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Why are Polish so conservative and religious?


Alligator  - | 248  
19 Feb 2012 /  #31
What ARE you talking about?

Sorry, didn't get right your every comment. That happends when you are talking on forums and don't have opportunity to see to what or who you are reffering and don't hear intonations, see gestures etc. Discussion can become difficult.
dardawk  - | 3  
25 Apr 2012 /  #32
I think you can find many parallels between the Polish and Isreali nation and diaspora: the CBOS opinion poll ranked Isreal very closely to Poland in its religiosity, and Isreal has a thriving, intelligent secular class (they go hand in hand). Of course Isreal has it's Zionists as Poland has its die-hard Mafia-Catholics, and both exert a disproportionate hold over political power in both countries.

If you look at the two countries' tragic histories, their monolithic culture and nation-state, you will find many similarities and possibly an answer as to why Poland chooses group together under Catholic's veil.

I think GabiDaHun hit on two important points:
1) The Catholic church was the only uncensored voice against communism for nearly 50 years.
2) The Pope during this time was Polish.

But that's not the only reason why Poles hold onto their imaginary friend. When a country goes through what Poland (or Isreal) went through, you band together under any cultural affinity. Unfortunately, that affinity happens to be a religious one in Poland. Majority of Poles themselves aren't as extreme in their views as the Fascist-Roman Catholics-- in Poland, women enjoy equal rights; the majority of Poles believe in contraception and condoms (I think many Poles cringed when Benedict went to the worlds most AIDS infested continent and told the people there that condoms don't work); and, above all, Poles believe in education, math, and Science. Science. Science. Science.

So I think the question that is being asked is why there's such a disparity between Polish values and their religion. The answer: cultural history.

And soon, once Poles drop the shackles of religious dogma, it will all be history.
pawian  221 | 25000  
25 Apr 2012 /  #33
Why are Polish so conservative and religious?

Thanks to it, we survived partitions, occupations, communism. We kept our balance due to our 1000 year old traditions.

Tradition!!:

youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gRdfX7ut8gw
welshguyinpola  23 | 463  
25 Apr 2012 /  #34
Why are Poles so uptight about nudity and swearing?

Mike, I can tell you for a fact, Poland has a pretty good naturist scene here. In many saunas nudity is obligatory eg, Sopot aquaprk and Fala in Lodz. I have seen more of my male and female friends here naked than I ever did in England. It is a loong weekend here in Poland next weekend so a group of us (5 men and 7 women) are heading to the nude beach in Rowy for a spot of naked volleyabll and beer drinking
dardawk  - | 3  
25 Apr 2012 /  #35
MikeUSA--you are wrong on many things, but this comment is true. As a Polish-Canadian, I am ashamed of this.
natasia  3 | 368  
26 Apr 2012 /  #36
Poland has always had a dichotomy between the rural and small-town 'religious conservative' Ciemnogrod and the urban, more enlightened, centuries old liberal tradition.

The most important point. And the liberals came over here first, and were my first wave of Polish friends, and then the rest came over later, and gave me rather a shock ...
Ironside  50 | 12338  
26 Apr 2012 /  #37
Gay marriage is still banned in Poland.

Do you want to get married in Poland.

Poland is the most religious country in the western world.

You mean except for the USA?

Nudity and swearing is always censored on Polish TV.

Good thingy though, I don't need TV to swear.

Sunbathing topless is taboo in Poland and still illegal.

Awkward for peepers, right Mike?

Poland also attempted to ban prnography a few years back.

What wrong with that ?

Abortion is still banned in Poland

Hallelujah!

Many gays have fled Poland because they fear their lives.

OMG! Really ? What have you done to them ?

Guns are banned in Poland.

Yes ! At this point a shotgun would come handy.

Online gambling is banned in Poland

Are you into this kind of scam?

And many Polish politicians want to raise the drinking age to 21.

They are just talking, not that is a bad idea.

I visit Florida and women sunbathe topless topless wearing thongs

Ever heard about cancer ?

In America,

the USA is a big country, spread over a half of the continent. There many things you can find there and many other as well, like churches and all there is.

