Religiosity/Belief
Romanians make a difference between religiosity and belief: part of them think that they are not religious but faithful persons: 68% consider them to be a religious/faithful person – largely and very largely.
Women assess them as ‘heavily’ religious/faithful, and men and young men evaluate themselves as ‘less largely’ religious/faithful.
As regards the practice of fasting during this period, although 50% of persons interviewed mentioned that they used to fast, only 8% of the urban population aged between 16 and 60 were regularly keeping the entire fast (the entire 7-week period). The remaining persons use to keep only part of the fast or abstain from food only for a couple of days: 22% follow the fast only on Wednesday and Friday, , 7% during the first and last week, 10% during the days of the Holy, 2% abstain from eating meat but they consume diary products and eggs.
Beside the Easter Fast, another important fast for believers is represented by the Christmas Fast (65% of persons stating to have abstained from food according to one of the above versions of fast also followed the Christmas Fast). Other important fasts: The Mother of God Sleeping Fast and the Saints Apostles Fast.
Coming back to the East Fast, , 57% of the persons stating to have followed the respective fast were living in households where at least one family member also followed the fast.
The motivation of abstaining from food is mostly laicized: 57% of those observing this requirement on behalf of the Orthodox Church mention the benefit of a healthy eating. As a matter of fact this is the reason mentioned more often. The second reason in terms of frequency is represented by the need to be a good Christian, to observe the command of the Church or of the priest, therefore the necessity to conform oneself to a prescribed and external rule (52% mentions). The purely religious motivation, which refers to the internalization of the external prescription – spiritual fulfillment/accomplishment – has been mentioned by 25% of those following the fast. Other reasons mentioned were: so that my prayers should come true (13%), for the forgiveness of sins (9%), due to habit/tradition (5%), in order to perform an act of volition (3%).
Among rules Romanians know that a good Christian should observe during the fast, the following have been mentioned: to be a better person/more patient/more merciful towards others (61%), not to eat foodstuffs generated by animals (51%). Other rules that have recorded smaller percentages shall range as follows: to pray more than during other periods (16%), to go to church (12%), to give up sexual life (10%).
As regards the ritual of going to church, 25% of the persons following a fast have gone to the church every week, 37% at least once a week. Women aged between 45 and 60, who have retired, with low income per household (under 1400 RON) go to church at least once a week. As regards the television/radio broadcasts or books related to this field, the consumer rarely appeals to them. Young persons, persons with average education or persons residing in the county of Muntenia, Oltenia or Dobrogea are the least expected to listen/read/view broadcasts/books/magazines focused on religious themes.
The study “Attitudes and Perceptions Related to Healthy Eating” has been elaborated by EXACT Research and Consulting on a sample of 553 persons aged between 15 and 60 located in the urban environment, displaying a maximum error of +/- 4.2%. The standardized questionnaires have been applied via the telephone during the period 24th of March – 1st of April.