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[THREAD]
How religious really are Iranians?
![[THREAD]How religious really are Iranians?](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EchsJywX0AQ2VaY.png "[THREAD]How religious really are Iranians?")
![[THREAD]How religious really are Iranians?](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EchsPAWWsAUnNIx.png "[THREAD]How religious really are Iranians?")
How religious really are Iranians?
(A) Opinion Polls:
Generally, usually one of the best ways to understand a society is opinion polls. While not perfect, they are still much more reliable than our own personal experiences.
1) Pew Research Center in 2013: https://www.pewforum.org/2013/06/11/iranians-views-mixed-on-political-role-for-religious-figures/
Generally, usually one of the best ways to understand a society is opinion polls. While not perfect, they are still much more reliable than our own personal experiences.
1) Pew Research Center in 2013: https://www.pewforum.org/2013/06/11/iranians-views-mixed-on-political-role-for-religious-figures/
“The survey – conducted between Feb. 24 and May 3, 2012 – also found that an overwhelming majority of Iranians (83%) say they favor the use of sharia, or Islamic law.”
“Nearly two-thirds of Iranians (66%) say religious figures should have at least some influence in political matters, compared with three-in-ten who say they should have little (19%) or no influence (11%).”
2) World Values Survey in 2000 http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentationWV4.jsp
V9.- For each of the following, indicate how important it is in your life. Would you say it is: Religion
78.9% say it is “Very Important”, 14.9% is “Rather Important”, totaling 93.8%
V9.- For each of the following, indicate how important it is in your life. Would you say it is: Religion
78.9% say it is “Very Important”, 14.9% is “Rather Important”, totaling 93.8%
Females consider it more important in their life than men (81.6% vs 76.6%). Older people find it more important than young people, but not by a huge margin (76.7% of below 29 consider it Very Important, compared to 82.3% of over 60)
V22.- Here is a list of qualities that children can be encouraged to learn at home. Which, if any, do you consider to be especially important? Please choose up to five. Religious faith
70.9% Consider “religion” as a quality that children should be learn at home as Important.
70.9% Consider “religion” as a quality that children should be learn at home as Important.
V197.- Do you find that you get comfort and strength from religion?
87.3% as Yes
Other questions related to religion exist, but this gives a general idea.
87.3% as Yes
Other questions related to religion exist, but this gives a general idea.
3) World Values Survey in 2005 http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentationWV5.jsp
Similar questions, not much change.
V9 question has now 78.2% as very important, 16.1% as Rather important, totaling to 94.3%.
Similar questions, not much change.
V9 question has now 78.2% as very important, 16.1% as Rather important, totaling to 94.3%.
Gender difference is also almost the same, with female still viewing religion as more important than male (82.5% vs 73.7%). Age difference is also consistent.
Previous question V22 is now v19 and has similar results (71.4% consider Religion as an important quality that children should be encouraged to learn at home)
Previous question V197 doesn’t seem to be here, so instead found another example:
Previous question V197 doesn’t seem to be here, so instead found another example:
V192.- How important is God in your life? Please use this scale to indicate. 10 means “very important” and 1 means “not at all important.” (Code one number):
The mean is 9.43.
The mean is 9.43.
(B) Names
Names of people can give a bit of a clue regarding the sensibility of a society. Again, while not a definite indication, it gives us a general idea. And instead of looking at all names, we will look at names given to babies to see what is the current mindset.
Names of people can give a bit of a clue regarding the sensibility of a society. Again, while not a definite indication, it gives us a general idea. And instead of looking at all names, we will look at names given to babies to see what is the current mindset.
1) National Organization for Civil Registration from 1380 to 1393 – Top 50 names for boys and girls https://www.sabteahval.ir/default.aspx?tabid=1383
Top 50 names for Girls in 1393 https://www.sabteahval.ir/Upload/Modules/Contents/asset100/name/d1393.htm
Top 50 names for Girls in 1393 https://www.sabteahval.ir/Upload/Modules/Contents/asset100/name/d1393.htm
Total female births were 362,756. Number 1 is Fatemeh with 48903 girls (13%). Number two was Zahra, three was Nazanin Zahra. Those three names were 26% of total names.
