God in the Netherlands

Single Wave Study

General Information

Title

Project Number

161

Abstract

The purpose of this questionnaire is to gain insight into shifts within the Christian religion, the religiosity of Dutch people and the role churches serve in the public debate.

Longitudinal Type

Single Wave Study

Begin date

01-06-2015

End date

22-06-2015

Topics

Religion (LISS/ELSST)

Researcher

Joris Kregting

Publisher

CentERdata

Funding Organization

CentERdata/MESS Project
Kaski - Radboud Universiteit

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17026/dans-zt7-6aqw

Datasets and documentation

View Documentation

Codebook in English

codebook_mb15a_EN_1.0.pdf

Codebook in Dutch

codeboek_mb15a_NL_1.0.pdf

Data Files

English SPSS file

mb15a_EN_1.1p.sav

English STATA file

mb15a_EN_1.1p.dta

Note: Changes from dataset 1.0

- Value labels of mb15a001 - mb15a010 and mb15a020 - mb15a025 changed from 1 "yes", 2 "no", 3 "don't know / can't say", to 1 "yes", 2 "no", 99 "don't know / can't say".
- Changed data type format of mb15a136, mb15a138 and mb15a139 for readability in STATA file.

Variables

Variable name	Variable Label	Variable Type
nomem_encr	Number of household member encrypted	preloaded
mb15am	Year and month of the field work period	constructed
mb15a001	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - At sports matches, for instance the Dutch national football team or at ice-skating competitions	directly measured
mb15a002	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - After a well-known Dutch person passed away	directly measured
mb15a003	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - On King's Day	directly measured
mb15a004	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - During a memorial marking the Second World War	directly measured
mb15a005	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - During elections for Dutch parliament	directly measured
mb15a006	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - At a protest meeting against senseless violence	directly measured
mb15a007	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - At the commemoration of a disaster	directly measured
mb15a008	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - On Prinsjesdag	directly measured
mb15a009	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - During a major collection campaign	directly measured
mb15a010	Solidarity with other Dutch citizens? - Due to a royal wedding such as between Willem Alexander and Maxima	directly measured
mb15a011	Personally trust the following institutions? - science	directly measured
mb15a012	Personally trust the following institutions? - churches	directly measured
mb15a013	Personally trust the following institutions? - political parties	directly measured
mb15a014	Personally trust the following institutions? - the media	directly measured
mb15a015	Personally trust the following institutions? - the police	directly measured
mb15a016	It would be a good thing if churches ceased to exist	directly measured
mb15a017	If no one believes in God anymore, then morality is in danger	directly measured
mb15a018	If the churches cease to exist, egoism will have free rein	directly measured
mb15a019	Faith in God prevents society from decaying	directly measured
mb15a020	Without churches, there would be fewer people willing to do voluntary work for others	directly measured
mb15a021	Without churches, there would be fewer people with outdated opinions	directly measured
mb15a022	Without churches, many people would no longer know whether life has any meaning	directly measured
mb15a023	Without churches, people would really start to change society instead of waiting for a better life after death	directly measured
mb15a024	Without churches, the more vulnerable groups in society would be left more to look after themselves	directly measured
mb15a025	Without churches, there would be fewer conflicts	directly measured
mb15a026	How important is religion for the following matters? - At commemorations	directly measured
mb15a027	How important is religion for the following matters? - For our identity as Dutch citizens	directly measured
mb15a028	How important is religion for the following matters? - At life's defining points like birth and death	directly measured
mb15a029	How important is religion for the following matters? - At disasters	directly measured
mb15a030	How important is religion for the following matters? - At national festivities	directly measured
mb15a031	How important is religion for the following matters? - For our identity as Europeans	directly measured
mb15a032	How important is religion for the following matters? - For the raising of children	directly measured
mb15a033	How important is religion for the following matters? - In order to identify societal abuses	directly measured
mb15a034	How important is religion for the following matters? - To be a thorn in the side of those in power	directly measured
mb15a035	How important is religion for the following matters? - To instruct us on how to live together well	directly measured
mb15a036	How important is religion for the following matters? - To preserve values and norms	directly measured
mb15a037	How important is religion for the following matters? - To underline the importance of sobriety	directly measured
mb15a038	To what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements. - The state must not financially support parishes, mosques or church communities	directly measured
mb15a039	To what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements. - The state must guarantee that every place in the country keeps at least one church building where people can convene	directly measured
mb15a040	Suppose you had a child in the primary school age; what type of school would you send it to?	directly measured
mb15a041	Some people believe that politics and religion should be kept separate, others disagree. What is your view on this?	directly measured
