CHURCH TAX AS THE REASON OF RELIGIOUS DISAFFILIATION IN GERMANY

Introduction. The relevance of the problem of people religious disaffiliation in Germany because of problems with church taxes is due to the fact that the post-secular world is still undergoing a process of secularization, understanding the causes of which helps to see a complete and undistorted picture of reality. We chose content analysis as our research method. Our research is based on data from foreign (primarily German) and domestic researchers in the field of state-confessional relations in Germany. One of the most important authors for our study is the German researcher U.Endewardt, who analyzes the reasons for religious disaffiliation in Germany, including the problem of church taxes. No research has been conducted in Russia on this topic so far. Our hypothesis is that the church tax is not only a financial problem and a trigger for believers to leave the church, but also a challenge that encourages them to address issues of morality and loyalty to their beliefs. Content. The article examines the current situation in the field of church tax in Germany. By combining the analysis of social and financial aspects, the article reveals a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of religious disaffiliation in Germany. As a secular state with no official church, Germany adheres to the principles of cooperation between Church and state. Statistical data indicate the intensive dynamics of religious disaffiliation in Germany. The economic aspect of the church tax problem is obvious. People do not want to pay for something they are not sure about, whether it concerns faith in God or the economic policy of the church. However, the churches of Germany, one way or another, need this money. U. Endewardt’s research establishes the relationship between the problem of church taxes and religious disaffiliation. Oddly enough, the church tax is not at the top of the list of reasons for religious disaffiliation. However, the loss of parishioners is a significant problem for German churches. Conclusions. The article shows the relationship between the financial obligations of believers and their membership in the church community. The role of the church tax in the reformation of church practices and retention strategies is emphasized. This analysis not only reveals the difficulties faced by religious organization, but also offers prospects for adaptation to modern society and its socio-cultural transformations.