The Republic does not recognize, pay for or subsidize any religion. Accordingly, from January 1, after the entry into force of this Law, all expenses related to religion must be removed from the budget of the state, departments and communes. However, budget expenditures may include the services of a priest and the free exercise of religion in public institutions such as schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages and prisons. State institutions of religion are abolished, subject to the provisions contained in Article 3.

Religious affiliation of the French

In principle, French law prohibits religious affiliation surveys. The priority remains the protection of freedom of religion in the context of a secular republican state. However, such an assessment can be carried out by the CSA Institute, as well as on the basis of data from religious associations.

Opinion polls

• Indifferent - 26%

Organization survey Harris Interactive and published in The Financial Times in December 2006 revealed that

Poll by the French Institute of Public Opinion ( IFOP) in 2007 for the newspaper La Vie

• Indifferent - 27%

Research by the French Statistical Institute ( INSEE) 2008 (newspaper publication Le Monde 2015):

• Do not identify themselves with any religion - 45%
• Others - 1%

According to a study carried out in 2012 by the company WIN-Gallup International global study, France is named one of the least religious countries in the world. According to the study, out of 1,671 respondents:

• 29% called themselves convinced atheists (4th place in the world, world average - 13%)
• 34% - non-religious people (vs. 23%)
• 37% - religious (adherents of any religion, vs. 59%)
• 1% - found it difficult to answer or refused to answer (vs. 5%)

Secularization

This decline in religious practice has continued since the 1960s. Young Catholics aged 18-24, however, have seen a smaller decline in religious practice.

However, the Roman Catholic Church remains predominant in France. She had a huge influence on French culture. Thus, most French holidays are religious. 90% of cathedrals are also Catholic. Most French people consider themselves Catholics, but a significant minority believes in God.

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An excerpt characterizing Religion in France

– The militia – they directly put on clean, white shirts to prepare for death. What heroism, Count!
Boris said this to Pierre, obviously in order to be heard by his Serene Highness. He knew that Kutuzov would pay attention to these words, and indeed His Serene Highness addressed him:
-What are you talking about the militia? - he said to Boris.
“They, your lordship, in preparation for tomorrow, for death, put on white shirts.”
- Ah!.. Wonderful, incomparable people! - said Kutuzov and, closing his eyes, shook his head. - Incomparable people! - he repeated with a sigh.
- Do you want to smell gunpowder? - he said to Pierre. - Yes, a pleasant smell. I have the honor to be an admirer of your wife, is she healthy? My rest stop is at your service. - And, as often happens with old people, Kutuzov began to look around absently, as if he had forgotten everything he needed to say or do.
Obviously, remembering what he was looking for, he lured Andrei Sergeich Kaisarov, the brother of his adjutant, to him.
- How, how, how are the poems, Marina, how are the poems, how? What he wrote about Gerakov: “You will be a teacher in the building... Tell me, tell me,” Kutuzov spoke, obviously about to laugh. Kaisarov read... Kutuzov, smiling, nodded his head to the beat of the poems.
When Pierre walked away from Kutuzov, Dolokhov moved towards him and took him by the hand.
“I’m very glad to meet you here, Count,” he told him loudly and without being embarrassed by the presence of strangers, with particular decisiveness and solemnity. “On the eve of the day on which God knows which of us is destined to survive, I am glad to have the opportunity to tell you that I regret the misunderstandings that existed between us, and I would like you not to have anything against me.” Please forgive me.
Pierre, smiling, looked at Dolokhov, not knowing what to say to him. Dolokhov, with tears welling up in his eyes, hugged and kissed Pierre.
Boris said something to his general, and Count Bennigsen turned to Pierre and offered to go with him along the line.
“This will be interesting for you,” he said.
“Yes, very interesting,” said Pierre.
Half an hour later, Kutuzov left for Tatarinova, and Bennigsen and his retinue, including Pierre, went along the line.

