Religious apathy

Dependence on religious apathy
Indifference to religion

Nature

Lack of religious conviction or activity may be marked by a lack of church attendance or other observance of religious customs, but does not necessarily mean that people leave their nominal church; they may remain within it but simply not practice religion in any particular form. Religious apathy may also be taken to mean an unquestioning attitude towards religious doctrine.

Background

Religious apathy emerged as a recognized global concern in the late 20th century, as sociologists and religious leaders observed declining participation and interest in organized faith, particularly in industrialized nations. The phenomenon gained prominence through international surveys, such as the World Values Survey, which documented rising indifference toward religious practice and belief. Subsequent research highlighted its spread beyond Western societies, prompting renewed debate about the social and cultural implications of waning religious engagement worldwide.

Incidence

Lack of outward religious conviction but nominal adherence to a religion is widespread in Western industrialized countries. An unquestioning acceptance of religious doctrine is found particularly among poor people in developing countries.

Claim

Great numbers are drifting little by little into religious indifferentism, or are continuing in danger of keeping the faith without the dynamism that is necessary, a faith without effective influence on their actual lives. The question now is not one of merely preserving traditional religious customs, but rather one of also fostering an appropriate re-evangelization of men, obtaining their reconversion, and giving them a deeper and more mature education in the faith. Many baptized persons have withdrawn so far from their religion that they profess a form of indifferentism or something close to atheism. (Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, General Cathechetical Directory, 1971).

Counter-claim

Religious apathy is not an important problem at all. In fact, people choosing not to engage with religion is a personal decision that reflects freedom of thought and belief. Society faces far more pressing issues—such as poverty, inequality, and climate change—than whether individuals are passionate about religion. Worrying about religious apathy distracts from real challenges and unfairly pressures people to conform to beliefs they may not share.