Posted on 04/24/2006 7:16:13 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2
Almost one in five Canadians believe that Jesus Christ's death on the cross was faked and that he married and had a family, according to a new poll that challenges the cornerstone Christian belief in the resurrection.
Albertans were most likely to accept The Da Vinci Code's premise, with 22 per cent reporting they believe in a hoax.
"It shows that The Da Vinci Code is winning the day," says religious studies professor Richard Ascough, referring to the bestselling novel that raises the conspiracy theory.
The poll, conducted for CanWest News Service in the days leading up to Easter, indicated that 17 per cent of Canadians and 13 per cent of Americans believe author Dan Brown's premise, which has been fiercely disputed by Christian religious leaders, most recently in a Good Friday services.
Seventy-three per cent of Canadians and 78 per cent of Americans said they believe that Jesus died on the cross and he was resurrected to eternal life. The Resurrection is central to the Christian faith and Easter is considered the most important religious holiday of the year.
Another new book, The Jesus Papers by author Michael Baigent, also claims that Christ never died on the cross but that he married Mary Magdalene and he later moved to France with their daughter.
Ipsos Reid conducted its telephone survey with 814 Canadians and 768 Americans on April 11 and 12. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times in 20.
Andrew Grenville, the polling firm's senior vice-president, said he was shocked that many Canadians believe the death of Jesus was faked. He said the number was particularly surprising considering only 10 per cent of Canadians identify themselves as atheist or agnostic.
"The fact that so many people embrace this belief that has been popularized in The Da Vinci Code, I found shocking, frankly," Grenville said.
"I would have expected a lot of people to say Jesus never existed, or Jesus was just some guy, but to say the death was faked and he had kids is a very firm position to take. It speaks to the power of storytelling."
Grenville said he believes it is the first time the question has been asked in a poll, so there is no way of determining whether views have changed on the question.
Ascough, a professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., said he's surprised that only 10 per cent of Canadians and nine per cent of Americans had no answer to the question. He speculated that the debate surrounding The Da Vinci Code and The Jesus Papers has forced people into forming opinions.
"There's sort of no middle ground," he said. "I wonder if works like Baigent's and Dan Brown's have forced people to say, 'I don't buy that Jesus didn't die so therefore I will affirm that he did.' "
The poll revealed a clear division between Christians and non-Christians, with only eight per cent of Christians accepting the conspiracy compared to 31 per cent of non-Christians.
After Albertans, Quebecers were next most likely to believe in the hoax theory at 19 per cent, followed by Ontarians at 18 per cent and British Columbians at 15 per cent. Only 13 per cent of Atlantic Canadians and eight per cent of residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan reported believing in the theory.
The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 40 million copies since its release in March 2003 and a movie based on the book will premiere next month.
1)The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2)Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Why, because 20 percent of Canadians are clueless liberals who believe a work of fiction is gospel.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it! 80% of Albertains don't beleive in clap trap!!
People I wouldn't want to be:
Dan Brown, Author
Ron Howard, Producer
Tom Hanks, Actor
Seems like these folks have kinda taken sides. 'Course, they'll make a lot of bucks. But I'd shore hate to take sides on sumthin' this big and find out later I wuz wrong.
"It shows that The Da Vinci Code is winning the day," says religious studies professor Richard Ascough
Time for a remedial math class, Professor.
Yawn!
Canadians will believe anything ~ for example, they actually think they are a country.
2 Timothy
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Should we blame the government?
Or blame society?
Or should we blame the images on TV?
No, blame Canada
Blame Canada
With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Canada
Blame Canada
We need to form a full assault
It's Canada's fault!
"2)Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."
That one applies to FAR more people than Dan Brown!!
Hint: It's not hypocrisy - it's FICTION!
P.S. Canucks are stupid anyways.
I wonder if these people have noticed that "The DaVinci Code" is on the FICTION list of bestsellers. Other books they might enjoy include "Democrats Will Make Your Life Better."
LOL! Paul sure wasn't talking of the with young Timothy, now was he?
Whoops--upon reading vs. 3 + 4 of 1 Timothy...maybe Paul was prophesying??
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