Poll shows Russia's Orthodox church members don't pray or read Bible

MOSCOW, June 17 (UPI) -- Many Russians who identify themselves as members of the Russian Orthodox Church do not pray, read the Bible or attend church, a survey indicates.

About 64 percent of Russians consider themselves members of the church, but 52 percent of those say they have never read scripture, 24 percent say they rarely go to church and 28 percent say they rarely pray, a poll released last week by Russia's Public Opinion Foundation indicated.

The survey was conducted in April according to templates by the U.S. magazine Newsweek and Beliefnet, a Russian polling firm, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said.

The results also showed 25 percent of Russians consider themselves non-believers.

The survey of answers by 1,500 Russians across 43 Russian regions, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percent.