What does Austria believe? New study reveals surprising insights!

What does Austria believe? New study reveals surprising insights!

In a current study by the University of Vienna, which is part of the ORF project "What does Austria believe?" is given important knowledge of the faith and ethical decisions of the people in Austria. The results of this representative study, which examine the effects of individualization and digitization on beliefs, are on January 7, 2025 in a documentary with the provocative title "Did God have had its day?" presented on ORF 2 at 9:05 p.m. In this program, which was created in cooperation with the ORF department "Religion and Ethics", it is discussed how faith and the associated values change in modern society. According to the pre -information of the ORF, the change in the religious landscape of Austria is progressing: members lose members, while alternative spiritual concepts are becoming more important. A disposition for faith and spirituality is particularly determined for the younger generations, even if the commitment in traditional religious groups decreases, as kathpress reported.

social relevance of the questions of faith

The project specifically asks the form and meaning of faith in the life of the Austrians. Discussions follow the 7th January that address the social consequences of the dwindling belief in God: does the departure of faith communities lead to a loss of ethical orientations or could society become more human and just as more plural? In connection with this, reference is also made to other formats that illuminate ethically relevant decisions under the title "The Crucial Question". Significant topics such as solidarity and responsibility in the context of individual life plans are addressed here, which is fueling the debate about the values in today's society.

The ORF department "Religion and Ethics" will accompany its multimedia content with further programs that also present the diversity of religious perspectives in Austria. In this way, special attention is paid to the effects of faith, the role of churches in society as well as current challenges that people face in their faith. This also includes a documentary about the processing of the recent history, which is brought into focus in the upcoming editions in order to draw a comprehensive picture of religious and ethical diversity in Austria, according to orf .