My question - have you ever been to the USA?
xzqbq7  2 | 100  
26 Apr 2012 /  #38
Poles and Jews living in Poland are one nation.

I don't know if fact that only about 150-300 thousand Jews were assimilated in II RP can support your statement
unless you believe in one nation/two languages theory.
Anyway it is an absolute truth that in Polish history we had a number of great Polish Jews, even Mickiewicz in
Pan Tadeusz wrote about Jankiel that "stary zyd Polske kochal".
Szenk88HTAFC  2 | 47  
28 Apr 2012 /  #39
Why are Poles so conservative?

Because they took a look at America and didn't like what they saw.
natasia  3 | 368  
28 Apr 2012 /  #40
MikeUSA: Why are Poles so uptight about nudity and swearing

The Poles I know who have pûrn on a big screen TV while little kids and grandmas are running around/sitting on the sofa (respectively) right in front of the telly don't seem so uptight ...
tesmia  - | 4  
2 Aug 2012 /  #41
I guess it's all caused by our difficult history. In the past Poland diseapered from political maps for over 100 years. Catholic religion and conservative beliefs were associated with being a Pole. The same situation is with the gone not so long ago communist times. Now, when the boarders are opened and we are influenced to agreater extention by western way of living Poland is definitely getting more liberal every year. It's just a slow process.
legend  3 | 658  
2 Aug 2012 /  #42
When will Poland become a liberal secular country ?

Liberal? Hopefully never.
Secular? I think it already is. Do you even know what secular means?

Congratulations America is a unmorality filthy country. Cant wait for it to be in ruins.

Poland is the most religious country in the western world.

And what the **** is wrong with that?
Finski  - | 1  
2 Aug 2012 /  #43
I don't have a problem with religion. I have a problem why Polish women beat themselves for just kissing a guy? Omg, some women are so prude. But they are raised that way. Men don't behave like that. Me coming from Scandinavia this is just sad. Why can't two adults have sex if they want to? Ridiculous.
jon357  73 | 22982  
2 Aug 2012 /  #44
When will Poland become a liberal secular country ?

It is already. Poland has a centuries' old liberal tradition and there is absolute freedom of religion. regular churchgoers are in a minority, even according to the Church's own statistics. You shouldn't judge a country only by its villagers.
natasia  3 | 368  
4 Aug 2012 /  #45
Why are Poles so conservative? Why are Poles so religious? Why are Poles so uptight about nudity and swearing?

I'm sorry? I guess my past two husbands weren't really Polish, then! What, more lies and deceit? ; )
MarcinD  4 | 135  
4 Aug 2012 /  #46
I'm not going to feed the troll but Poland is the Bible Belt of Europe

Although religion seems to continue to decline when comparing my grandparents-parents & myself, religious factions seem to have an unhealthy influence in Polish politics. IMO, Poland is on a healthy decline pace in terms of religion. But I do believe the Churchs' blind eye to hatred of homosexuals (I was raised Catholic & sacred marriage is not an issue with me) has fueled hatred of all others in many poor economic circles. In comparison to Western Europe & even some other Central Euro nations we are behind in that regard. As the haves & have nots continues to widen in Poland, we can't forget about the poor & let them turn to hatred/crime. Upper Silesia has the higgest crime in Poland and highest earnings & unemployment
smurf  38 | 1940  
4 Aug 2012 /  #47
thankfully, crime is falling in Kato, according to recent figures

katowice.gazeta.pl/katowice/1,35063,11432046,W_Szopienicach_kra dna__na_Paderewie_bija__Przestepczosc.html
Parsifal  
28 May 2014 /  #48
I do not think Polish people are conservative. I grew up in Poland in the eighties... we had sexual education at high school, my girlfriend had no problems with contraception, sex was legal from the age of 15, girls used to wear miniskirts, and every summer we used to spend in place with a great nudist beach. We wre camping in a field without running water (at that time), everyone would go to have bath in the river in the evening, completely naked, families with children, no one made any fuss about it.

