Is anyone in BCstill religious?

2016 Religious and Secular Values Survey

Ian Bushfield

August 21, 2016

2001 Census“What is this person's religion?Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is not currently a practising member of that group.”

• Least religious towns in Canada: Squamish and Campbell River at 55% no religion

44%

17%

15%

12%

5%

2%

2% 1% 1%1%

2011 National Household Survey

No religious affiliation

Protestant

Catholic

Other Christian

Sikh

Buddhist

Muslim

Hindu

Other religions

Jewish

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69% response rate to voluntary survey(vs >90% for mandatory census)

“What is this person's religion? Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is not

currently a practising member of that group.”

Methodologies2013 Justason Market Intelligence• Sample size: n=600

• Represents: BC adults 18+

• Telephone-online hybrid

• April 15-23, 2013

• Margin of error: ± 4.0%

2016 Insights West• Sample size: n=802

• Represents: BC adults 18+

• Online panel

• May 31 to June 3, 2016

• Margin of error: ± 3.5%

• More questions

• Different regional & ethnic breakdowns

The non-religious of BC• 72% of men vs 66% of women

• 72% 18-34s, 70% 30-54s, 66% over 55

Metro Van: 70% Fraser Valley: 61%

Northern interior: 71% Southern interior: 62%

Vancouver Island: 73%

• 67% of those earning less than $50K vs 72%

• 71% of Europeans & East Asians vs 57% of South Asians

• 44% believe in a higher power, 34% don’t, and 22% are not sure.

41%

21%

5%

15%

4%

1% 2%2%

1%

5%3%

Religions of BCProtestant

Catholic

Christian Orthodox

Other Christian

Buddhist

Sikh

Jewish

Muslim

Hindu

Other

Not sure

2013 2016

Humanist MarriagesAccording to the Marriage Act, to conduct a legal marriage in British Columbia, an individual must either be appointed as a marriage commissioner by the Government of BC to perform civil marriages or by an approved religious organization to perform religious marriages. Do you support or oppose the Government of BC allowing non-religious groups (such as atheists and humanists) to appoint individuals to perform marriages?

Atheists take stronger positions• Public education in BC should encourage

students to practice a specific religion or faith: 91% opposed

• 25% say federal government gone too far in mixing religion & government; 24% provincial (only 1-2% say too separate)

• 45% oppose religious charitable status; 68% oppose house of worship exemptions; 80% oppose other religious property tax exemptions; 69% oppose clergy income tax credit

Atheists take stronger positions• 48% oppose funding religious social

programs; 83% oppose discriminatory ones

• 80% oppose funding private religious schools; 70% oppose funding private secular schools (7% more)

• 41% oppose funding religious hospitals (9% more); 81% oppose funding those who refuse to provide abortions, assisted dying

• 76% support Humanist marriage officiants

Going forward…

Questions?