del ateo.
45. Gustavo Bueno: Cuestiones cuodlibetales sobre Dios y la religión. Madrid: Mondadori, 1989.
46. http://www.ateoyagnostico.com/2011/05/18/crtica-a-las-religiones-fernando-savater/ Crítica a las religiones – Fernando Savater.
47. http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/gente/muere-shangay-lily-escritor-activista-5046660 Muere el escritor y activista Shangay Lily Muere el escritor y activista Shangay Lily.