Canada is importing religious devotion.
Young and middle-aged immigrants to Canada, most of them from Asia, are countering the trend that sees homegrown Canadians becoming more secular.
I’ll write more in the future on a revealing Angus Reid Institute poll, which has found immigrants between the ages of 18 and 34 are more than twice as likely than the average Canadian to be actively religious.Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
While 21 per cent of people born in Canada attend religious services, that figure jumps to 49 per cent for young immigrants — whether they are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Sikh.
Here’s an excerpt from the Angus Reid Institute website:
Findings:
- People born outside Canada are considerably more likely to attend religious services than people born in Canada (35% versus 21%).
- Young arrivals aged 18-34 and 35-54 (increasing numbers of whom are coming from Asian and African countries) are much more likely to actively attend services than their older counterparts (49% for the young compared to 27% of those 55 and older).
- Additional analyses shows a similar, though somewhat weaker pattern holds for the religious self-designations of younger arrivals from other countries: 42 per cent of those who are 18 to 34 say they are embracing religion.
- Similarly, 38 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds born elsewhere are embracing faith – also well above the level for their Canadian-born counterparts.
Interestingly enough, it looks as if the largest religious group among immigrants in recent times has been Roman Catholics.
The second largest religious group among immigrants is Muslims, who have a much lower average age.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
