Religion and Youth Support for the European Union*

Abstract

Religion is an important influence on adult attitudes toward European integration, as devout Catholics strongly support integration, while committed Protestants are less enthusiastic. Here we consider whether this relationship holds for reputedly secularized European youth. Using Eurobarometer 47.2OVR, we show that devout Catholic and Orthodox youth do in fact support the European Union, as do committed Protestants, and generically religious youths, but at lower levels. Atheists and agnostics are more critical of the EU. High levels of social capital and pro-immigration sentiments also predict euro-enthusiasm. We conclude by analysing the variation in youth attitudes across Member States.

Traditional, Modern, and Post-Secular Perspectives on Science and Religion in the United States

“…For example, while the Catholic Church has formally reconciled with scientific theories of the big bang (Pope Pius XII 1951;Ratzinger 1988), some Catholics may still favor young-earth interpretations of creation. Nonetheless, we expect that members of conservative Protestant traditions are more likely than others to tie their worldviews to religious explanations incompatible with mainstream science (Hoffman and Johnson 2005;Nelsen, Guth, and Fraser 2001;Scheufele et al 2009). We also anticipate that individuals unaffiliated with a faith tradition will be most likely to favor a scientific worldview and reject a religiously inclined one.…”

Religion and regionalism : congregants, culture and city-county consolidation in Louisville, Kentucky.

“…Catholic support for urban political machines in the U.S. and European Union integration in Europe, where Catholic support was significantly higher than among Protestants (Merton, 1972;Nelsen, Guth, and Fraser, 2001). …”

“…Leege (1992, 200) (Nelsen, Guth, and Fraser, 2001). As Weber suggested, it is religion that affects "other forms of social and political behavior" first-and then the culture itself may begin to reshape religion (Gill, 2004, 2).…”

Public perceptions of the EU as a system of governance

“…More significantly, Nelson, Guth, and Fraser (2001) have pursued religion as a determinant of support for the EU. While they find that Catholics are far stronger supporters of integration than Orthodox, Protestant, and ultimately the least supportive atheists and agnostics (see also Nelson and Guth 2003), their approach steers clear of the more provocative role of religion in the EU, namely the increasing Muslim population and conflict that has accompanied the more insular diasporas in the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Denmark (as recent examples), as well as the on-going debate over Turkey's admittance.…”