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May 27, 2021

Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues

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Eastern and Western Europeans Differ on Importance of Religion, Views of Minorities, and Key Social Issues
Vast differences across Europe in public attitudes toward Muslims
Western Europeans more likely than Central and Eastern Europeans to say they would accept Jews, Muslims into their family
Fewer people in Western European countries see religion as a key component of national identity
Eastern Europeans are more likely to regard their culture as superior to others
Most Central and Eastern Europeans oppose same-sex marriage, while most Western Europeans favor it
Western Europe unified in support for legal abortion, Central and Eastern Europe more evenly divided
Young adults in Central and Eastern Europe largely oppose gay marriage
Even among young adults, relatively few in Central and Eastern Europe willing to accept Muslims in family
Europe’s Christians split among Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants
Large drops in Christian affiliation in Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden
Overall, Central and Eastern Europeans are more religious than Western Europeans
Belief in God more widespread in Central and Eastern Europe
Central and Eastern Europeans more likely than Western Europeans to believe in fate
Western Europe more united in support of church-state separation
Central and Eastern Europeans more likely than those in West to say birth, ancestry important to national identity
In Western Europe, young adults less likely than elders to link ancestry with national identity; not so in East
Majorities across Europe say national language, laws key to identity
Large drops in Christian affiliation in Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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