Belief in God

Another interesting UMR poll. I like the scale they used which was:

• Are absolutely certain it is true
• Are fairly certain it is true
• Believe it’s true but are not too certain
• Believe it’s true but are not at all certain
• Believe it’s not true but are not at all certain
• Believe it’s not true but are not too certain
• Are fairly certain it is not true
• Are absolutely certain it is not true

The first four can be totalled to be agreement and the last four disagreement, but as interesting as the totals are the breakdowns.

On belief in God, the responses were:

• 28% absolutely certain it is true
• 13% fairly certain it is true
• 9% believe it’s true but are not too certain
• 11% believe it’s true but are not at all certain
• 6% believe it’s not true but are not at all certain
• 5% believe it’s not true but are not too certain
• 11% are fairly certain it is not true
• 16% are absolutely certain it is not true

I am amused at the 44% who answer absolutely certain there is or is not a God. I’d love to know how they can be “absolutely” certain!

The demographic breakdown is interesting:

72% of women believe in God, compared with 52% of men.

That’s a large difference, and not one I was aware of previously. Why would 20% more women believe in God? Is it men are more into proof than faith?

65% of Maori and 72% of Pacific people believe in God.

Less surprising.

Another question was if you believed Jesus Christ was a real person who lived 2,000 years ago. This was regardless of if you think he was the son of God, a prophet, a preacher etc.

• 29% absolutely certain it is true
• 25% fairly certain it is true
• 10% believe it’s true but are not too certain
• 14% believe it’s true but are not at all certain
• 4% believe it’s not true but are not at all certain
• 4% believe it’s not true but are not too certain
• 6% are fairly certain it is not true
• 8% are absolutely certain it is not true

I’m surprised 14% are fairly or absolutely certain that Jesus never existed.