In the context of upgrading the social life of society and the political and legal field of the country, adopting important decisions (updating the Constitution, the upcoming single voting day), the intangible aspects of our life, traditions, values, cultural and moral pillars of society, are of particular importance.
Belarus is traditionally a multi-religious country. Religion in the life of society, despite the changes taking place in recent decades, continues playing a significant role, which is confirmed by sociological research.
The confessional structure of modern Belarusian society looks as follows (answers to the question "What faith / religious denomination do you consider yourself to be?"): Orthodoxy - 84.2% of respondents, Catholicism - 6%, Protestantism - 1%, Islam - 0.3%, Judaism - 0.3%, other denominations - 0.5%. Opinion poll "Ethno-confessional situation in the estimates of the Belarusian population" was held on demand of BISR by the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in March 2023. It was conducted by means of a questionnaire survey among the population of Belarus aged 18 years and older. The sample amounted 1,529 respondents, was representative by gender, age, level of education and region of residence.
As seen, more than 90% of respondents (even nonbelievers) identify themselves with one or another denomination. This is due to the fact that Christian ethical norms underlie the ideas of the majority of Belarusians about good and evil, right and wrong. Religious holidays are closely connected with family traditions and occupy an important place in the life of society. Evidence of their popularity is the so beloved by Belarusians Epiphany holidays with queues for Epiphany water and diving into an ice-hole in the holy water.
Based on study conducted, citizens expect religious organizations primarily to expand their social function aimed at spiritual and moral improvement of society, the expert stressed. The public service of the Church meets its purpose and the main goals of the social state: targeted assistance, working with addicts, preservation of historical and cultural legacies, etc. The joint implementation of socially significant projects will contribute to the social protection of vulnerable categories of citizens, smooth out existing differences and strengthen the moral guidelines of the Belarusian society.