Young India deeply religious: Survey

Religion plays a major role in the Indian lifestyle. No doubt, a recent international study has declared the same, "three out of four young adults in the country pray at least once a day."

Contrary to people's perception that 'Young Indians' are secular, independent and anti–spiritual, the study conducted by the German Bertselsmann Foundation, debunked these theories, asserting that young adults are much more religious than it is commonly assumed.

The perception that young people are less religious than their parents and grandparents is typically Western European and does not correspond to the reality worldwide, said the study.

The non–profit organisation surveyed over 20,000 individuals across 21 countries including India. Young adults in developing countries and Islamic states are no less religious than other adults, reveals the study.

"The assumption that religious belief is dwindling continuously from generation to generation is clearly refuted by our worldwide surveys even in many industrialized nations," says Dr. Martin Rieger, project leader of the Bertelsmann Foundations Religion Monito

Furthermore, four out of five young adults (85 per cent) worldwide are religious and almost half (44 per cent) are deeply spiritual and only 13 per cent have no faith or belief in God.

According to the survey, 80 per cent of all young Protestants outside of Europe are deeply religious and 18 per cent are religious, compared to just seven per cent of young Protestants in Europe who are deeply religious, and 25 per cent can only be classified as nominal members of their church.

In Morocco, around 99 per cent believe in God and life after death. In Brazil, Turkey and Nigeria this figure is 90 percent, and in Israel, Indonesia and Italy it is 80 percent.