Only a third of the nation has a great deal of trust in the National Church, a new Gallup poll reveals. The poll shows that trust in the church and its Bishop, Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, is at historic lows. Just 14% of Icelanders say they are happy with the head of the church and her time in office. A full 44% said they disapproved of the Bishop.
Read more: Icelanders abandon National State Church, as old pagan Ásatrú continues to grow
The National Church has been losing members since the turn of the century, but its unpopularity appears to be increasing if anything, and the current bishop is the least popular since polling began. Last year 43% of Icelanders said they had great deal of trust in the church, but only 33% this year, half of what it was in 1999.
The poll revealed that younger people are far most likely to have little trust in the church. Only 17% of people aged 18 to 30 years old had a great deal of trust, but 47% among people older than 60. Rural people are also somewhat more likely to have great deal of trust in the church, 38%, compared to 30% among those living in the Capital Region. The poll found that there is very little difference in the level of distrust of the church among different income groups.
Church leaders out of touch
Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, the Bishop of Iceland, made headlines in December 2017 and January 2018 when she complained over her salary and other perks that came with the position, arguing that paying a nominal rent for living at the Bishop's mansion was not a very generous perk, when one considered that she had to share her kitchen with a catering service which prepared food for the occupant and the many functions held at the mansion.
Many felt the comments exhibited a remarkable level of arrogance and of being out of touch with the realities of ordinary people.
Only a third of the nation has a great deal of trust in the National Church, a new Gallup poll reveals. The poll shows that trust in the church and its Bishop, Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, is at historic lows. Just 14% of Icelanders say they are happy with the head of the church and her time in office. A full 44% said they disapproved of the Bishop.
Read more: Icelanders abandon National State Church, as old pagan Ásatrú continues to grow
The National Church has been losing members since the turn of the century, but its unpopularity appears to be increasing if anything, and the current bishop is the least popular since polling began. Last year 43% of Icelanders said they had great deal of trust in the church, but only 33% this year, half of what it was in 1999.
The poll revealed that younger people are far most likely to have little trust in the church. Only 17% of people aged 18 to 30 years old had a great deal of trust, but 47% among people older than 60. Rural people are also somewhat more likely to have great deal of trust in the church, 38%, compared to 30% among those living in the Capital Region. The poll found that there is very little difference in the level of distrust of the church among different income groups.
Church leaders out of touch
Agnes M. Sigurðardóttir, the Bishop of Iceland, made headlines in December 2017 and January 2018 when she complained over her salary and other perks that came with the position, arguing that paying a nominal rent for living at the Bishop's mansion was not a very generous perk, when one considered that she had to share her kitchen with a catering service which prepared food for the occupant and the many functions held at the mansion.
Many felt the comments exhibited a remarkable level of arrogance and of being out of touch with the realities of ordinary people.
