Read the headline:
Many Canadians don't believe in a god: poll
Oh dear, that's bad news for God. Or is it?
TORONTO -- Fewer than three-quarters of Canadians believe in a god, suggests a new Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey.
So how many fewer than 75%????
The poll found 72 per cent of respondents said they believed in a god, while 23 per cent said they did not believe in any god. Six per cent did not offer an opinion.
Oh, so 72% believe in a god, right that's way fewer than three-quarters. Do you see the deception here? Most people read only the title and the first paragraph or two. So what's the next paragraph?
"Religion in Canada today is not a particularly divisive subject and tolerance levels for different beliefs are high,'' said Harris-Decima president Bruce Anderson. "This is evident in the fact that one in four people feel comfortable saying they do not believe in a god.''
Tolerance levels are high and it's not divisive, and this is a BAD thing, that's what the title leads us to believe. So, 72% of us believe in a god, and we tolerate other opinions, so what's the problem?
At least one commenter understood the bias:
Bill Fraser
Why is this story written like more people than not believe in a god? It is quite clear that the majority of Canadians believe in a god. I would like to know what the question was that was asked.
Me too Bill! Why didn't the title say: 23% of Canadians are godless? Sad, biased reporting by CTV.
The best comment is this one:
Steve in Aylmer
I'd say most people hold God in the same light as police officers.
We curse them but who's the first person we call when someone's trying to break into our homes...the police...but damn them for doing their jobs when they give us traffic tickets.
It's the same with believing in God. When at any given moment you look for someone to help in your time of need...we look to God.
For example, God help my baby live through this terrible accident, God help my parents survive cancer.
The great thing about the word of God is even on your death bed...call unto him and he'll forgive you of your sins.
In your time of need, you will suddenly believe in God! Funny how that works.
8 comments:
I saw the comments...no one has commented after Steve...maybe everyone is thinking.
I saw the CTV headline when it said "Most Canadians don't believe..."..at least they changed it from that 'mis-statement.'
bluetech
The news on CBC2 was quite funny as well. They gave the numbers straight up and then go on to the probability of the poll. A sample this size is "NORMALLY" accurate 19times out of 20.
Yeah -- I saw the results of this poll and I thought the media spin was absurd and confusing. What's the point of distorting something like this? This less than straightforward reporting makes the media look like manipulators -- and amateur ones at that.
a god. that is what 70 odd percent of canadians believe. what is their god? money the government pension, a new house, a case of beer a week. a god. i wonder what G-d actually thinks about that.
I think CTV expects people to read more than the headline.
Of course, you conservatards can't even read at all, so...well...
Wow Anon 7:32, I'm amazed by your debating skills!
Anon 6:37, good point, it talks about "god" not "God", that could mean anything.
CTV has a history of a problematic definition of "many" or "much". Years ago, during the previous Lebanon debacle, they had a headline stating that "much of Beruit had been destroyed". The best estimate I could arrive at from multiple sources was just over 1% so I wrote them to ask what their definition of "much" was and provided references to my sources.
Of course I never heard back and so I sent a complaint to the CRTC which sent me back some baffelgab about editorial freedom or some such nonsence.
I can remember when CTV was a class act and by far the best media in this country. In recent years it has become purile infantile and drooling hypocrites that are not worthy of the right to flour paste posters onto hydro poles. (real conservative)
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