Canadian Religious Beliefs and Practices

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Canadian Religious Beliefs and Practices Results
of an Ipsos-Reid SurveyConducted September 23
October 12, 2003Presented byAndrew Grenville
(Ipsos-Reid)Lorne Hunter (Outreach Canada/Vision
Canada) and Don Posterski (World
Vision)FOR EFC PRESIDENTS DAYOCTOBER 23,
2003BURNABY, BC
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Outline

• Research Methodology
• How Many are We?
• Who and Where are We?
• What do We Believe and Do?
• Attitudes toward Family and Marriage
• Priorities for the Church
• Canadians and the Church Today

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Research Methodology

• We surveyed a random sample of 3000 Canadian
  adults (age 18) between September 23 and October
  12, 2003.
• In 1993 just over 6000 Canadians were surveyed
  and the results summarised in Rawlyks Is Jesus
  Your Personal Saviour? In Search of Canadian
  Evangelicalism in the 1990s
• Another related survey, God and Society in North
  America, was conducted in 1996 and consisted of
  3000 interviews in Canada and 3000 in the US.
• Respondents in all studies were identified using
  random digit dialing, so that all numberslisted
  and unlistedhave an equal chance of being
  called.
• With a sample of 3000 the margin of error is /-
  1.8, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is
  larger for sub-groups.

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How Many Are We?

• The Prevalence of Evangelicals in Canada

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We used historian David Bebbingtons four
defining characteristics to identify Evangelicals
Conversionism
Activism
Christ The Cross
Biblicism
Source Evangelicalism Comparative Studies of
Popular Protestantism in North America, The
British Isles and Beyond, 1700-1990
Introduction, Oxford University Press, Mark
Noll, David Bebbington, George Rawlyk, eds
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Canadians and Evangelical CharacteristicsOnly a
minority of Canadians do not have common ground
with Evangelicals

Ch

B
A
C
Scored in the reverse (Evangelicals disagree)
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Canadians and Evangelical CharacteristicsCommitm
ent to Christ is on the increase, but does not
always include weekly fellowship
Ch
Ch
Ch
C
A
Note the Biblicism question was asked somewhat
differently in previous years, so tracking is not
possible.
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Prevalence of Canadian EvangelicalsThe
Evangelical impulse is alive and well in Canada,
showing signs of growth rather than decline
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Canada is one the most Evangelical Nations in the
World Protestant Evangelicals
United States
South Africa
CANADA
Philippines
South Korea
Brazil
Australia
Norway
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Switzerland
Finland
Mexico
Germany
Taiwan
Indonesia
Sweden
Argentina
Ukraine
Czech Republic
China
Malaysia
Greece
Italy
Prevalence of Protestant Evangelicals is less
than 1 in India, Russia, Belgium, Poland, Japan,
France, Israel, Spain and Thailand. Data source
for Canada is 2003 survey, US data is based on
the 1996 God and Society survey and uses the same
definition as used in Canada. Other data is from
a study conducted in 33 countries by Ipsos-Reid
in 1997 in conjunction with Mark Noll, John Green
and Corwin Smidt. In that study Evangelicals
were defined as those who pray daily, attend
weekly, report religion is very important to
their day to day life and agree they are
converted Christians who have committed their
life to Christ.
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Given we are 6 million strong
agree I think that there is a general bias in
Cdn society against the viewpoints that are held
by deeply committed Christians

• Have we realised our full potential as a force of
  good in Canadian society?
• What is holding us back?
• It is our assumptions about how we will be
  received?
• Evangelicals perceive a bias that others do not.

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Who and Where are We?
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Who We AreGender
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Who We AreAge Breakdown
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Who We AreCurrent Marital Status
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Who We AreHighest Level of Formal Education
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Who We AreCurrent Household Size
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Who We AreAnnual Household Income
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Where We Are
Geographical Distribution of Evangelicals
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Where We Are Denomination Affiliation
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What do We Believe and Do?
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What We BelieveOrthodox Doctrine
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What We BelieveRelationship with God
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What We DoAttendance at Religious Services
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What We DoVolunteer in the Community
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What We DoCharitable Donations to the Community
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Attitudes Toward Family and Marriage?
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Attitudes Toward Family and MarriagePrevalence
of Divorce
Evangelical Population
Canadian Population
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Attitudes Toward Family and Marriage Prevalence
of Common-law
Canadian Population
Evangelical Population
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Attitudes Toward Family and MarriageMarriage
Defined
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Attitudes Toward Family and Marriage Should
Same-sex Couples be Allowed to Marry?
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Attitudes Toward Family and Marriage Use of the
Not Withstanding Clause
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Attitudes Toward Family and Marriage Additional
Government Resources to Families with Children
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Implications

• More than 4 in 10 Evangelicals are 55 or older.
• Who will replace the grey hairs in the pews?
• Is the older generation mentoring the younger
  generation?
• As the Canadian population ages will there be a
  dramatic increase in the number of evangelical
  believers?

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Implications

• Involvement in society - Evangelicals lead the
  way.
• What kind of the impact does this have on
  society?
• Does being a volunteer outside the church create
  a shortage of volunteers for the church?
• Previous studies indicate there are a higher
  percentage of donors fall into the 55 category.
  How will this effect future giving patterns?

