Russians consider that the rite of baptism is important to become familiar with the Orthodox Christianity. Almost every Orthodox adherent went through it.
MOSCOW, August 14, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey describing how many Russians consider themselves Orthodox, and what attitudes Russians have towards baptismal ceremony.
Orthodoxy is the most popular religion among Russians: 63% adhere to it (mostly persons aged 35-44 (65%), 45-59 (65%) and those aged over 60 (74%)). Young respondents aged 18-24 are less likely to consider themselves as Orthodox adherents (23%); however in the group of the 25-34-year-olds this share is three times as high (62%).
An overwhelming majority of Orthodox adherents went through the baptism ceremony (86%); 66% of them were baptized because of their parents’ decision, whereas 20% made their own choice. In the former case, the baptism ceremony took place in the childhood (average age - 4 y.o.; but many Russians have their babies baptized at the age of 1). In the latter case the decision to get baptized comes later, at a mature age (average age - 31; most commonly at the age of 30).
Those Russians who made their own decision to get baptized are mainly driven by their desire to become a Christian, the importance of this tradition as well as the state of mind (20%). Fifteen percent of them aimed to establish their faith in God; 14% followed the example of their baptized relatives and environment; 12% were baptized together with their children.
At the same time, 12% of respondents who belong to Orthodox Christianity did not go through the baptismal ceremony. However, 19% of them would like to get baptized, mainly for the purpose of serving God or establishing their faith (19%), or because it is common (12%). Nevertheless the majority in this group is not going to get baptized in the future (68%); they cite lack of faith (29%), lack of interest or desire (20%), or lack of sense (14%) as reasons.
Generally, Russians consider that the baptismal ceremony is important (75%); this stance is shared by female respondents (79%) and those aged 60 and over (82%). They are opposed by 8% of respondents, basically persons aged 18-24(19%) and 25-34 (13%).
Childhood is considered as an appropriate age to be baptized (60%). This opinion is shared by women (64%), 45-59-year-old Russians (63%) and persons aged 60 and over (69%). However one-third of respondents are confident that the baptism decision should be made in adulthood (34%). Those who think so are mainly men (39%), respondents aged 18-24 (59%), 25-34 (38%) and 35-44 (37%).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 26, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
What religion do you adhere to? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Orthodox Christianity | 63 | 23 | 62 | 65 | 65 | 74 |
Islamic religion | 5 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 1 |
Catholic Christianity | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Protestantism (Evangelical Christian Baptist, Pentecostalism, Adventism, Lutheran Church, etc.) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Judaism* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Buddhism | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
I am a believer but I do not adhere to any religion | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Non-believer | 15 | 37 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 14 |
I am fluctuating between belief and non-belief | 6 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
Don't know | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Let us talk about baptismal ceremony. Did you go through the Orthodox baptism (are you baptized)? If yes, whose choice it was to baptize you – your own or your parents/relatives’ choice? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who consider themselves Orthodox adherent) | |
I did not go through the baptismal ceremony in the Orthodox Church | 12 |
I went through the baptismal ceremony in the Orthodox Church; it was my decision | 20 |
I went through the baptismal ceremony in the Orthodox Church; it was the decision of my relatives/ parents | 66 |
Other | 1 |
Don't know | 0 |
Refusal to answer | 1 |
How old were you when you were baptized? (open-ended question, one answer, average and modal age (84%)) | ||
Average age | 31 | 4 |
Modal age | 30 | 1 |
Why did you decide to get baptized? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who got baptized according to their own decision) | |
I wanted to get closer to church / I realized that I really needed it / state of mind | 20 |
I believe in God / I am Orthodox | 15 |
Relatives are christened / family of believers / environment of believers | 14 |
Together with children / I baptized children / birth of children | 12 |
Everyone is christened / everyone is Orthodox / orthodox country | 7 |
I just wanted it / my desire | 6 |
Hard life / hardships | 5 |
Interest in Orthodoxy / I was reading and thinking a lot | 4 |
Life circumstances / external factors | 3 |
Help in life | 3 |
I was asked to be a godfather | 3 |
Disease / not to get ill | 2 |
I was not christened in my childhood / I could not do it before | 2 |
Wedding ceremony | 2 |
Disease of children / relatives | 1 |
Church arose | 1 |
It is so close to me | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don't know | 13 |
Refusal to answer | 0 |
Would you like/have you ever wanted to go through the baptismal ceremony? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who shows adherence to Orthodoxy but did not go through baptismal ceremony) | |
Yes, I would like | 19 |
No , I would not | 68 |
Don't know | 13 |
Why do you want to go through the baptismal ceremony? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who shows adherence to Orthodoxy but did not go through baptismal ceremony and wants to go through it) | |
I believe in God / to be closer to God | 19 |
It is common / everyone is christened | 12 |
I need it | 9 |
Not to get ill | 9 |
Age | 8 |
Poor life experience | 7 |
I want it / just for myself | 6 |
I like it/I appreciate Christianity | 6 |
Sense of protection / just in case | 6 |
There is something above, something mighty | 4 |
Other | 4 |
Don't know | 18 |
Why do you refuse to get baptized? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who shows adherence to Orthodoxy but did not go through baptismal ceremony and does not want to go through it) | |
I don’t believe in God / atheist | 29 |
No interest / I don’t need it / I don’t want it | 20 |
No sense / no point | 14 |
Other religion / it goes against my vision | 6 |
I do not want to adhere to any religion | 6 |
I do not think that church and religion are connected / it is not obligatory to get baptized if you believe in God | 6 |
Religion is opiate for the masses / church is business | 5 |
I don’t like rituals / church | 4 |
Why to pay for baptism | 3 |
Age | 2 |
I am not Russian | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don't know | 11 |
Refusal to answer | 2 |
In your opinion, should an Orthodox Christian get baptized? (closed-ended question, one answer, % ) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Rather yes | 75 | 62 | 69 | 74 | 76 | 82 |
Rather not | 8 | 19 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
Don't know | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 13 |
Refusal to answer | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Some people think that parents should baptize their children in the Orthodox church in the childhood. Others say that parents should not baptize their children letting children make their choice in the adulthood. Which opinion do you agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % ) | ||||||
| Total | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Parents should baptize their children when they are still young | 60 | 36 | 53 | 58 | 63 | 69 |
It is better to let children make their choice in the adulthood | 34 | 59 | 38 | 37 | 32 | 25 |
Don't know | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Refusal to answer | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.