mb15a042	Do you think that religion should be limited to the private domain, or may it also have a role in the public domain?	directly measured
mb15a043	How do you feel about the respect shown in the Netherlands for religious views and values?	directly measured
mb15a044	Do you think that the freedom of expression means that you are also permitted to hurt people's religious feelings?	directly measured
mb15a045	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Christianity	directly measured
mb15a046	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Islam	directly measured
mb15a047	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Hinduism	directly measured
mb15a048	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Buddhism	directly measured
mb15a049	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Judaism	directly measured
mb15a050	To what extent do you feel affiliated with the following religious and other worldview traditions? - Humanism	directly measured
mb15a051	Do you feel affiliated with one or more other religious or worldview traditions, and if so, which one or ones?	directly measured
mb15a052	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Did you, in the past years, ever participate in a silent march?	directly measured
mb15a053	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Some people create a memorial site at the place where a traffic accident or disaster occurred. Did you ever help create or visit such a site?	directly measured
mb15a054	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Do you ever visit a particular place in order to contemplate your life's affairs?	directly measured
mb15a055	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Did you ever walk a 'contemplative route', such as the road to Santiago de Compostella?	directly measured
mb15a056	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Did you ever participate in a course, training, workshop or weekend, dedicated to spirituality or the deeper meaning of life?	directly measured
mb15a057	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Do you ever light a candle for something or someone?	directly measured
mb15a058	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Do you keep a 'sacred' place at home, such as a home altar or meditation spot?	directly measured
mb15a059	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Have you done yoga in the past years?	directly measured
mb15a060	Have you ever performed any of the following activities? - Have you meditated in the past years?	directly measured
mb15a061	What do you think of the following statements? - I feel the need to contemplate the meaning of my life from time to time	directly measured
mb15a062	What do you think of the following statements? - The meaning of life is a topic that doesn't really interest me	directly measured
mb15a063	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - sports club or group	directly measured
mb15a064	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a reading, film or museum club or group	directly measured
mb15a065	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a church or other worldview group	directly measured
mb15a066	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a spiritual group (yoga, meditation, and so on)	directly measured
mb15a067	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a cooking or dining club or group	directly measured
mb15a068	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a travel or holiday club or group	directly measured
mb15a069	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - a card players’ or other game club or group	directly measured
mb15a070	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - other, namely:	directly measured
mb15a071	Regularly talk with others about questions of life, problems or important choices facing you or others? - no group or club at all	directly measured
mb15a072	Do you ever pray?	directly measured
mb15a073	How often do you pray?	directly measured
mb15a074	Do you see yourself as a person of faith?	directly measured
mb15a075	Does this faith play a significant role in your life and if so, how great is that significance?	directly measured
mb15a076	Regardless of whether you consider yourself religious, how spiritual would you say you are?	directly measured
mb15a077	Does this spirituality play a significant role in your life and if so, how great is that significance?	directly measured
mb15a078	Have you ever experienced, in any way, the presence of a higher power, higher authority or God?	directly measured
mb15a079	What do you think of the following statements? - I believe that there is something that binds together people, world and nature in the core	directly measured
mb15a080	What do you think of the following statements? - I believe that my life is guided by a spiritual power, stronger than any human being	directly measured
mb15a081	What do you think of the following statements? - I believe that you should experience truth internally	directly measured
mb15a082	What do you think of the following statements? - To me, religion is something personal and not so much a collective happening	directly measured
mb15a083	What do you think of the following statements? - I believe that religion in itself doesn't have much to do with visiting church	directly measured
mb15a084	What do you think of the following statements? - You need to have faith in your internal voice	directly measured
mb15a085	What do you think of the following statements? - There is a real, authentic and ‘sacred’ core inside each person that is untainted by culture, history and society	directly measured
mb15a086	What do you think of the following statements? - True religiosity does not allow for any doubt	directly measured
