NATIONAL PULSE – Most Canadians believe there’s a life after this one

Posted on March 27, 2024 in Feedback, National Pulse, Page One // 0 Comments

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Only one-in-eight Canadians rule out the possibility of life continuing after death entirely

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

March 27, 2024 – For many Canadians, Easter weekend has become a secular holiday celebrated by students as spring break and marked with a statutory holiday for workers across the country.

But the religious significance of the date still holds import for Christians, who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and perhaps provides an opportunity for others to consider if there is life beyond what we know.

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with Cardus, finds three-in-five Canadians believe there is some sort of life after death – whether that is the heaven or hell of the Christian faith, the Jannah or Jahannam of Islam, or the reincarnation of the soul believed by Sikhs and Hindus.

The belief in the afterlife has been held at a majority level steadily in survey data seen back to 1960. Two-in-five (40%) say there is no life after this one, but only one-in-eight (13%) Canadians “definitely” rule it out.

As Christians celebrate the Holy Week, they do so with varying beliefs depending on their sect. Evangelical Christians are the most likely (92% say yes) to believe in life after death, while Roman Catholics express more doubt (67%).

Among the other Abrahamic faiths, Muslims (87%) strongly believe while Jews predominately doubt the existence of life after death at a majority level (60%). Hindus (71%), who celebrated the arrival of spring with Holi this week, and Sikhs (67%) are also firm in their belief of life after death.