Islam has leading number of moral believers - poll

Moscow, July 4, Interfax - Muslims demonstrate the highest rating of commitment to moral norms if compared to followers of other religions.

Thus, the number of Islam believers with low, middle and high moral status is 17%, 41%, 42% correspondingly. In Orthodoxy - 30%, 39%, 31%, among believers of other religions 46%, 23%, 31%, among atheists - 32%, 43%, 25%.

Such a conclusion was made by authors of the Russian Sociological Research Twenty years of reforms through Russians' eyes held by the Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in all country's territorial and economical districts, in Moscow and St.Petersburg among 1750 respondents aged 18 and older.

Researchers say that 13% of Russians visit churches and religious assemblies. Religious assemblies are much more popular than any coteries, affinity groups, political organizations and youth associations (1-2% each).

Sociologists also found out what idea is able to unite Russian society. The most popular idea is uniting Russian peoples in order to revive the country as a superpower (42% of respondents) while the idea of "purifying the society through Orthodox faith" is shared only by 9% (compared to 6% in 1995).

Share of respondents who stand for consolidation of society on the grounds of social values grows. Thus, if compared to 2001 their number has grown by half and if compared to 1995 - it increased twofold (from 10% and 15% to 21%).

Besides, each fifth Russian today share socialistic views.