For the first time in German history, non-denominational individuals make up 46 percent of the population, equaling the combined share of Catholics and Protestants (24 and 22 percent, respectively). Meanwhile, only 5 percent of the population regularly attends a church, synagogue, or mosque. These findings are based on data released today by the "Research Group on Worldviews in Germany" (Forschungsgruppe Weltanschauungen in Deutschland, fowid).

Following the fatal knife attack in Mannheim, calls for tougher state action against Islamists are growing louder. This reaction comes rather late, says Michael Schmidt-Salomon, chair of the Giordano Bruno Foundation: "For many years now, not only ex-Muslims and critics of Islam have faced severe threats, but also advocates of an open-minded Islam like Seyran Ateş, whose liberal mosque became a target of ISIS."

By the 10th anniversary of the "Charlie Hebdo" attack on 7 January 2025, the so-called "blasphemy law" (§166 of the German Penal Code) should be history! This is the goal of a parliamentary petition that can now be signed. In fact, the governing coalition has a historic opportunity to remove this "censorship law" (as Kurt Tucholsky described it), which dates back to the German Empire, from the Penal Code.

In 2023, the Giordano Bruno Foundation celebrated "100 Years of Evolutionary Humanism" – despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, war, and climate change. The year was overshadowed by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel. However, there was a silver lining as an increasing number of politicians began to recognize the urgent need to defend the open society against its resurgent enemies.