Bennigsen from Gorki descended along the high road to the bridge, which the officer from the mound pointed out to Pierre as the center of the position and on the bank of which lay rows of mown grass that smelled of hay. They drove across the bridge to the village of Borodino, from there they turned left and past a huge number of troops and cannons they drove out to a high mound on which the militia was digging. It was a redoubt that did not yet have a name, but later received the name Raevsky redoubt, or barrow battery.
Pierre did not pay much attention to this redoubt. He did not know that this place would be more memorable for him than all the places in the Borodino field. Then they drove through the ravine to Semenovsky, in which the soldiers were taking away the last logs of the huts and barns. Then, downhill and uphill, they drove forward through broken rye, knocked out like hail, along a road newly laid by artillery along the ridges of arable land to the flushes [a type of fortification. (Note by L.N. Tolstoy.) ], also still being dug at that time.
Bennigsen stopped at the flushes and began to look ahead at the Shevardinsky redoubt (which was ours only yesterday), on which several horsemen could be seen. The officers said that Napoleon or Murat was there. And everyone looked greedily at this bunch of horsemen. Pierre also looked there, trying to guess which of these barely visible people was Napoleon. Finally, the riders rode off the mound and disappeared.
Bennigsen turned to the general who approached him and began to explain the entire position of our troops. Pierre listened to Bennigsen's words, straining all his mental strength to understand the essence of the upcoming battle, but he felt with disappointment that his mental abilities were insufficient for this. He didn't understand anything. Bennigsen stopped talking, and noticing the figure of Pierre, who was listening, he suddenly said, turning to him:
– I think you’re not interested?
“Oh, on the contrary, it’s very interesting,” Pierre repeated, not entirely truthfully.
From the flush they drove even further to the left along a road winding through a dense, low birch forest. In the middle of it
forest, a brown hare with white legs jumped out onto the road in front of them and, frightened by the clatter of a large number of horses, he was so confused that he jumped along the road in front of them for a long time, arousing everyone’s attention and laughter, and only when several voices shouted at him, he rushed to the side and disappeared into the thicket. After driving about two miles through the forest, they came to a clearing where the troops of Tuchkov’s corps, which was supposed to protect the left flank, were stationed.
Here, on the extreme left flank, Bennigsen spoke a lot and passionately and made, as it seemed to Pierre, an important military order. There was a hill in front of Tuchkov’s troops. This hill was not occupied by troops. Bennigsen loudly criticized this mistake, saying that it was crazy to leave the height commanding the area unoccupied and place troops under it. Some generals expressed the same opinion. One in particular spoke with military fervor about the fact that they were put here for slaughter. Bennigsen ordered in his name to move the troops to the heights.
This order on the left flank made Pierre even more doubtful of his ability to understand military affairs. Listening to Bennigsen and the generals condemning the position of the troops under the mountain, Pierre fully understood them and shared their opinion; but precisely because of this, he could not understand how the one who placed them here under the mountain could make such an obvious and gross mistake.

Despite the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church in history, many religions have found a place in the country. Today there are communities professing Buddhism and Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, as well as other branches of Christianity - Orthodoxy and Protestantism. Despite the non-religiosity of French society, formally 2/3 of the French belong to the Catholic Church, which began to penetrate into the lands of the Gauls in the 2nd century, and became widespread after 481, when King Clovis accepted the faith.

France was sometimes called the daughter of the Vatican; it was Catholicism that played a major role in the formation and development of the country. It is important to note that in the XIV century. The residence of the Pope was located in the city of Avignon for a short time. Since 1905, religion has no meaning in the state of France - the country is a secular state and tolerant of all religions.

Today, most religious communities in France live peacefully, but historically this was far from the case. France is known for its religious wars. Most of them began after the Reformation process in Europe. The renewed Catholic Church, led by a conservative group with Prince Vassy of Guiseau, orchestrated the murder of the Huguenots in 1562, thus dividing the French people and starting the first religious wars, through which England, Germany and Spain helped both Catholics and Protestants.

During the most famous incident, called the night of St. Bartholomew, in 1572, thousands of Huguenots were killed. The religious wars culminated in the War of the Three Henrys, in which Henry III assassinated Henry, Prince of Guise, leader of the Spanish Catholic League, after which the king was killed in revenge. Henry IV, who then became king, signed the Decree of Nantes (1598).

St. Bartholomew's Night

Religious conflicts were restored during the reign of Louis XIII, when Cardinal Richelieu, whose biography is closely connected with religious conflicts, forced the Protestants to disarm the army and surrender their fortresses. The conflict ended with the murder of La Rochelle (1627-1628), during which the Protestants and their English supporters were defeated. The Peace of Aleos confirmed freedom of religion, but Protestants did not have the right to bear arms.

Additional Information! It was also a time of development of philosophy. R. Descartes sought answers to philosophical questions using logic and reason, and in 1641 he formulated the so-called theory of dualism.

Religious conflicts devastated not only France, but also the Holy Roman Empire. The Thirty Years' War destroyed the power of the Catholic Holy Roman Empire. Cardinal Richelieu, despite the fact that he fought with French Protestants, was on their side during this war; this, as he said, was required by national interests.

Habsburg troops invaded France, ravaged Champagne, and threatened Paris. At this time, in 1642, Richelieu died and was replaced by Julius Mazarin, and a year later Louis XIII died and Louis XIV became king.

