Religion axis: Secular vs Religious
This axis asks what role religion should have in laws, schools and public life. It is about the place of faith in public institutions, not whether you believe.
14 statements in the test score this axis. Agreeing with some moves you toward Secular, with others toward Religious.
What the Religion axis measures
The Religion axis covers questions such as prayer in schools, religious symbols in public buildings, public money for faith schools and whether laws should reflect a main religion. Your score runs from -100 (Secular) to +100 (Religious).
It is not a test of your own faith. A devout person can score Secular because they want the state neutral, and a non-believer can score Religious because they value religion's place in a nation's heritage and community life.
Sample statements
These are real statements from the test. Each one is keyed to this axis, in one direction or the other.
“Religion and government should be kept fully separate.”
“Religious organizations should pay the same taxes as other organizations.”
“Public schools should set aside time for prayer.”
“Religious values should play an important role in public life.”
What the Secular end means
People at this end want public institutions to stay neutral between beliefs. The state should treat believers of every faith, and people with no faith, the same way. Many argue that separation protects religion too, because it keeps the state from favoring or controlling any one church. French laïcité, which separates religion and the state in public life, is one well-known model.
They tend to want laws to be justified in terms everyone can share, such as rights, evidence and fairness, not religious teaching. They often prefer that schools teach about many religions rather than promote one.
- They tend to want the state to stay out of religious doctrine and religious groups to stay out of state business.
- Many prefer that classrooms describe the world's faiths without favoring any.
- They often favor one tax and legal rulebook for churches, charities and companies alike.
- Many are wary of faith leaders using their position to push political causes.
Who sits at the Secular end
- Emma Goldman-95
- Mikhail Bakunin-95
- Bertrand Russell-90
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk-85
- Jean-Paul Sartre-80
- Simone de Beauvoir-80
What the Religious end means
People at this end see religion as a source of shared values and a natural part of public life. They argue that faith has shaped a nation's laws, calendar, art and charity, and that pushing it out of public view leaves a gap. For many, a strong sense of right and wrong grows out of religious teaching.
They tend to want religion to be welcome in schools, ceremonies and debate, and to have fair room to act on its beliefs. They often say that freedom of religion means more than private worship, and that believers should not have to hide their faith in public.
- They often hold that moral values rooted in faith give a society its backbone.
- Many welcome prayer, religious symbols and ceremonies in schools and civic events.
- They tend to back state support for faith-based education and charities.
- Many want believers to have room to act on conscience in work and business.
Who sits at the Religious end
- Joseph de Maistre+95
- William Wilberforce+85
- William Jennings Bryan+80
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn+75
- Pat Buchanan+70
- Phyllis Schlafly+65
Scores near the middle
A score near zero often means you want a balance. You might accept religious holidays and heritage in public life while still wanting laws and schools to treat everyone equally. Or you might support faith groups doing community work while keeping the state out of doctrine.
Common mix-ups
Secular means atheist. No. Secular describes how the state should act, not what a person believes. Many religious people support a secular state because it protects their own freedom to worship.
Religious means wanting a theocracy. No. Most people at this end want religion to have a voice and a place, not to run the government. The far end of the axis is about a strong public role, and where you land depends on how strong a role you mean.
A high Religious score means you are a believer. Not always. Some non-believers want religion kept in public life for cultural or social reasons, and some believers prefer a neutral state.
How it relates to other axes
Morality: Morality is about social norms, such as family and personal choice. Religion is about faith in public institutions. They often travel together, but you can be religious and progressive, or secular and traditional.
Culture: Culture asks about national identity and immigration. Some people link a nation's religious heritage to its identity, so the two can rise together, but they are separate questions.
FAQ
Does a Secular score mean I think religion is bad?
No. It means you want the state to be neutral, so that no belief gets special treatment in law. Many Secular scorers are religious themselves.
Does a Religious score mean I want one faith forced on everyone?
No. It means you value a public role for religion, such as in schools, holidays and moral debate. How far that should go is up to each person.
Why does the test ask about religious exemptions from laws?
Because it shows where you sit between equal rules for everyone and extra room for conscience. Both sides are trying to protect fairness, in different ways.
What if my country has an official religion or a strict separation?
The test asks what you think should happen, not what your country does now. Answer from your own view of what is right.
Where do you sit on Religion?
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