Are Canadians becoming less religious? After playing a central role in our lives for nearly a century, religion did seem to be losing its salience in Canada. Many observers saw this trend as inevitable, reflecting secularization patterns seen elsewhere in the Western world. But there is more to the story.

Reginald Bibby’s Resilient Gods takes an in-depth look at the religious landscape in Canada today. Pulling together extensive data, he finds that a solid core of some 30 percent continue to embrace religion, while a similar proportion is rejecting it. The remaining 40 percent are somewhere in the middle. The picture that emerges is not one of religious decline but rather of religious polarization, with the numbers of “pro-religious,” “no religious,” and “low religious” in flux. Such proclivities are influenced by social and cultural factors, one being increased immigration, which is ensuring the viability of a pro-religious core.

The gods are here to stay, Bibby argues, but so what? Using the most current information available, including unique national survey data, he explores the implications of pro-religious, no-religious, and low-religious choices for personal and social well-being, spirituality, and attitudes towards death. The questions he asks are compelling and the answers thought-provoking whether one embraces the gods or not.

Reginald W. Bibby, O.C., Ph.D., is a professor of sociology at the University of Lethbridge. The author of over two dozen books, he has been monitoring adult and youth social trends in Canada for more than four decades. He lives in Lethbridge, Alberta.

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Although there are few differences between Canadians who are religious and those who are not, religion appears to make a significant contribution to the social well-being of Canadians. Furthermore, this research also looks at spirituality and the attitudes of Canadians toward death, their beliefs in God, life after death, heaven, and so forth. Bibby concludes that in Canada and around the world, people variously embrace religion, reject religion, or take something of a middle position, and, despite secularization, the gods are still resilient. This comparative, insightful, illuminating book is a major contribution to the sociology of religion. Summing Up: Highly Recommended

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[…][t]his will be of interest to a wide audience and a welcome addition to congregational, parish, public, and academic libraries.

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