About 80% of Canadians Believe in God, Well Sort of

Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

A new poll suggests that about 80% of Canadians believe in God:

The 80-question, mail-in survey of 420 Canadians…by the Carleton University Survey Centre and the Montreal-based Association for Canadian Studies, reveals a nation struggling to reconcile doubts and contradictions regarding religious faith…

“We’re not, by and large, a God-denying country,” says ACS executive director Jack Jedwab, noting that just seven per cent of respondents expressed unequivocal disbelief in the idea of an all-powerful deity overseeing the affairs of the world…

In response to the Canadian survey’s principal question about the existence of God — a subject that has confounded humankind for centuries — about 30 per cent of those tapped for their opinion agreed with the statement: “I know God really exists and I have no doubts.”

Another 20 per cent acknowledged they “have doubts” but “feel that I do believe in God.”

Ten per cent said they believe in God “sometimes” and a further 20 per cent said they don’t believe in a “personal God” but “do believe in a higher power.”

Along with the seven per cent of respondents who denied the existence of God, nearly 12 per cent adopted the classic agnostic position and said they “don’t know whether there is a God and don’t believe there is a way to find out.”…

Atlantic Canada had the largest percentage of respondents who conveyed a strong belief in the existence of God (36.4 per cent), while such faith was less firm in Western Canada (34 per cent), Ontario (27.3 per cent) and Quebec (23.9 per cent). (PostMedia News, Sept 3, 2010. http://www.canada.com/life/More+Canadians+believe+heaven+than+hell+survey/3475806/story.html)

So, only about 7% of Canadians clearly disbelieve that there could be a God and 12% are agnostic. And among believers, there are doubts.

I would ask that 7% who deny that there is a God if they have been everywhere in the universe from time eternity to present in order to draw such a conclusion.

Otherwise, they cannot prove that there is no God. Just make assertions (speaking of false assertions of this type, please see the article Steven Hawking vs. God: God Wins).

Yet, while most Canadians profess a belief in God, few actually seem to believe that they need to obey God. And fewer truly do.

Interestingly, the idea of religion being important is accepted by about 80% of the population of many countries according to another report:

More than eight in ten adults in the world say religion is an important part of their daily lives, according to Gallup surveys conducted last year in 114 countries…

In the world’s poorest countries – those with average per-capita incomes of $2,000 or less – the median proportion who say religion is important in their daily lives is 95 percent, reported Gallup on Tuesday.

In contrast, the median for the richest countries – those with average per-capita incomes over $25,000 – is 47 percent. (Christian Post, Sept 1, 2010. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100901/over-8-in-10-worldwide-see-religion-as-important/index.html)

There is a God, and all will realize this some day.

God warned that once people became wealthy, they may forget Him:

10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest — when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God…(Deuteronomy 8:10-14)

And certain studies seem to support the idea that the wealthier tend to be less religious.

And while Canadians tend to believe in God, they have a tendency (as do US citizens and others) to forget to keep God’s commandments.

Some articles of potentially-related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? What will happen to the nation of Israel?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge.
Where Did God Come From? Any ideas? And how has God been able to exist? Who is God?
How is God Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient? Here is a biblical article by Wallace Smith which answers what many really wonder about it.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.