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Implications

• The family structure among evangelicals is
  changing no longer distinct from other Canadian
  families
• How does the large number of lone-parent families
  and blended families impact the church?
• Do we welcome those who have lived or choose to
  live common-law?

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Priorities for the Church in Canada
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Priorities for the Church in Canada

• We asked Canadians which of these nine priorities
  they felt the Church in Canada should put greater
  effort into.
• Supporting Canadian children living in poverty
• Supporting children living in poverty in places
  like Africa
• Helping to reduce pollution and preserve the
  environment in Canada
• Helping to reduce racism in Canada
• Helping to reduce homelessness in Canada
• Caring for people with HIV and AIDs in Canada
• Caring for people with HIV and AIDs in places
  like Africa
• Protecting unborn children in Canada
• Preventing the exploitation of children in
  pornography and the sex trade in Canada and the
  world

A paired choice trade-off methodology was used to
determine the relative importance. The question
was The Christian Church is committed to making
a positive contribution to Canada. A
multi-denominational group of Christians are
interested in understanding what Canadians think
the church should place a greater or lesser
priority on. I will now read you some pairs of
items the Church in Canada might focus on. As I
read each pair, I would like you to tell me which
of these two items you feel the Christian Church
should put greater effort into.
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Helping children in need and reducing
homelessness are Church priorities for Canadian
Evangelicals
Lower Importance
Higher Importance
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Evangelicals and all other Canadians see eye to
eye on the priorities for the Church in Canada
Lower Importance
Higher Importance
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Church Priorities Where are You?
of Budget
Program?

??
Supporting Canadian children living in poverty

??
Preventing the exploitation of children in
pornography and the sex trade in Canada and the
world

??
Helping to reduce homelessness in Canada

??
Supporting children living in poverty in places
like Africa

??
Helping to reduce racism in Canada

??
Caring for people with HIV and AIDS in Canada

??
Protecting unborn children in Canada

??
Caring for people with HIV and AIDS in places
like Africa

??
Helping to reduce pollution and preserve the
environment in Canada
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Canadians and the Church Today
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Canadian Christian Categories

• Census Christian identity without any church
  involvement
• Ceremonial Christian identity with self-selected
  special occasion involvement
• Customized Christian commitment with the
  individual right to self-design
• Committed Christian commitment with church
  allegiance

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Canadian Categories
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Categories By Church Affiliation
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By Church Affiliation
I dont think you need to go to church to be a
good Christian.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Categories
I dont think you need to go to church in order
to be a good Christian.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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Attendance By Church Affiliation
Other than on special occasions, such as
weddings, funerals or baptisms, how often did
you attend religious services or meetings in
the last 12 months?
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Attendance By Categories
Other than on special occasions, such as
weddings, funerals or baptisms, how often did
you attend religious services or meetings in
the last 12 months?
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Outline

• Family Experience
• Beliefs Cognitive
• Beliefs Affective
• Faith Experience
• Global Views
• Evangelism Issues

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Divorce by Church Affiliation
Have you ever been divorced?
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Divorce by Categories
Have you ever been divorced?
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Common-Law by Categories
Have you ever lived in a common-law relationship
(or are currently living in one)? By common-law
relationship we mean a relationship where you
were living with a romantic partner for six
months or longer but were not legally married.
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Protecting the Unborn Church Affiliation
Protecting unborn children in Canada
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Protecting the Unborn Categories
Protecting unborn children in Canada
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By Church Affiliation
I believe that through the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus, God provided the way for
the forgiveness of my sins.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Categories
I believe that through the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus, God provided the way for
the forgiveness of my sins.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Church Affiliation
God is understanding and forgiving.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Categories
God is understanding and forgiving.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Church Affiliation
I have committed my life to Christ and consider
myself to be a converted Christian.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Categories
I have committed my life to Christ and consider
myself to be a converted Christian.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Church Affiliation
I have an intense personal relationship with
God.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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By Categories
I have an intense personal relationship with
God.
Strongly Moderately Agree
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Beliefs About Africa Aids Priorities
Thinking of Africa, what would be, in your mind,
the most pressing issue now facing African
countries?
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HIVAIDS Church Affiliation
Caring for people with HIVAIDS in Canada
compared with Caring for people with HIVAIDS
in Africa
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HIVAIDS Categories
Caring for people with HIVAIDS in Canada
compared with Caring for people with HIVAIDS
in Africa
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By Region
I feel it is very important to encourage
non-Christians to become Christian.
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By Gender
I feel it is very important to encourage
non-Christians to become Christian.
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By Age Group
I feel it is very important to encourage
non-Christians to become Christian.
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By Categories
I feel it is very important to encourage
non-Christians to become Christian.
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Implications

• Evangelism in Canada is an emotional and complex
  issue
• Beliefs abound in the nation, who do we think
  needs to be evangelized?
• How can we free the committed from their
  perception that an anti-Christian cultural bias
  exists in the nation?
• What evangelistic styles and methods engage
  Canadians? What affront us?

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ImplicationsWhat are the long term implications
for churches if increasing numbers of their
people customize self design their faith?
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Implications

• There is little evidence that either being
  evangelical or attending church is producing
  distinctive views or nurturing different social
  priorities should leaders be concerned?
• Does this mean Christians have influenced
  Canadian culture or are we being influenced by
  our culture?