mb15a087	What do you think of the following statements? - For me, religion is something that continually changes throughout your life	directly measured
mb15a088	What do you think of the following statements? - I think that religion has more to do with seeking than with having fixed beliefs	directly measured
mb15a089	What do you think of the following statements? - In my experience, questions are more significant than answers	directly measured
mb15a090	What do you think of the following statements? - Each insight one gains is provisional	directly measured
mb15a091	What do you think of the following statements? - I believe that religion can bubble up from many different sources	directly measured
mb15a092	What do you think of the following statements? - I think that you should piece together religion on your own using the wisdom of many traditions and philosophies	directly measured
mb15a093	What do you think of the following statements? - You can combine different articles of wisdom and practices to create whatever suits you best	directly measured
mb15a094	Do you believe in the following statements? - Sometimes certain numbers or objects can bring good fortune (e.g. the number seven, a certain bracelet, a stone, a photograph)	directly measured
mb15a095	Do you believe in the following statements? - Some clairvoyants can really tell the future	directly measured
mb15a096	Do you believe in the following statements? - A person’s astrological sign at birth or someone’s horoscope can influence the course of his future	directly measured
mb15a097	Do you believe in the following statements? - It is possible to communicate with the dead via a spirit medium	directly measured
mb15a098	Are you part of a church community or religious group?	directly measured
mb15a099	What church community or religious group are you part of?	directly measured
mb15a100	Were you raised to be part of a certain faith?	directly measured
mb15a101	In what faith or denomination were you raised?	directly measured
mb15a102	Do you think that churches in the Netherlands have enough to offer to people with spiritual questions and needs?	directly measured
mb15a103	Did you ever watch the annual television broadcast (or visit the event) of 'The Passion'?	directly measured
mb15a104	What do you think of the way in which the event 'The Passion' is organized and filmed? - It appeals to me	directly measured
mb15a105	What do you think of the way in which the event 'The Passion' is organized and filmed? - I find it kitsch	directly measured
mb15a106	What do you think of the way in which the event 'The Passion' is organized and filmed? - It strengthens my faith	directly measured
mb15a107	What do you think of the way in which the event 'The Passion' is organized and filmed? - It arouses my interest in the Christian faith	directly measured
mb15a108	What score (between 1 and 10) would you want to give to the event 'The Passion'?	directly measured
mb15a109	Do you want to have a celebration or ritual in a church to mark important events in your life (birth, marriage, death)?	directly measured
mb15a110	Do you ever read the Bible?	directly measured
mb15a111	Do you ever read another holy book?	directly measured
mb15a112	Do you see the Bible as the word of God?	directly measured
mb15a113	Which of these statements MOST resembles your own view of God?	directly measured
mb15a114	Which of these statements BEST REFLECTS your own belief?	directly measured
mb15a115	Which of the statements BEST REFLECTS your own belief?	directly measured
mb15a116	Do you believe in life after death?	directly measured
mb15a117	How do you see life after death? - heaven	directly measured
mb15a118	How do you see life after death? - hell	directly measured
mb15a119	How do you see life after death? - a later return to earth as a human being	directly measured
mb15a120	How do you see life after death? - reincarnation	directly measured
mb15a121	How do you see life after death? - resurrection	directly measured
mb15a122	How do you see life after death? - living on in other people’s memories	directly measured
mb15a123	How do you see life after death? - the continued existence of the spirit or soul	directly measured
mb15a124	How do you see life after death? - seeing family / loved ones again	directly measured
mb15a125	How do you see life after death? - other, namely:	directly measured
mb15a126	What do you think of the following statement: religious miracles really happen	directly measured
mb15a127	Who would you turn to when facing a matter of conscience?	directly measured
mb15a128	Do you regularly go to church or another religious meeting?	directly measured
mb15a129	Do you feel that churches connect to your view of life?	directly measured
mb15a130	Was it difficult to answer the questions?	directly measured
mb15a131	Were the questions sufficiently clear?	directly measured
mb15a132	Did the questionnaire get you thinking about things?	directly measured
mb15a133	Was it an interesting subject?	directly measured
mb15a134	Did you enjoy answering the questions?	directly measured
mb15a135	Starting date of the questionnaire	constructed
mb15a136	Starting time of the questionnaire	constructed
mb15a137	End date of the questionnaire	constructed
mb15a138	End time of the questionnaire	constructed
mb15a139	Duration in seconds	derived

Questions

Questionnaire: God in the Netherlands

The questionnaire was administered in Dutch.

Browse God in the Netherlands

Response Information

Response Overview

Selected number of household members: 3,000 (100%)
Non-response: 737 (24.6%)
Response: 2,263 (75.4%)
Complete: 2,224 (74.1%)
Incomplete: 39 (1.3%)

Collection Events

Period

01-06-2015 to 22-06-2015

Sample

random sample of 3,000 panelmembers

Collection Mode

internet survey

Fieldwork Note

A reminder was sent twice to non-respondents.

Publications

Religie in een pluriforme samenleving Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau, August 2022; de Hart, J., et al.