Church in the World

Christianity seen as 'a stand-by faith'

Netherlands

A major study of religion in the Netherlands has highlighted wide gaps in main Christian beliefs between Dutch Catholics and Protestants, writes William Jurgensen.

"God in the Netherlands", a study conducted every 10 years since 1966, also said religion is still declining. Regular church-going was down to 16 per cent of all Christians last year compared with 21 per cent in 1996. "We can speak of Christianity as a stand-by faith," the study said. It showed that Catholics, about one-third of the population compared to the Protestant one-fifth, are less firm in their beliefs than their Calvinist and Reformed cousins.

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