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Most B.C. residents believe in God, but few attend church regularly: survey

Throughout the course of this century, British Columbia has been the most irreligious province in Canada. In the 2001 national census, 35.1% of British Columbians claimed to have no religion when they filed their forms.
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Throughout the course of this century, British Columbia has been the most irreligious province in Canada. In the 2001 national census, 35.1% of British Columbians claimed to have no religion when they filed their forms. By 2011, the proportion rose significantly to 44.1%.

We will need to wait at least a couple of years for a new official assessment from Statistics Canada. However, with Easter around the corner, it is a good time to take a look at the state of religion in British Columbia.

This month, Research Co. asked British Columbians about the existence or non-existence of God, their attendance to religious services and who or what they turn to when they face a time of need, concern or reflection.

Many British Columbians believe in a higher power. Practically two in five of the province’s residents (39%) are convinced that God exists, while 22% tend to believe that God exists. This means that 61% of British Columbians can be described as “strong” or “moderate” believers.

Women are more likely to be convinced that God exists (43%) than men (35%). On a regional basis, strong belief in God is highest in Northern B.C. (50%) and Southern B.C. (48%) but drops markedly in Vancouver Island (36%) and the Lower Mainland (34%).

About three in 10 British Columbians (29%) are either convinced that God does not exist (16%) or tend to believe that God does not exist (13%). So, by a two-to-one margin, British Columbians are more likely to say there is a God.

In spite of this high number of devotees, going to church every week is something that a tiny minority is currently doing. Two thirds of British Columbians (67%) say they never attend religious services, other than weddings, baptisms or funerals.

The proportion of residents who choose not to participate in religious services is highest (70%) among B.C. millennials (aged 18 to 34) and falls slightly (68%) among those in generation X (ages 35 to 54). Among baby boomers (55 and over) it is 59%.

Only 3% of British Columbians say they attend services at least once a week, including 5% of those aged 55 and over and 7% of those who reside in Southern B.C.

Setting aside their views on the existence of a higher power or creator, British Columbians are finding different ways to deal with the big questions of life than their predecessors. The notion of a priest or pastor playing the role of a de facto analyst and counsellor is going out of style. The proportion of British Columbians who either confessed or sought advice from a religious figure is extremely low (2%, increasing to 5% among those aged 55 and over).

There are larger proportions of British Columbians who are bouncing ideas off non-religious figures. More than one in 10 (11%) visited a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or a psychologist and 7% visited a “life coach” to help identify personal goals.

Visits to mental health professionals peak with millennials and generation X (14% for each group), while “life coaching” is slightly more popular among those aged 18 to 34 (10%). In contrast, baby boomers are equally likely to have visited a mental health professional, a “life coach” or a religious figure to seek advice.

When it comes to solace, meditation has overtaken prayer as a go-to tool for weary British Columbians. While one in four residents (24%) say they prayed to God over the past 12 months (even though, as we have outlined, 61% are strong or moderate believers), the proportion is slightly higher for meditation (27%).

Those in the youngest adult age group are more likely to have meditated than prayed over the last year (31% to 23%), and a similar gap is observed with generation X (26% to 21%). British Columbians aged 55 and over are still favouring prayer (29%) but meditation is closing in (26%).

The survey shows that British Columbians are particularly eclectic and fussy when pondering spirituality. Most residents believe or tend to believe in God, but few make their way to the pews unless someone is getting married, was born or has died.

In addition, only one out of every 50 residents are still seeking advice from religious figures, with more solutions being sought from mental health professionals and “life coaches.” British Columbians appear to be losing their “organized” religion, but not necessarily their faith.

Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.

Results are based on an online study conducted April 4–7, 2019, among 800 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error – which measures sample variability – is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.