Religion in Hverland
Religion in Hverland is characterized by a strong historical affiliation with Lutheranism, particularly the Lutheran Church of Hverland (Ríkiskirkjia). Despite being the state church with a membership comprising about 83% of the population, Hverland also exhibits strong secular tendencies. These seemingly contrasting elements create a unique religious landscape that includes other Christian denominations and faiths, as well as a considerable percentage of non-religious or atheist citizens.
Church of Hverland
The Lutheran Church of Hverland was officially established during the 16th century following the Protestant Reformation. This event led to the severing of ties with the Catholic Church and initiated an era of Lutheran theological thought and cultural influence. However, the church's role has not remained static over the centuries; it has evolved to adapt to social changes, most notably the rise of secularism.
Today, approximately 83% of Hverlanders identify as members of the State Church. Despite this high membership, a trend known as "menningarkristnar án trúar" (lit. "non-believing cultural Christians") has been observed, indicating that many view their religious identity more as a cultural heritage rather than an active faith.
Other religions
Apart from Lutheranism, Hverland has communities practicing Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, and indigenous faiths. There's also a growing trend of New Age spirituality, especially among younger generations.
Statistics
| Religion | 1962 | 1982 | 2002 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Christianity | 73,241 | 97.56% | 88,832 | 96.64% | 105,971 | 94.49% | 119,196 | 88.92% |
| └ Church of Hverland | 72,592 | 96.7% | 87,333 | 95.01% | 101,612 | 90.6% | 110,671 | 82.56% |
| └ Catholic Church | 403 | 0.54% | 720 | 0.78% | 1,493 | 1.33% | 3,375 | 2.52% |
| └ Eastern Orthodoxy | 37 | 0.05% | 189 | 0.21% | 567 | 0.51% | 1,827 | 1.36% |
| └ Free Church in Hverhöfn | – | – | – | – | 107 | 0.1% | 1,029 | 0.77% |
| └ Other Christians | 209 | 0.28% | 590 | 0.64% | 2,192 | 1.95% | 2,294 | 1.71% |
| Folk, pagan or heathenry | 590 | 0.79% | 547 | 0.6% | 501 | 0.45% | 410 | 0.31% |
| Judaism | 104 | 0.14% | 118 | 0.13% | 120 | 0.11% | 128 | 0.1% |
| Islam | – | – | 11 | 0.01% | 20 | 0.02% | 62 | 0.05% |
| Hinduism | 3 | 0% | 7 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.02% | 60 | 0.04% |
| Buddhism | 9 | 0.01% | 19 | 0.02% | 24 | 0.02% | 47 | 0.04% |
| Other | 297 | 0.4% | 433 | 0.47% | 502 | 0.45% | 625 | 0.47% |
| Unaffiliated | 826 | 1.1% | 1,957 | 2.13% | 4,993 | 4.45% | 13,524 | 10.09% |