Fatemeh and Zahra are the top two names in each of the years I looked at.
Fatemeh and Zahra are the top two names in each of the years I looked at.
Top names for boys in 1393 https://www.sabteahval.ir/Upload/Modules/Contents/asset100/name/p1393.htm
Top name is Amir Ali, second is Mohammad Taha, third is Mohammad. This three names is 18% of total. The first name on that list which I think wasn’t Islamic was “Mahan” at number 20. Meaning the top 19 were all Islamic.
Top name is Amir Ali, second is Mohammad Taha, third is Mohammad. This three names is 18% of total. The first name on that list which I think wasn’t Islamic was “Mahan” at number 20. Meaning the top 19 were all Islamic.
(C) Pilgrims to religious destinations
1) Hajj
Even without most restrictions on Iranians and discouragement from the government and issues with the Saud regime, pilgrims from Iran has never stopped. Iran’s quota is always filled, people have been on waiting list for
1) Hajj
Even without most restrictions on Iranians and discouragement from the government and issues with the Saud regime, pilgrims from Iran has never stopped. Iran’s quota is always filled, people have been on waiting list for
“On Sunday, Head of the organization Hamid Mohammadi said Iran has sought an increased quota for the 2018 Hajj, adding that if the Saudi side agrees with it, 90,000 Iranians will make the pilgrimage this year. https://www.yjc.ir/en/news/19903/registration-of-hajj-pilgrims-begins-in-iran
He said more than 1.3 million Iranians who preregistered some ten years ago for attending Hajj are in line for making the pilgrimage.
Referring to the negotiations held with Saudi Arabia on Iranians’ participation in this year’s Hajj, he said the Hajj quota for Iran is expected to be the same as the previous year’s unless the Saudi side agrees with a request for an increase of 5,000 pilgrims.
In that case, Mohammadi said, as many as 90,000 Iranians will take part in the 2018 Hajj.
In 2017, some 85,000 pilgrims from Iran travelled to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.”
In 2017, some 85,000 pilgrims from Iran travelled to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.”
2) Karbala
Iraq doesn’t have the same restrictions, so there are numbers of pilgrims on the rise per year.
According to the chart in this website, 50,000 pilgrims traveled in 1390, growing per year, until it reaches 2.3 million in 1396. https://fa.alalamtv.net/news/3141436/%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-90-%D8%AA%D8%A7-96--%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1
Iraq doesn’t have the same restrictions, so there are numbers of pilgrims on the rise per year.
According to the chart in this website, 50,000 pilgrims traveled in 1390, growing per year, until it reaches 2.3 million in 1396. https://fa.alalamtv.net/news/3141436/%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B9%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-90-%D8%AA%D8%A7-96--%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1
(D) Historical considerations
We can also consider how traditionally religion has always been intertwined within the Iranian culture. I’m not going to get too deep into this, but think about a few factors that pop into my head:
We can also consider how traditionally religion has always been intertwined within the Iranian culture. I’m not going to get too deep into this, but think about a few factors that pop into my head:
1) The Arts: There is a prevalence of religious art within Iran, such as the sufi poets and paintings
2) The Philosophers & Influences: The Islamic religion has a lot of historical scholars that were Iranians
2) The Philosophers & Influences: The Islamic religion has a lot of historical scholars that were Iranians
3) The Startup Religions: A decent number of religions seems to have their roots from Iran (Sufi, Bahai, Zorastarian, etc) and I could even argue that Islam might not be the Islam we know today without Salman Farsi.
4) Religion & Politics: Even before Islam, the religious priests/clerics had a huge influence on the Kings, and pre-Islam Kings would always mention Ahura Mazda
5) Respect for Religious Elders: Generally, it appears that religious elders would be a source of wisdom for the small villages, or a way to settle disputes.
Consider the above five points as an afterthought. I won’t consider them as a serious argument by itself unless they are fleshed out more. But I think it can be food for thought.