In a century and a half, the time of the French Revolutions will begin in France, which will abolish both the power of the king and the Catholic Church, which after those events will never regain its former greatness.

Modernity (what religious movements predominate in France today, processes associated with the secularization of society)

Today, in the state of France, religion is not of significant importance. In addition to the Catholic Church, there are a number of other religions in the country. Next, let's look at a brief overview of the country's religious communities.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris

Approximately 750,000 people profess Orthodoxy. Despite the fact that Orthodoxy dates back to 1054, communities began to appear in France mainly only in the 19th century. These are mainly representatives of Eastern Christian churches (Greek, Armenian, Coptic, Russian). Believers are mainly concentrated in the capital Paris and on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Of the Eastern Catholic churches, there is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which has an entire diocese there and has about 20 thousand believers, their nationality is Ukrainians.

Approximately 500,000 believers belong to Judaism, represented by both autochthons (Ashkenazis) and new emigrants. It is known that the first Jews settled in France under Charlemagne in the 10th century.

Islam is professed by about 4 million people, although data vary, the percentage of believers in various sources ranges from 2 to 8% of the country's population. These are mainly new emigrants. But there are also traditional communities that settled in France in the Middle Ages.

Interesting. Somewhere around 400,000 people belong to Buddhism. This is a fairly new trend; the first settlers began to appear only in the 1960s. However, many French people are interested in this new philosophical movement.

There are about 150,000 adherents of Hinduism. Also, these communities, non-traditional for France, began to move in the 1950s.

Protestantism is practiced by about 1.2 million believers. Their composition is different, they are mainly represented by Lutheran, Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal churches.

Additional Information! The history of Protestantism in France is very tragic, as evidenced by St. Bartholomew's Night and other conflicts.

At different times, there were other Christian movements that were not recognized by the official Roman Catholic Church. These are the Cathars, Waldenses and other Christian movements, whose teachings differed from the main Christian churches. For example, some denied the existence of the Holy Spirit, i.e. Holy Trinity and so on.

The influence of religions and beliefs of the French on the development of science, culture and society

One of the main traces in the development of French science, culture, and art was left by the Roman Catholic Church. The first centers of knowledge in medieval Europe were monasteries. The first universities and the first copyists of books appeared there. Moreover, all art was in the service of the church. It was necessary to build majestic temples and decorate them. Faith demanded greatness and luxury.

Amiens Cathedral

In addition, the church claimed dominance over man and the state. It was believed that she had a special mission, to lead humanity to salvation. Therefore, she had the right to decide everything, to create norms by which society would live and develop. A person will be saved only when he lives according to the laws that she prescribed for him.

The Church knew everything, why the sun rises and sets, where life came from and what would happen to it in the future. And only with the end of the Middle Ages, church and science, theology and philosophy will disperse and begin an independent life. Therefore, it is impossible to imagine medieval France without a church. In addition to the fact that she left behind magnificent temples and works of art, she also left a code of moral standards, on the basis of which modern French society was formed.

Note! We should not forget that the Catholic Church also influenced the French language, which was formed from Latin (the official language of the church, science, medicine in the Middle Ages) and Gaulish.

What religion-related excursions can you take in France (detailed information)

If you want to visit France, you can go on a tour of religious places. This is first of all to visit the majestic temples. From the huge list we can offer several.

Avignon Cathedral or Notre-Dame de Dome. It was built in the 12th century. It is important in the history of the Catholic Church.

Interesting to know! It was there that the Holy See was located in 1309-1378, i.e. From there came the administration of the entire Catholic Church.

Amiens Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in France, its volume is 200,000 m3. The height of the spitz is 112.7 m. Its construction began in 1220. The spitz was built in 1528.

Ludwik Cathedral - the temple is located in the city of Versailles, it was built by the architect Jacques Hardouin-Mansart the Younger, the grandson of the architect of the Palace of Versailles.

Lyon Cathedral - included in the UNESCO register, founded in the 12th century.

Important! Tourists can visit it from 8 to 12, and from 14 to 19.30. And on weekends and holidays until 17.00.

Reims Cathedral, built in the 13th century. Most French monarchs were crowned there. It is included in the UNESCO register. The height of the temple is 81 m.

Basilica of Sacré Curve in Paris. From the outside, the basilica is 100 m long, 50 m wide, 83 m high; internal space: length 85 m, width 35 m, dome height 55 m and length 16 m; the height of the bell is 94 m. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1875, construction began in 1878. In 1900-1922. a great mosaic and stained glass windows were created in 1903 - 1920. Already in 1914, the cathedral was ready for consecration, but was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War, which is why the church was consecrated only in 1919. The temple is located in one of the most beautiful areas - Montmartre. By visiting this temple, you will also enjoy the splendor of Paris.

