Religion In Austria: Diffusion And Diversity

Austria has a long and intense tradition of Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, which is the predominant religion. However, the country also guarantees freedom of religion as a constitutional right, with all types of religions protected by law. As a result of historical events and immigration, Austria has seen a significant change in its religious composition, with a decline in Catholicism and a proliferation of other religions, such as Islam and Judaism.

Religious freedom in Austria

Austria has a long history of religious diversity, and religious freedom is a fundamental right guaranteed by the country's constitution. The country's legal framework ensures that individuals are free to choose and practise their religion without discrimination. This freedom extends to both recognised and unregistered churches and religious communities, which are all protected under the law.

The roots of religious freedom in Austria can be traced back to the Patents of Tolerance issued in 1781-82, which allowed limited freedom of worship for confessions other than Catholicism. This was further strengthened by Article 14 of the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867, guaranteeing freedom of conscience and creed. Over time, additional laws and treaties, such as the Law regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868 and the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, have reinforced religious freedom in the country.

Austria has also taken a leading role in promoting religious freedom and protecting religious minorities on a global scale. At the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), Austria has prioritised these issues and initiated important discussions and frameworks. For instance, the country advocated for the protection of religious minorities at the UN Human Rights Council and drafted the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Within Austria, the government actively engages with religious groups to ensure their rights are respected. The Federal Chancellery's Office for Religious Affairs, the Ministry for Women, Family, Youth and Integration, and other divisions regularly meet with religious representatives to discuss issues of concern, integration, and cooperation. The government has also taken steps to address hate crimes and discrimination, including those motivated by religion, through enhanced legislation and social media campaigns.

However, challenges to religious freedom in Austria have been noted. For example, the Islamic community has faced restrictions on foreign funding and administrative requirements, which some groups view as discriminatory. Additionally, there have been reports of antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents and rhetoric, prompting responses from the government and embassy officials. Overall, Austria's commitment to religious freedom is evident through its legal framework, international initiatives, and ongoing efforts to protect the rights of religious groups within the country.

The decline of Catholicism

Historical Events:

• World War II: The aftermath of World War II significantly impacted the Catholic Church's influence in Austria. The war led to a decrease in religious affiliation and a shift towards secularism.
• Holocaust: The Holocaust during World War II resulted in a substantial reduction in the Jewish population in Austria, affecting the religious landscape.

Social and Cultural Changes:

• Younger Generations: The younger generation in Austria tends to be less devout than their older counterparts. Many young Austrians withdraw their membership from the Catholic Church when they reach adulthood due to differences in social and moral beliefs and the mandatory church tax ("Kirchensteuer" or "Kirchenbeitrag").
• Secularization: Austria has maintained a secular stance by not collecting official data on religious affiliation since the 2001 census. This shift towards secularism has contributed to the decline in religious affiliation, particularly among the youth.

Religious Diversity and Immigration:

• Immigration: Austria has experienced an influx of immigrants from countries such as Turkey, the former Yugoslavia, and the Balkans. This has led to an increase in religious diversity, including a growing Muslim population and a decline in the proportion of Catholics.
• Religious Recognition: Austria officially recognized Islam in 1912 and has afforded religious rights to Muslims, including religious instruction in public schools. This recognition of other religions provides alternatives to Catholicism.

Internal Church Factors:

• Criticism of Conservative Stances: The Catholic Church has faced criticism for its conservative positions on various social issues, such as emancipation and homosexuality. This has driven some people, especially the younger generation, to seek spiritual guidance in other religions or none at all.
• Priest Shortage: There is a decreasing number of priests in Austria, with a drop from 3,403 priests in 2022 to 3,320 in 2023. This shortage may impact the Church's ability to serve its congregation and maintain its influence.

Historical Rivalry and Reformation:

• Protestant Reformation: Austria was significantly influenced by the Protestant Reformation, with a considerable portion of the population converting to Lutheranism. While Catholicism regained dominance through the Counter-Reformation, the initial shift contributed to a long-term decline in the Catholic Church's influence.
• Rivalry with Nobles: During the Baroque age, there was rivalry between the Hapsburg rulers and their subject nobles, who promoted the growth of Protestantism. This power struggle led to a decrease in Catholic influence and the rise of Evangelical preachers.

The rise of Islam

Islam is the largest religious minority in Austria, with 745,608 Muslims living in the country, constituting 8.3% of the population as of the 2021 census. The number of Muslims in Austria has been steadily increasing, with 4.22% of the population registered as Muslims in the 2001 census, and 6.8% in 2012. The rise of Islam in Austria can be attributed to various factors, including immigration, conversion, and religious freedom.

Historically, Islam has had a significant influence on Austrian culture, dating back to 1525 when the Ottoman sultans attempted to invade the Austrian Empire. While these attempts failed, they left a lasting impact, and numerous Austrians converted to Islam. In the late 19th century, following the Berlin Conference, immigration to Austria from Turkey and Eastern European countries increased, assimilating Islamic populations into the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The new arrivals were welcomed by the authorities, who granted them religious freedom.

