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Source: Reuters -
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A religious historian says while few people will be going to church this Easter, most still have a strong belief in God.
Peter Lineham from Massey University says today's superficial, shallow society does not have much space for deeper issues but religious values still stick around in society.
He says a new survey shows traditional "strong" religion is more popular while general religion is in big decline.
Lineham says there has been an "incredible plummet" in the number of people who nominally say they are religious or Christian, but a very high level of people hold all sorts of religious beliefs.
In the Massey University survey 20% of people said they have been born again while 25% said they have had a religious life changing experience.
And while support for the church is ebbing away, a core group of about 20% continue to be strongly involved in Catholic and Pentecostal churches. But Associate Professor Lineham says traditional places of religion such as Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches are in trouble and the age of the congregation is badly skewed towards the elderly.
However Lineham says while many traditional churches are struggling they haven't died out and he believes this is because people usually get exhausted by "rave religion" and move off to something a bit more sober and reflective as they get older.
Lineham says people still ask questions about God and prayer but these are not being sustained by the church. And he says an extraordinary number of people (41%) believe the Bible is absolutely the word of God.
The recession has also led to renewed interest in religion, with Lineham saying people have always turned to God when they are down and out.
But he says what is changing is where they are going for help. And he says there is nothing in society that keeps people believing when times are good, leaving religion "completely marginalised".
Does Easter have any religious significance for you? Have your say on the messageboard below
Add a Comment:
Post new commentjansmulds said on 2009-04-13 @ 08:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
The sublime and glorious reality which we call God, is to be sought first and foremost in the human heart. If we do not find God there, we shall not find God anywhere else. If we do find God there, we can never lose God again; wherever we turn we shall see God's face. 'The Way of Paradox' Meister Eckhart.
jansmulds said on 2009-04-12 @ 16:07 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a convert to Catholism Easter is hugely significant. As a young child, I vividly recall being christened in the presbyterian church. For a five year old this was to be a very meaningful experience, appealing to the senses with the water being poured onto our heads (two of my siblings were also baptised at the same time) and our other family members present. As I grew up I decided God did not exist and so called myself an atheist.
kane007 said on 2009-04-09 @ 18:03 NZDT: Report abusive post
Scandinavian "Ostra"and the Teutonic "Ostern"or "Eastre" are the clear pagan spring celebrations that existed for centuries prior to the emergence of that other sect, Christianity. So people were celebrating the beginnings of spring long before the Christians hijacked a wonderful celebration for their own ends. But how dare us non believers dare question those who believe snakes and bushes on fire talk. No wait, that's called Schizophrenia.
radioron said on 2009-04-09 @ 13:20 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a load of self-serving reassuring bollocks. How about some very necessary background questions.... who did they survey? As I find it very hard to believe that I am surrounded by 41% of people who believe the bible is the word of god?? Do they really believe in talking snakes, humans who live in whales, a big ark, walking on water etc etc. If so we're deifinitely not keeping it real in NZ, and we've got a long way to go if the next generation are being groomed to believe this tripe.
sarahp said on 2009-04-09 @ 12:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
While I'm not religious and don't attend Church at all, I still think that people should know the reasons why we have Easter - it's a tradition and whether secular or religious people should know what the history is.