Note! When visiting this temple, it is important for tourists to know that photography is not allowed inside, only from the outside. Entrance to the basilica itself is free for tourists. But if you want to climb the tower, you will have to pay 5 euros. Therefore, you need to be prepared for this.

One of the most visited religious sites in France is Lourdes. According to legend, in 1858 the Mother of God appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. A sanctuary was founded on that site. More than 5 million pilgrims and tourists come every year. The place is considered holy, and people believe that miracles still happen there, and seriously ill people are healed. Therefore, you can see a large number of disabled people there.

Religion in France played a significant role in the formation of the state, language, and culture. Today it does not play an important role in the life of the French and is represented by numerous denominations. The traditional Catholic Church is losing the number of believers. However, important centers remain not only for the Church of France, but also for all Catholicism, such as the Louvre, where millions of pilgrims go every year.

By visiting France and studying the history of the country’s religion, we will not only enjoy the grandeur of the churches, but also see other places associated with the active practice of the Catholic faith and the preservation of its centuries-old traditions.

The church is separated from government and does not have the political influence that it had in the Middle Ages. The times of religious wars are a thing of the past. All religious propaganda is prohibited in French government institutions. Historically, the main religion in France is Catholicism. Along with this, one can highlight the ever-increasing proportion of Muslims among believers, increasing due to immigrants from the Maghreb countries. Despite the fact that modern French people are not very religious, the majority still observe religious traditions and customs. In modern France, 4 main faiths have become widespread: 84% of believers are Catholics, 4.5% are Muslims, 1.5% are Protestants, 1.3% are Jews. The dominant religion in France is Catholicism. Catholicism (Greek katholikos - universal) is one of the main, along with Protestantism and Orthodoxy, trends in Christianity. Catholicism has a number of features in its doctrine, cult and structure of religious organization, introduced by Western European feudalism. The Catholic Church is strictly centralized, has a single center in the Vatican State, a single head - the Pope, a strict church hierarchy and discipline. Catholics recognize (unlike Protestants) as the source of their doctrine not only the Holy Scripture, but also the Holy Tradition, which in Catholicism includes the decrees of the ecumenical councils of the Catholic Church and the judgments of the popes. The clergy in Catholicism takes a vow of celibacy. A feature of Catholicism is also the veneration of the Mother of God, the recognition of the dogmas of her immaculate conception and bodily ascension, the addition of the filioque to the creed, the dogma of purgatory. Catholicism is characterized by a magnificent cult, widespread veneration of relics, the cult of martyrs, saints and blessed ones. This was reflected in French medieval architecture. Thousands of Catholic cathedrals were erected throughout France, the most famous of which are Notre Dame Cathedral, Notre Dame de Chartres, Saint Maurice, and Reims Cathedral. Islam is the second largest religion in France. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Muslim population is about 4.5 million. Islam finally established itself in France in the 60s with the massive arrival of immigrant workers from the Maghreb, black Africa and Turkey, who were joined by families in the 70s. Half of them are now French. Among foreigners, the majority come from three Maghreb countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), then from Turkey, Senegal, Mali, Lebanon. Most believers practice their religion privately, without visiting mosques, but there are cathedral mosques in Lyon, Mantes-la-Jolie, and Evry. A minority of young people practice Islam more militantly than their parents, declaring themselves French or “European” citizens. In addition, thousands of French people have converted to Islam in recent years.

In France, the predominant religion is Catholicism. 84% of French people are Catholics, although this number also includes those who broke with religion but were baptized in the Catholic rite from birth.

About 2% of the French are Protestants, the rest of the believing population belongs to various sects.

The number of atheists is growing rapidly in France. Nowadays only 4 French people attend Sunday mass. This figure is average. The religiosity of the population varies in different social strata and regions of the country. The influence of the Catholic Church is still strong in Brittany, Vendee, in certain departments of the Massif Central, Alsace, Lorraine, Savoy, as well as in the Basque region.

In rural areas, the religiosity of the population is higher than in the city.

The French Church, considered “avant-garde” in the Catholic world, led the search for new religious, political and ideological concepts that would allow it to adapt to the modern era and keep working people in its sphere of influence. Criticizing capitalism and allegedly defending the vital interests of the working people, the French church calls for the reconciliation of classes, the subordination of the labor movement to the “common interest,” and the association of labor and capital.

The French clergy strives to demonstrate solidarity with the working masses. Nowadays bishops can be found among the striking workers.

