Background: Israel suffers from a grave shortfall of donated organs for transplant. A serious impediment to expanding organ donation is the public perception of religious obstacles. This study explores the variation in these obstacles by sect and degree of religious observance within Israel’s three major faiths. Method: A questionnaire survey of a large convenience sample of Moslems, Jews and Christians of all sects was conducted. Results: Althoug hall faiths and sects officially sanction organ donation the willingness of ordinary people to donate and the dependence of this consent on the assurance of religious sanction varies markedly by sect. The secular are a stand-out group on all relevant research variables and within all three religions. Both belief and professed absence of belief are key factors for all who wish to encourage organ donation. Conclusion: Any public education initiative needs to be conducted in collaboration with religious leaderships and guided by the teachings of each sect. Hospital nurses, who are often the staffers who spend the most time alongside the family members of a potential donor, need to appreciate the range of religious and non-religious positions on key organ donation issues
