Estonia survey 1994

The survey was conducted by SIFO on behalf of the Estonia group at the Swedish Church Research Secretariat in Uppsala. The study was conducted over a two week period about two months after the sinking of the ferry M/S Estonia on the 28th of September 1994. The ship was wrecked in a heavy storm during its journey from Tallinn, Estonia to Stockholm, Sweden. On board were 989 people, of which 852 lives were claimed.The accident is the largest ship disaster in peacetime in the Nordic seas of all time. After the sinking of the Estonia, a variety of efforts were made by various organizations, to help and assist in the difficult situation. The study was aimed to investigate what attitude the public had to the Church of Sweden after its response to the ferry disaster. Questions were asked about religious activity, sense of belonging to the Church of Sweden, altered perception of the Church of Sweden's role in society after the Estonia disaster, and religious activities as a result of the sinking of the Estonia. Respondents also had its approach to a number of statements about the religious dimensions of the Estonia disaster.

Purpose:

To investigate the public opinion's attitudes to the Church of Sweden after its response to the Estonia ferry disaster.