Most Canadians have a positive view of Jesus Christ, but are considerably more critical of Christianity itself. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of Canadians consider themselves spiritual, although they do not necessarily associate their spirituality with any particular religion.
These are the findings of a new survey conducted by the Angus Reid Group in partnership with Alpha Canada and The Message Canada, according to the inVictory news website.
According to the survey, 76% of respondents described Jesus as loving, 73% as selfless, 56% as powerful and 49% as revolutionary, while 47% believe He has the power to transform people’s lives.
By contrast, Christianity evokes predominantly negative associations among many respondents. Some 64% described it as judgmental, 62% associated it with conflict and controversy, 57% viewed it as a religion that seeks to control people and 55% considered it divisive. A further 33% believe Christianity is misunderstood.
When asked about their own spiritual beliefs, 64% of respondents said they considered themselves “spiritual, but in their own way.” More than half (56%) said they were open to spiritual experiences and encounters that transcend the material world.
The findings come amid ongoing discussions about the role of religion in Canadian public life. Janet Epp Buckingham, director of the World Evangelical Alliance’s office at the United Nations in Geneva, previously expressed concern over Bill 9 in the province of Quebec, titled the “Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec.” The proposed legislation would restrict collective religious activities in public places, except under certain circumstances.
As LF previously reported, the number of believers is declining in traditionally Christian regions. These findings are presented in the Status of Global Christianity 2026 report, prepared by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the United States.
A study involving more than 24,000 Christian churchgoers in the United States found that church attendance had increased five years after the pandemic. The report was prepared by Faith Communities Today as part of a project examining the pandemic’s impact on church congregations.
It was previously reported that 32% of Russians who identify as Orthodox Christians never attend religious services, while 10% have never visited a church. These findings come from a survey conducted by St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University (PSTGU). According to the same study, 65% of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians.
