Facts About Faith
Many people are open to faith issues and according to recent surveys around 70% of people claim a belief in God, but only just over a third of these believe in a personal God, nearly two thirds believe in a life force more like that in the Star Wars films. What do you believe? Below are some faith related statistics;
- In 1947 84% of the population believed in God, and over half believed in a personal God. Since then belief in God has fallen by 16% but belief in a personal God has fallen by 42% as people switch to believing in a life force.
- The last National Census in 2001 revealed that 72% of British people class themselves as Christian but in 2005 only 7% attended church on an average Sunday. Yet 86% visit a church each year, about half of these looking for a spiritual place.
- About 50% of the British population believes in life after death, but 25% of the population believes in reincarnation, traditionally part of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths who account for less than 1.5% of the British population.
- In July 2008 52% said they believed in UFOs in a national survey for The Sun.
- In 2006 46% of 18-24 year olds had experience of various methods of fortune telling or psychics compared to only 22% of over 65s.
- A poll in November 2007 asked people four multiple-choice questions about the Christmas story, only 12% got all four right, but so did only 36% of regular church-goers.
- At the start of the 20th Century about 80% of children went regularly to church or Sunday school now it is about 12%.
