U of L. (Supplied by University of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

U of L study: Belief in God declining in Canada, but majority do hold faith

Dec 22, 2020 | 10:33 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new survey from the University of Lethbridge has found that, while a majority of Canadians still hold a belief in a higher power, those numbers have dropped over time.

U of L Sociologist Dr. Reginald Bibby has been polling religious beliefs in the country for the past 45 years.

The latest survey was conducted using an online representative sample of 3,029 people. It was conducted in partnerships with Andrew Grenville and Maru/Blue Research.

When asked, “Do you believe that God exists?”, 59 per cent said that they definitely do or they think so. That number has fallen from 81 per cent in 2000 and 84 per cent in 1985.

“God is not faring all that badly in the polls,” says Bibby

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Conversely, the number of Canadians who do not actively hold a belief in God has grown in recent years.

For this year’s survey, 41 per cent said they definitely do not or don’t think so compared to 19 per cent in 2000 and 16 per cent in 1985.

“Those numbers represent a decline in clear-cut believers since the mid-1970s, but show that belief in God is still widespread in Canada,” says Bibby.

Those who were born outside of Canada were slightly more likely to believe in a divine creator than those who have lived in the country their entire lives.

Albertans had lower levels of religiosity than many of their other provincial counterparts with 54 per cent saying they do believe in God.

The proportion of people who had attained higher levels of education were less likely to hold a belief in a deity than those who had less schooling.

“The God findings provide a further reminder of the reality of the growing diverse responses to religion in Canada,” says Bibby. “This religious polarization includes individuals who can be described as pro-religious, low religious and no religious.”

(University of Lethbridge)

(University of Lethbridge)

(University of Lethbridge)

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