Of those asked if there was life after death, in a survey published in June 2017, only 23% were sure there was. A further 19% said it was quite likely, while 33% said there was probably or definitely no life after death. A further 25% had no opinion on the subject.
© Andy Heyward | Dreamstime.com
The Numero survey, conducted by the canton of Vaud’s statistical office, points out the canton’s relatively low rate of religiosity. In Vaud only 32% of the population, considers themselves to be religious, significantly lower the Swiss average of 40% – based on a survey in 2014.
In the canton, the actively religious are more likely to be older women. 24% of women pray most days compared to only 11% of men, and 37% of those over 65 do compared to only 12% of those aged 15 to 34.
In the same survey, of those asked whether the evolution of species was the most rational explanation of where humans came from, 10% said it definitely wasn’t. Another 8% said it probably wasn’t.
The rise of Pastafarianism in Vaud might have been a response to this. Pastafarianism, or the Church of the flying spaghetti monster, was created in the US in response to a call by some creationists, who reject the theory of evolution, to have the unscientific theory of so-called intelligent design included in the American school science syllabus.
Bobby Henderson, the religion’s founder, decided the best way to keep unscientific theory out of science would be to create a new unscientific theory and fight to have it taught in schools. This idea gave birth to the invisible flying spaghetti monster and its trusty band of pirates.
Eventually Pastafarianism made it to Vaud and was reported on last year in 24 Heures.
Pastafarianism was never a serious religion. It was satirical from the beginning. How could anyone take someone wearing a colander seriously?
Hoe word je een kerkgenootschap? Het @fsm_nl is het in ieder geval gelukt. Zometeen in @DeOchtend @NPORadio1 pic.twitter.com/jXgYrr4SB0
— Martijn Grimmius (@MartijnGrimmius) January 28, 2016
It does however make a very serious point: belief is not science.
And it’s a recognised religion in New Zealand and the Netherlands, with a global following “in the millions, if not thousands.”
More on this:
Numerus survey (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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