Irreligion in Italy

Irreligion in Italy includes all citizens of Italy that are atheist, agnostic, or otherwise irreligious. Approximately 12% of Italians are irreligious, and no affiliation is the second most common religious demographic in Italy after Christianity. Freedom of religion in Italy was guaranteed by the Constitution of Italy following its enactment in 1948. Until then, the Catholic Church was the official state church of Italy.

Religion in Italy according to the Global Religious Landscape survey by the Pew Forum, 2012[1]

  Christianity (83.3%)
  No religion (12.4%)
  Islam (3.7%)
  Buddhism (0.2%)
  Hinduism (0.1%)
  Other religions (0.3%)

History

The earliest recorded accounts of atheism in Italy was in the 1550s.[2] 15th century Italy was prominently written about as a breeding ground for Atheism.[3] During the Italian Renaissance, Italy became a major hub of early secular philosophy.

In a letter to John Calvin, Italian theologian Lelio Sozzini wrote:

"Most of my friends are so well educated they can scarcely believe God exists."[4]

Roger Ascham in 1551 wrote about his experience in Italy:

"a man may freelie discourse against what he will, against whom he lust: against any Prince, agaynst any gouernement, yea against God him selfe, and his whole Religion" [5]

Gui Patin in the 17th century described Italy in reference to religion as the land of:

"Pox, poisoning, and atheism"[4]

Lucilio Vanini represented an early voice in Italian secularism. Vanini became a Carmelite Friar in 1603. Vanini sought refuge secretly with the English ambassador to Venice in 1612. While in England, he publicly renounced Catholicism with the writing of two books about naturalistic philosophy. Vanini's idea of naturalistic philosophy was that the world is eternal and governed by imminent laws. In this time, Vanini wrote two books: Aversus veteres philosophos in 1615, and De Admirandis Naturae Reginae Deaeque Mortalium Arcanis in 1616. The ideas in Vanini's books caused controversy in Italy with the Catholic Church and he was accused of atheism. For the accusation of atheism, he was condemned. In 1619, known under the pseudonym, Pompeo Uciglio, he was savagely executed in Toulouse.[6] The Venetian Holy Inquisition sought to challenge irreligion during this time.[7]

Other irreligious Italian philosophers such as Giuseppe Rensi were critical of religion later in the 20th century.[8]

Prominent Italian irreligious historical figures

Politicians

Artists

Scholars

All notable figures
  • Italy has had many notable figures that identify or have identified as atheist or irreligious.
  • For full list see main article: Italian atheists

Current Demographics

11.5–13% of the population in Italy are religiously unaffiliated.[14] The Global Religious Futures project predicts this number to grow to 16.3% by 2050, despite the unaffiliated group having slightly lower fertility rate than the religious ones.[15] Using a less direct definition, the WIN/GIA Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism survey found that 23% of the population was "not a religious person" in 2012, which grew to 26% by 2017.[16][17] About 96% of all Italians are baptized into the Catholic Church which impacts births, marriage, and funerals.[18] Importance of religion has declined among the younger generation of Italians in the 21st century.[18]

See also

References
  1. "The Global Religious Landscape". Pew Research Center. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  2. Spencer, Nick (8 May 2014). Atheists: The Origin of the Species. A&C Black. ISBN 9781472902986. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. Davidson, Nicholas. "Unbelief and Atheism in Italy, 1500–1700". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  4. Davidson, Nicholas (1992) [1992-09-03]. "Unbelief and Atheism in Italy, 1500–1700". In Hunter, Michael; Wootton, David (eds.). Atheism from the Reformation to the Enlightenment. pp. 55–86. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198227366.003.0003. ISBN 978-0-19-822736-6. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. Ascham, Roger. The Scholemaster.
  6. "The Galileo Project". galileo.rice.edu. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  7. Davidson, Nicholas (1992). "Unbelief and Atheism in Italy, 1500–1700". In Hunter, Michael; Wootton, David (eds.). Atheism from the Reformation to the Enlightenment. ISBN 0198227361.
  8. Coltri, Marzia A. (2020). "Atheism and Free Thought: Some Modern Italian Philosophical Contributions". Literature & Aesthetics. 30 (2): 159–177.
  9. Greenspan, Jesse (7 February 2019). "9 Things You May Not Know About Mussolini". HISTORY. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  10. "Archivio Corriere della Sera". archivio.corriere.it. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. "la Repubblica/politica: Politici e gente comune per l'addio a Nilde Iotti". www.repubblica.it. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. "Ecco come si svolgerà il funerale laico di Stato per Napolitano: per la prima volta nell'Aula della Camera". la Repubblica (in Italian). 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. "The Atheist Who Made the Doors of St. Peter's Basilica". NCR. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  14. 11.6 according to PEW 2016: "Spring 2016 Survey Data | Pew Research Center". www.pewglobal.org. pp. Questions Q109ITA and Q109ITAb. Retrieved 9 October 2017.; 11.7% according to the 2018 Eurobarometer survey: "Eurobarometer 90.4: Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity, Awareness and Perceptions of EU customs, and Perceptions of Antisemitism". European Commission. August 2019 – via GESIS.; 12.4% according to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project's 2010 estimate; and 13% according to the Oxford Handbook of Atheism: Bullivant, Stephen Sebastian; Ruse, Michael (November 2013). The Oxford Handbook of Atheism (First ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom. ISBN 9780199644650. OCLC 830367873.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. "Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050". Pew Research Center. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  16. "Religion prevails in the world" (PDF). 14 November 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  17. "GLOBAL INDEX OF RELIGIOSITY AND ATHEISM – 2012" (PDF). WIN-Gallup International. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  18. "Italian Culture - Religion". Cultural Atlas. Retrieved 28 October 2022.


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