Spirituality in Canada Is Strong

Religion or spirituality plays a role in the lives of about eight out of ten Canadians, and more than 20 percent of Canadians consider themselves as professing deep devotion to God or a higher power, according to a new study released by the Angus Reid Institute in partnership with Faith in Canada 150.

Overall, 57 percent of Canadians believe in heaven, and 41 percent in hell.

And, generally speaking, says the study, people in what is called the Religiously Committed category — containing 21 percent of those who were surveyed — are happier and more engaged with their communities. They are also more apt to donate time and money to causes important to them.

Although the study does not break down the numbers to specify Christians or members of other faith groups, it isn’t hard to consider that many Canadian CRC members fit into this group of the Religiously Committed, says Darren Roorda, the CRC’s director of Canadian Ministries.

“Being in authentic relationship and caring for others is a core part of who we are as Christians,” he said. “According to Scripture, we are called to love others, and being ‘happy’ can be understood as the joy that comes from knowing Christ in all parts of involvement in his world.”

Looking through the study, Roorda said he is sorry to see, but not necessarily surprised, that only 20 percent of Canadians fall into this category.

“Sadly, we do live in a secular age where people are no longer as willing to affirm a strong belief in a particular view of God, so there would be no need in their mind to become part of a particular worshiping community.”

At the same time, he said, it is good that some 30 percent of those surveyed are “privately faithful,” meaning they believe in God, believe in heaven, and believe in an afterlife. However, people in this group are largely not involved in organized religion other than to attend funerals and weddings and other types of special services.

“This is a group that I’d like to see the church reach out to and find ways to put a particular name and gracious lifestyle to their generic belief. This can be done by including them in our life of worship and service,” he said.

There is also a group, coming in at about 30 percent, who are called “spiritually uncertain.” They believe in God but aren’t sure what role God plays in the world. Steve Kabetu, from the Christian Reformed Church’s new mission agency, feels that this group too is in need of CRC outreach.

“This is a group we as Christians can reach out to. We can find approaches and opportunities to share with them things about God, about his purposes, that might help to make them feel less uncertain,” he said.

Another element of the study that appears to be relevant to the CRC in Canada is that faith communities that have been growing in recent years have included large numbers of immigrants.

Some of these immigrants, notably many from Syria, have been taken in and helped by CRC congregations to adjust to a new life in Canada.

“The CRC has long welcomed people from other countries, following Christ’s command that we ‘love the stranger,’” said Kabetu.

In seeking to discover how respondents thought about certain words, the survey found while “the concepts that various faiths espouse — forgiveness, morality, and mercy — are viewed positively, [the word] religion itself evokes more negative associations.”

Two terms — evangelism and born-again — carried “a negative meaning for at least four-in-ten Canadians,” says the study.

“We can’t let words get in the way of our churches’ becoming more open and attractive. Perhaps by allowing the Spirit to become active in us, we can live out a faith that to others is not a stale religion or seen as evangelism that seems intrusive,” Kabetu said.

In addition, the study found that “the most devout religious followers in Canada are more likely to be found in the prairies.” Meanwhile, the study found that British Columbia is home to the highest proportion of non-believers, at about 27 percent.

“The report has some interesting findings that help tell us what Canadians believe and how faith affects them,” said Roorda.

“For the CRC in Canada, this report gives us lots of hope in that the vast majority of people in this country hold to some sort of faith in God — but many are uncertain and are looking for the solid hope that faith in Christ can provide.”

In closing, the study explains, “This report is the first installment in a year-long partnership between the Angus Reid Institute and Faith in Canada 150. Future releases will deal with the effects of one’s position on the spectrum of spirituality on socio-political and moral beliefs, as well as Canadians’ views about the role of faith and religious belief in shaping Canada’s history and its potential to shape Canada’s future.”