Jedwab points out the curiosity that 40.9 per cent of Jews say they are very attached to their religious group, but only 26.1 per cent strongly agree there is a God. Sikhs have an even wider split: 76.9 per cent are “very attached,” and just 46.2 per cent “strongly agree” there is a God.
In all other religions, strong belief polls higher than strong attachment.
Across Canada, British Columbia and Quebec stand out as places where strong agreement in the existence of God is actually weaker than hedged or uncertain belief. Everywhere else, the “somewhat agree” numbers are lower than “strongly agree.”
Nationally, 32.8 per cent of Canadians strongly agree there is a God, compared to 18.5 per cent who “somewhat agree,” a split of nearly 15 points. In Alberta, that split is much higher at more than 25 points (39.3 per cent strongly agree, and 18.5 per cent somewhat agree). In the Prairies, the split is more than 35 points, with barely one person in ten saying they “somewhat agree” that God exists.
He also notes the rural and urban divide, and how rural regions were historically associated with the most robust faith practices. That has changed too, particularly in Quebec, where declining Catholicism is paired with urban immigration of people more devoted and attached to their religion.
Looking at the age progression, the “strongly agree that God exists” numbers start out strong among the 18-24 age cohort with 36.3 per cent, but they dip to 22.4 per cent among people in the 25-34 age group, then climb back into the 30s. At age 75 plus, the “strongly agrees” are at their highest proportion at 39.1 per cent, more than 20 points higher than “somewhat agree.”
Roughly one person in five either does not know or prefers to keep their view to themselves and not answer.
Because of how this poll was conducted — via online survey of 1,843 members of Leger’s public opinion research program in late February and early March, with results weighted by census data according to age, gender and region — a true margin of error cannot be calculated. But a randomized poll with a similar number of respondents would be considered accurate to within 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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