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Religious Beliefs and Spirituality in Lithuania

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Lithuania just like any other country is a home for individuals that adhere to different religions. The Lithuanians or the citizens of Lithuania are mostly Roman Catholics. History points out that the Roman Catholic religion has dominated Lithuania since the last part of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. Apart from the religions business of guarding the faith in the area, priests were also involved in uprisings and mobilization against the Communist Regime that controlled Lithuania in the past. They had exercised their rights to fight for the things that the Regime imposes to the Lithuanians. As of 2005, Roman Catholics in Lithuania comprised an approximate 79% of the total population. 

Besides Roman Catholicism, there are other religions present in Lithuania. This includes Russian/Eastern Orthodox which comprises 4.1%, Protestants which are further divided into Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist which comprises the 1.9%, another 4.3% adheres to other religions and the remaining 9.5% of the population has no religion. However, a survey conducted last 2005 was divided into three divisions but the issue raised as the unit of analysis of the survey was not focused on the issue of religion but on the Lithuanian’s belief to the concept of a god. The poll showed that 12% believed that there was no god, no life force, or no spirits that exists. Those who believe that there is a sort of spirit or life force totaled 36% of the subjects surveyed and a 49% of Lithuanian Citizens believes that there is an existence of a god.

The emergence of different religions in the state of Lithuania was basically a result of their history.  Religions such as those mentioned previously had evolved into its present state all throughout the history. Many factors had influenced the numbers of their followers, as well as the degree of domination they exerted in Lithuania. The clear truth however was that Roman Catholicism dominates the present status quo and it would take a long period of time for other religion to equal the Catholic’s numbers in Lithuania.