The Netherlands now has more non-believers than believers. This is apparent from research by the Social Cultural Planning Office (SCP). This is the first time that the group of non-religious people has been mapped.
The proportion of unbelievers has been examined over the years with various surveys. The study distinguishes between atheists and agnostics: an atheist denies the existence of a god, while an agnostic thinks that man cannot know whether there is a god.
The percentages differ depending on the type of research and the exact question, the SCP writes, but according to the figures it is clear that about half of the Dutch population is now atheist or agnostic. “That’s about double since our first measurements in the mid-1960s and late 1970s.”
There are some fluctuations. The number of unbelievers rose mainly in the first half of the previous decade, before and after that it seemed to stabilize somewhat.
‘Possibly more misunderstanding’
Atheists and agnostics often indicate that they are not that interested in the meaning of life, the study shows Outside church and mosque† Instead of looking for the meaning of life, individual non-believers look for meaning in their own lives. “Developing yourself, taking care of others, experiencing intense experiences and knowing you are part of a greater whole are, for example, ways in which they give meaning to their lives”, according to the SCP.
Religion and religious communities are increasingly losing ground as influential social players, the research bureau concludes, which further reports that secularization has had positive consequences, for example on personal freedom and on how society is thought about sexual diversity.
At the same time, there may be more misunderstanding between believers (Christians, Muslims and others) and non-believers, the researchers warn. The SCP therefore advises policymakers to focus on mutual understanding and acceptance and to promote a society in which everyone can participate fully.
It is the first time that the group of non-denominational Dutch people has been examined. The study is part of a larger study. In two previous parts, the researchers focused on Muslims and Christians in the Netherlands.
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