Secularism and Irreligion in Georgia

Secularism and Irreligion in Georgia was most popular in the 20th century when the country was part of the Soviet Union. In the 21st century, secular and non-religious currents have seen a precipitous decline due to the rising popularity of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the fact that religious faith in general “has become fashionable” in Georgian society. Despite an increasing sense of religious affiliation among Georgians, there remains a significant irreligious portion of the public, as well as a large portion of nominally religious individuals who do not actively practice their faith and identify with religion for historical or cultural reasons.

According to a 2013 statistically sampled opinion research, 11% of Georgia's population was partly or entirely non-religious, while 29% identified themselves as neither religious nor non-religious. Although 83% of the population reported that religion plays an important or very important role in their daily lives, 54% said they never fast even when required by their religion and an additional 20% said they rarely fast when required by religion. 46% of the population reported attending a place of worship only on special occasions or less often, while 11% said they never attend religious services; only 21% of Georgians reported weekly church attendance. On the matter of trust towards religious institutions, 3% of Georgians somewhat or fully distrusted them, 13% were indifferent, and 38% somewhat trusted them, versus 44% of Georgians who fully trusted religious organizations.

According to a 2015 statistically sampled opinion research, 37% of the Georgian population thought that childbearing by women outside of wedlock (a sin for most traditional faiths in Georgia) was sometimes or always justified. Georgian public opinion on the matter of pre-marital sex (also a sin for traditional faiths in Georgia), showed different levels of tolerance for women and men: 23% of the public thought that female pre-marital sex was sometimes or always justified, but a higher 55% thought the same about male pre-marital sex.

Although the Georgian Orthodox Church views abortion as a "terrible sin", and 69% of Georgians say they can never justify abortion, as of 2005 a Georgian woman was estimated to have an average of three abortions in her lifetime. In recent years, the abortion rates have been somewhat reduced, but due to the increase in the use of contraception among Georgians, which the Church also condemns.

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