When we think of France, the musketeers, Versailles, the Louvre, the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Sun King come to mind, eclipsing all earthly rulers with its brilliance. For many, France lies in its South Bank and Paris, and Paris itself has long been the most romantic city in the world, a city of lovers and artists.

Speaking about France, we remember five revolutions that destroyed the political system and changed the entire way of life of the French. But we think very little about which religion is dominant in this country.

Maybe because, as a result of revolutionary upheavals since the 17th century, the French believe in God less and less, and the number of atheists is steadily growing.

Catholicism in France

The majority of the French are Catholics, their number reaches 85%, but they also include those who have long broken off relations with religion and are considered Catholics only because their parents baptized them at birth.

On Sundays, churches in France are empty, only about 5% of believers attend Sunday services. In addition, you can meet a large number of tourists in the temples.

The number of truly believers and those who perform all church rites is much greater in rural areas in Brittany, Alsace, Lorraine and Savoy. In these provinces the influence of the Catholic Church is strong and the priests are highly respected. People turn to them for any advice: how to establish peace in the family, how to raise children, and even how to pay off debts.

Catholic priests, in order to increase their authority among workers, interfere in the affairs of trade unions and even participate in strike movements.

The Catholic Church of France is rightfully considered one of the most progressive and politicized in Europe; its apologists hold the broadest views on the relationship between politics, society, citizens and government.

For example, one of the archbishops of Paris, Jean Lustiger, was born in 1926 into a Jewish family and professed Judaism until the age of 14, but then received Catholic baptism, entered a theological seminary and achieved a high position in a new field.

Protestants in France

Long before the official Reformation in France, a professor at the University of Paris published his truly revolutionary views. In these articles, he argued that all people are created equal by God in his own image and likeness, and only he can give us the rights and endow us with the righteousness necessary for every social person.

It was Lefebvre who first translated the Bible into French and managed to find the patrons who published this book. Catholic clergy were outraged by this sacrilege, because all religious books were published strictly in Latin and ancient Greek, and were incomprehensible to mere mortals.

At this time, persecution of Protestants began everywhere in France. Let us remember the notorious Night of St. Bartholomew, during which the Huguenots were brutally beaten, and those who survived preferred to take refuge in secluded corners of the country.

One of the theoreticians of the Reformed Church in France was John Calvin; this doctrine, after his name, became known as Calvinism .

Due to persecution, he had to leave for Geneva, and this city for many years became a refuge for followers of the Reformed Church, giving them shelter and food. It was in Geneva that the works of outstanding representatives of the Reformed Church John Knox, Farel and Calvin himself were published.

Under the influence of their ideas, many cities in both Switzerland and France began to abandon the pomp of Catholic rites and began to strive for pure truth and moderation.

Today, only 3-4% of believers in France are Protestants.

Muslims in France

Today, the youngest world religion, Islam, is confidently gaining momentum; it is the second largest in the number of believers in Europe. In France, approximately 6 million citizens profess Islam.

In the 50-60s of the twentieth century, a flow of refugees from North Africa, in particular from Algeria, rushed to France, at their expense the number of Muslims sharply increased. At this time, the country welcomed an influx of workers from abroad, as it was experiencing an economic crisis. Immigrants brought with them their traditions, customs, language and spiritual culture. In large industrial cities, areas populated by Muslim immigrants appeared.

Currently, many Muslims complain of discrimination based on religion, as well as harassment by authorities and police. Since 1980, teaching the basics of Islam has been prohibited in any French schools.

Persecution of Judaism

Since the time of the Greco-Roman Empire, Jews have inhabited the lands of France. But in the Middle Ages, persecution of the nation began, and many of them, engaged in usury and trade, were ruined and destroyed.

But already in 1790, after the French Revolution, Jews received full civil rights and for the first time were able to unite and form a union that would protect their interests.

In the twentieth century, when the immigrant movement intensified, a large number of practitioners of Judaism arrived in Europe from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Today in France there are up to 650 thousand Jews professing Judaism, this is the largest European community of Jews.

The situation of religion at the present stage

Today's France is proud of its revolutionary past. Since 1789, according to the “Declaration of the Rights of Man,” every citizen of the country has been granted freedom of conscience or religion.

In 1905, the church was officially separated from the state, and at this time any denominations in France exist only at their own expense, without receiving subsidies or subsidies from the state.

There are no official statistics on the number of believers and professing different religions in the country, but it is known that the number of atheists is growing every year.

Of course, in France, as in almost all European countries, people of different nationalities live and according to the Constitution, all of them are given equal rights and responsibilities. But the media often raises discussions about existing differences between Muslims and Catholics.

The French government has passed a law banning the wearing of religious symbols over clothing, so as not to advertise one's religion and not to offend the feelings of believers.