59% of Spanish citizens responded that "they believe there is a God"
21% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"
19% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force"
While Roman Catholicism is still the largest religion in Spain, most Spaniards and especially the younger choose to ignore the Catholic teachings in morals, politics or sexuality, and do not attend Mass regularly. Agnosticism and Atheism enjoy social prestige, according to the general Western European secularization. Culture wars are far more related to politics than religion, and the huge lack of popularity of typically religion-related issues like Creationism prevent them from being used in such conflicts. Revivalist efforts by the Catholic Church and other creeds have not had any significant success out of their previous sphere of influence.
Evidence of the secular nature of contemporary Spain can be seen in the widespread support for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Spain over 70% of Spaniards support gay marriage according to a 2004 study by the Centre of Sociological Research. Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed by 187 votes to 147 to allow gay marriage, making Spain the third country in the European Union to allow same-sex couples to marry. This vote was split along conservative-liberal lines, with Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and other left-leaning parties supporting the measure and People's Party against it. Proposed changes to the divorce laws to make the process quicker and to eliminate the need for a guilty party are also popular.
Since the Socialist victory in the 2004 election, the Spanish government has legalized gay marriage and eased restrictions on divorce. It has also expressed its intent to loosen laws against abortion and euthanasia. In response, the church and religious Catholics have been vocal in their opposition, seeking to regain some of their former influence over the country.