In modern times, Austria has experienced a wave of immigration from Muslim-majority countries, particularly from Turkey, Bosnia, and Eastern Europe. The majority of Muslims in Austria are Austrian citizens, with the most common foreign citizenships among Muslims being Turkish, Bosnian, Kosovar, Montenegrin, and Serbian. This has led to a growing willingness of Muslims to speak publicly about their religion, contributing to the rise in the number of well-educated Muslims in the country.

In addition to immigration, there has also been a recent rise in conversions to Islam in Austria. The exact number of converts is unknown, but it has contributed to the growing Muslim population in the country.

The Austrian government has had a complex relationship with Islam in recent years. On the one hand, Islam has been an official religion in Austria since 1912, and the country has a century-old law on Islam, the "Islamgesetz", which guarantees wide-ranging rights to Muslims, including religious education in state schools. On the other hand, there have been concerns about Islamic extremism and political Islam in the country, leading to controversial measures such as the "Prohibition on the Covering of the Face" law passed in 2017, which was criticized as Islamophobic and discriminatory towards Muslim women.

In conclusion, the rise of Islam in Austria is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by historical, cultural, and social factors. While the country has a long history of religious freedom and official recognition of Islam, there are ongoing tensions and challenges related to integration, extremism, and political Islam. Despite these complexities, the Muslim population in Austria continues to grow and play an important role in shaping the country's religious and cultural landscape.

Religious education in Austrian schools

Religious education is a mandatory part of the curriculum in Austrian schools. However, the specifics of religious education are currently undergoing a transformation in Austria. For instance, a new regulation concerning ethics education will come into effect in 2021.

In Austria, parents are legally responsible for the religious education of their children until the age of 14, at which point children gain full control over their religious affiliation. In state schools and private schools with a public status, religious education in confessional form is obligatory from the first to the thirteenth grade for pupils affiliated with a recognised church or religious society. Sixteen religious communities have been officially acknowledged in Austria, adhering to Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, or Jewish traditions. Religious education classes are separated on the basis of denomination.

The religious community in question is responsible for providing, conducting, and supervising the confessional education, as well as granting permissions for teachers. The topics and aims of the classes are dependent on the curricula given by the denominations. For example, in primary schools, Catholic children learn about their own religion, religion in the context of society and culture, and the diversity of religious worldviews. Religious communities are also granted the right to hold religious activities at schools.

Austria's system of religious education offers great opportunities for inter-religious cooperation. For instance, an interreligious project in Graz, Austria's second-largest city, involves shared teaching units by Islamic and Roman-Catholic teachers. The main goal of the project is to encourage integration through the personal contact of pupils from the two largest religious communities in Austria: Islam and Christianity.

Muslims in Austria have, since 1982/83, had the privilege of providing Islamic religious education in secular public schools, including primary, middle, and secondary schools. This has been characterised by the heterogeneity and diversity of its participants and the wider society. The Islamic Religious Community in Austria currently provides more than 70,000 Muslim students with Islamic religious education and employs about 600 Muslim teachers.

Religious tolerance in Austrian law

Religious freedom is a guaranteed right in Austria, with constitutional documents providing this right to churches and religious communities. The legal foundation for religious freedom in the country was created over a period of about two centuries, starting with the Patents of Tolerance of 1781/82. Article 14 of the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867 guarantees freedom of conscience and creed, allowing every resident in Austria the right to join or leave any church or religious community by free choice or to abstain from belonging to any of them. This right is further enhanced by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950.

The Recognition Act of 1874 and the Oriental Orthodox Churches Act of 2003 regulate the relationship between the government and the other legally recognized churches and religious communities. The Federal Law Concerning the Legal Status of Confessional Communities, passed in 1998, created a two-tier system. There are now 16 legally recognized churches and religious communities and 10 state-registered confessional communities in Austria. Confessional communities that are not bodies corporate under public law but are endowed with a legal personality are entitled to be designated as "state-registered confessional communities".

Austria's Law on Islam, which was brought into force in 1912, is seen as a symbol of tolerance and gives Muslims the same rights as other officially recognized religions in the country. This includes the right to religious education in state schools. However, in recent years, the Islamic community has experienced changes in how they receive funds and certain practices. For example, the Islamgesetz of 2015 made it illegal for foreign bodies to sponsor mosques or pay the salaries of imams, and laws introduced in 2017 banned face veils in public settings such as courts and schools.

Austria's laws also provide explicit protections for Jewish religious practices, including circumcision and ritual slaughter. The Equal Rights Agency, an independent agency under the Federal Chancellery Minister for Women and Integration, oversees discrimination cases, including those based on religion. The agency provides legal counseling and mediation services and assists with bringing cases before the Equal Treatment Commission, another independent government agency. Citizens also have the right to sue the government for constitutional violations of religious freedom.

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