Canadians Admire Jesus but Distrust Christianity, Survey Finds

A new national survey by Angus Reid Group, conducted in partnership with Alpha Canada and The Message Canada, has found a sharp contrast in how Canadians view Jesus and Christianity. Many respondents expressed “admiration and appreciation for Jesus,” while associating the Christian faith with judgement, control and division. The survey found that 76% of Canadians regard Jesus as loving and 73% as selfless. By comparison, 64% described Christianity as judgmental, 62% said it causes arguments, and 57% considered it controlling.

The findings were released on 15 October under the title “Seeds of Openness: How Canadians View Faith Conversations, the Church and Jesus.” The study surveyed 3,000 Canadian adults online between 10 and 18 February 2026. A companion report, “Sharing Jesus,” was written by Dr Bill Hogg, president of The Message Canada, and examines what the findings mean for Christian evangelism.

According to the research, nearly two-thirds of Canadians (64%) consider themselves spiritual, though in their own way, and 56% are receptive to spiritual or transcendent experiences. Around 70% of adults actively seek understanding and conversation about meaning, purpose, beliefs and spirituality, or often think and speak about these topics. The survey’s authors suggest that declining attachment to religious institutions does not necessarily indicate a lack of interest in faith.

Among the questions weighing most heavily on respondents were whether everything would turn out all right (52%), what would bring them genuine happiness (51%) and what happens after death (43%). More than two-thirds also believed that Canadian society lacks a common sense of meaning and purpose capable of bringing people together. Dr Hogg said these concerns present an opportunity for churches to engage with people’s deeper questions about life and faith. “The Church has an opportunity to show that Jesus and the King Jesus story offer a credible and life-giving answer to the meaning Canadians already know they need,” he wrote.

The report also documented considerable resistance to Christianity. Around three-quarters of non-Christians expressed no interest “in exploring Christianity in any form,” and approximately half reported feeling uneasy when people spoke openly about their faith. Many non-Christians believe religion has historically “been used to control or harm people,” a view the report links to distrust of religious institutions. Churches that wish to be trusted must speak truthfully and with care when that history of harm is still felt (Ephesians 4:15).

Personal relationships appear to play an important role in whether people are willing to talk about Christianity. More than eight in ten non-Christians (81%) reported having at least one practising Christian in their social circle, often a close friend or family member, and 67% had previously discussed faith with a churchgoing Christian. Among non-Christian respondents, 26% had done so within the previous year, while 41% had engaged in such a conversation more than a year earlier.

Source: Read the original report