Czech Church

Czechia is one of the least religious countries in the world. In the 2021 census, 47.8% of people said they had no religion, while another 30.1% chose not to answer—a pattern often associated with non-religiosity. Only 18.7% identified as religious.

Czechia’s high level of atheism reflects a long history of religious skepticism, political secularism, and cultural distance from organized religion. Atheism and broader irreligion have deep roots in Czech society, and recent surveys consistently show low levels of belief in God and limited participation in organized religion.

- Hussite movement (15th century): Challenged Catholic authority and helped foster long-standing skepticism toward centralized religious institutions.

- Post-White Mountain re-Catholicization (17th century): Forced conversions and the suppression of Protestantism contributed to lasting anti-clerical sentiment.

- Freethought in the 1860s: Influenced by Herbert Spencer and positivism, it helped promote secular and anti-clerical ideas.

- First Czechoslovak Republic: The legal separation of church and state reinforced a secular identity.

- Communist era (1948–1989): State-sponsored atheism, the suppression of religious institutions, and the promotion of Marxist-Leninist ideology accelerated secularization.

- Post-1989: Although religious freedom was restored, religiosity did not rebound, and cultural secularism remained strong.

- Cultural traditions: Holidays such as Christmas remain popular, though many people celebrate them in non-religious ways.

- Belief patterns: Many irreligious Czechs do not consider themselves strict atheists; some embrace spiritual ideas outside organized religion.

The first Pentecostal congregation in Czechoslovakia appeared in Northern Moravia before 1910. Christians from different denominations came together to study the Bible, pray for spiritual empowerment, and experience baptism in the Holy Spirit, receiving the gift of speaking in tongues. Similar gatherings soon formed in Brno, Prague, and other cities. In 1910, these groups were formally registered as The Union of Resolved Pentecostal Christians.

During the Nazi occupation, Pentecostal activities were banned. After the Communist takeover in 1948, the Union was abolished. Efforts to join other churches or form an independent body failed until 1977, when the Pentecostal Church was re-established in Czechoslovakia. The church remained underground or operated in a limited capacity until the Czech government officially legalized it in 1989.

The Pentecostal Church emphasizes the Holy Spirit's role in believers' lives and in the church, alongside traditional Christian theology. Its main rites are water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper. From its beginnings in Northern Moravia before 1910, the Pentecostal movement in the Czech Republic has endured persecution and suppression before gaining legal recognition. Today, it has developed into a vibrant, mission-oriented denomination with a strong presence across the country.