Christian beliefs eroding

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 8

Christian beliefs eroding

NZPA London Belief in Christ as the son of God has fallen significantly in the last 20 years, a Gallup poll of religious beliefs in Britain has revealed. So has the belief that the Bible is essential to the Christian Church. More than three-quar-ters of the cross-section of British people questioned believed in God, much the same as 10 years ago. But only 55 per cent believed Christ to be the son of God, compared with more than 70 per cent in a similar survey in 1957 and 60 per cent In 1963.

! In 1957 only nine per cent believed Christ to be “just a man,” but in the latest survey 25 per cent claimed to. Belief in God was strongest among women and the elderly. A quarter of the men questioned said they believed in a personal God, while nearly half of the women questioned said they did. Belief in Heaven has remained steady in the last 20 years, however, as has belief in both Hell and the Devil. Belief in reincarnation has risen from 18 per cent in 1968 to 28 per cent in the latest survey. Analysis of the itatis-

tics by frequency of church-going showed the same sharp differences as between men and women. It also showed, however, that non-attendance at church did not necessarily mean a lack of religious beliefs.

While 96 per cent of those claiming to go to church at least once a month believed in God, more than 50 per cent of those who never, or very rarely, attended church also believed in God. Belief in Heaven among regular church-goers was 78 per cent, and among non-churchgoers it was less than 40 per cent.