Later, I lived in the UK for 10 years, and now I have been in the south of USA. These two countries seem to be much more restrictive than Poland used to be in the 80s. Not sure what Poland is now though.
jon357  73 | 22982  
28 May 2014 /  #49
It depends where you are. What you get in Warsaw or Katowice isn't what you get in the boondocks of Podlasie or Lubelskie. Other places are on a continuum between either one place or the other.
Roger5  1 | 1432  
28 May 2014 /  #50
Jon357 "the boondocks of Podlasie"

I've travelled a fair bit in Poland and I live in what you consider to be the boondocks. Perhaps it's been a while since you've visited the east of Poland. If so, you'd be surprised at the changes that have occurred in the last few years. I've been to much less developed places in what are considered to be more civilised parts of the country. As for Białystok, the younger generation have the same views as young people from any capital in Europe. They're much slimmer, though.
sobieski  106 | 2111  
28 May 2014 /  #51
I've travelled a fair bit in Poland and I live in what you consider to be the boondocks.

I would say the whole of Polska B.
jon357  73 | 22982  
29 May 2014 /  #52
Perhaps it's been a while since you've visited the east of Poland

A month ago.

I've been to much less developed places in what are considered to be more civilised parts of the country

There's still the dead hand of the church exerting huge influence in smaller towns and life for many in villages is still quite inward looking.

As for Białystok, the younger generation have the same views as young people from any capital in Europe.

I wouldn't go that far, however it's a decent place to live - much like any other town of 300,000 outside a conurbation.
Roger5  1 | 1432  
29 May 2014 /  #53
Jon"I wouldn't go that far"
Well I would. I talk to about 150 of them each and every week, and while they might not dress as outlandishly as they do in Camden, they are tolerant and gentle. Last semester one lad briefly and affectionately put his head on another lad's shoulder in my class. The other students all quickly looked at me to see my reaction (none whatsoever), but they were all fine with having these lovebirds in their class. When I came here years ago students said the most horrible, intolerant things. Now they're cool.

The churches used to be so packed in my nearest town that there were fifty people outside the door. Not now. Things are changing very fast here. Twenty years is a generation, and even the boonies are coming alive.
Jardinero  1 | 383  
29 May 2014 /  #54
I would say the whole of Polska B.

And I'd say you're guilty of stereotyping and pigeon-holing. Believe me, boondocks in the western parts (post-German & former PGR lands) are today probably worse that those in Lubelskie, Rzeszowskie, Podlaskie... I'd say the most underprivileged/conservative areas today are in the south, in the mountains...
Szalawa  2 | 239  
29 May 2014 /  #55
I'd say the most underprivileged/conservative areas today are in the south, in the mountains...

It's true, South is very religious. Especially in small cities, towns etc. but I wouldn't use the word underprivileged. I like it, It's the only part of Poland I know (near the mountains) :)
KochanaPatrycja  
29 May 2014 /  #56
Sexual freedom where I grew up in Poland is non-existent.

Ever since I moved to the UK, I have been spending a lot more time dating men. You can't blame me either since the men in the UK are so attractive! I'm also a bartender at a strip club (I'm not a stripper). Let's just say my family back home isn't too happy.
jon357  73 | 22982  
30 May 2014 /  #57
Last semester

Are these students?
Roger5  1 | 1432  
30 May 2014 /  #58
Jon "Are these students?"
Yes, first years.
jon357  73 | 22982  
30 May 2014 /  #59
Probably a bit more progressive than the average inhabitant of the region. I remember when I was a student - some of my peers had quite radical views like abolishing the age of consent, freeing Nelson Mandela and getting thatcher out of office. Two of those things came true a few years later. Half of the most "right on" people are probably Tory voting bourgeoisie now.

Not everyone in small towns lives in the past, but there are very good reasons why some people head for the big city as soon as they can. And there are still villages in Poland where every family is expected to attend church and has a hard time if they don't want to.
sylvio  
31 May 2014 /  #60
"Polish people uptight about swearing".?.A lot must have changed there.
Cause the usual k.. h.. and p's is how I used to ecognise my country folk in a crowd. !

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