The 44 per cent of Canadians in the “ambivalent middle” will not be won over unless the Church learns to effectively respond to autonomous spirituality.

God’s not dead, and neither is the Church

Angus Reid poll shows Christianity is still holding on in Canada

By Craig Macartney and ChristianWeek Senior Correspondent | May 12, 2015

LETHBRIDGE, AB—A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid says contrary to the common perception, religion in Canada is anything but gone. The poll, involving more than 3,000 Canadians, found that although the proportion of society that embraces religion has declined, there are still more Canadians who embrace religion than reject it.

“The most surprising finding, in my mind, is the fact that religion in Canada is exhibiting so much vitality, in contrast to the widespread ‘gloom and doom’ portraits of the religious situation,” says University of Lethbridge sociologist Reginald Bibby, who was involved in the poll’s research and analysis.

“When we ask Canadians directly, 30 per cent say they are embracing religion, 26 per cent are rejecting it, and the remaining 44 per cent tell us they are somewhere between–constituting an ambivalent middle.”

Bibby says Christians are continually complaining that Canada is living in a post-Christian era and things are getting darker.

“That’s nonsense!” he states. “Close to seven in 10 Canadians continue to identify with the Christian faith. With accelerated immigration, Christians (especially Roman Catholics and Evangelicals) will be more than holding their own in the foreseeable future.”

In fact, more than a third of respondents who embrace religion indicated that their congregation is growing, while only 23 per cent of respondents indicated their congregation is shrinking—a number that is down from 32 per cent in 2000.

“The immigration news is great for Christians. Immigrants are also swelling the ranks of Muslims and people with no religion, but Christians are among the big numerical winners, and those immigrants are already adding numbers, new life and vitality to many congregations and denominations.”

However, Rick Hiemstra, director of research at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, highlights that not all the news is positive.

“The survey says that the people who are inclined to embrace religion have been shrinking and those who reject it have been growing,” he says. “It would be equally true to say that Canadians as a whole have been moving toward non-believing.”

Hiemstra says the biggest shift in Canada has been towards moral relativity, where everyone decides what’s true or right for themselves. In his view, “autonomy” is the fastest growing religion in Canada. He cautions Christians that the 44 per cent of Canadians in the “ambivalent middle” will not be won over unless the Church learns to effectively respond to autonomous spirituality.

“People are generally fearful and disdainful of religious people, especially if they seem to be devout,” says Hiemstra. “However, the reality of study after study, even by Statistics Canada, is that devout people are, on the whole, really good for society. They give and volunteer more both for religious and non-religious charities, their kids are happier and healthier, the effects go on and on. But this is a story that doesn’t get told as much as it should.”

Bibby agrees, pointing out that most of his research, including the Angus Reid poll, shows almost half of Canadians (including one-in-five people who reject religion) are open to greater religious involvement, if they can see that faith and the Church will have a significant positive impact in their lives and families.

“People are not in the market for churches, they are in the market for ministry,” he explains. “The groups that will not only remain alive but thrive will be those that are able to respond with integrity, addressing the spiritual, personal and relational interests and needs of Canadians.”