GOING? Is Christianity on its way out in Christchurch?

While many of us will enjoy a chocolate bunny on Sunday morning, it seems fewer people than ever may be celebrating the religious side of Easter this year. Anna Turner looks at the decline of Christianity in Christchurch.

Christchurch's churches have taken a battering over the past few years, with many still lying broken and in pieces. And it seems the state of faith in the city has taken a hit too.

The number of Christians in Christchurch is dropping, while those identifying as non-religious is steadily on the rise.

Although it will be months before the data from this year's census is processed, all predictions are that for the first time less than 50 per cent of the New Zealand population will identify as Christian.

Churches are concerned, with some saying they will have to evolve if they want to stay relevant to modern-day society.

Figures from the last three censuses show the number of people identifying as Christian in New Zealand declined from 64.2 per cent in 1996 to 54.4 per cent in 2006, while those identifying as non-religious increased from 25.4 per cent to 33.9 per cent.

Christchurch has followed the national trend closely, with Christian respondents dropping from 63.6 per cent to 53.5 per cent over the 10 years.

Those in Christchurch identifying as non-religious rose from 27 per cent to 36.7 per cent.

New Zealand Humanists president Mark Fletcher believed the role of religion was declining in society.

"I have a strong view that it is very possible for an individual to live a moral, meaningful and fulfilling life in our society without having to believe in gods or other supernatural beings."

Fellow humanist Peter Harrison led a campaign telling people to "tick no to religion" on the 2013 census.

"We were trying to tell people that just because you were born into a religion doesn't mean that you have to identify as that for your whole life.

"There's a lot of people who aren't practising Christians who tick yes because they were christened."

Harrison was pleased with the drop in Christians.

"From my perspective, we're heading in a positive direction. I think the figures show more people are applying rational thought to their lives."

However, Christchurch churches believed religion still played a strong role in the city.

Father John Adams of the St Joseph's Catholic Parish in Papanui believed the number of Catholics in the city had not dropped.

"The Roman Catholic population in New Zealand has stayed constant for the last 100 years. We are not diminishing."

In any case, he believed the number of Christians in the city was not as important as the strength of their belief.

"I think a small but ardent group of Christians is more effective than a larger group of less passionate Christians."

Adams also believed the earthquakes might have driven more people back to church: "In times of uncertainty, people are drawn to faith."

New Brighton Union Parish's the Rev Mark Gibson said numbers had dropped at his parish over the years for "a variety of reasons".

However, he believed there were many "spiritual people" in Christchurch who might not tick a particular religion on the census.

"There's a lot of people who believe in God but don't want to be constricted by the church organisation.

"They may tick no religion, but I count them as religious."

Many religious leaders believed the churches would have to re-invent themselves if they wanted to "keep up" with modern-day society.

Gibson said many of the older generations of Christians were dying out and young people "look at faith in a completely different way".

According to the last census, many Christchurch Christians were older, with 20.6 per cent being over 65.

Those who were non-religious in Christchurch seemed to be younger - 23.9 per cent were under 15 and only 4.2 per cent over 65.

Some churches tried to attract younger followers with youth groups and Christian rock bands.

Gibson thought churches would have to continue to "evolve" if they wanted to appeal to the young.

"I believe churches need to allow people to grow as people without restricting them.

"Often as young people are growing up they feel the church organisation holds them back and the church needs to learn to be more accepting and encouraging."

Metropolitan Community Church worship leader Neil Hellewell said the key issue was that the majority of mainstream denominations had not changed their services for many years.

"The needs of the wider, and younger, Christian community are different to those who currently attend worship services.

"Younger people express faith differently, have a wider understanding and experience with different spiritual traditions."

He believed churches and faith communities needed to "reflect society more closely and accurately rather than being mired in the dogma of yesteryear".

"The slowness that the majority of denominations have in responding to major issues, such as inclusiveness of all people regardless of sexuality, can only be seen as frustrating to a generation who is used to instant information at their fingertips.

"Change must be faster, or denominations will lose - and fail to attract and reach out to the new generations of Christians."

FAITH v REASON: THE SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER

Christian

Christchurch maths teacher Campbell Gordon, 28, has been a member of the New Life Church since he was 12 years old.

He grew up in a "semi-religious" family but became truly converted through the church's youth group.

"From a young age I always believed that there was something out there. That sounds a bit lame if you don't share my faith, but I've been through some things in my life and I have seen God's work."

Religion now plays a heavy role in Gordon's life.

"For me, I have a personal conviction that God is my saviour. He gives me a sense of hope."

Gordon believed churches needed to keep attracting young people if they wanted to stay relevant.

"I believe churches need to keep relevant and interesting to teenagers if they want to survive. Some churches are great at that, like New Life and Majestic, but some of the smaller community churches don't want to adapt."

However, he still thought churches played a vital role in society.

"It's not just about religion. It's about a group of people who come together and support each other. It's a community group and I think it's very much still needed in Christchurch."

He said more people attended his church immediately after the earthquakes, but did not stay.

"Most of them just came for a few sessions and then left. That's OK. Our church community is there for whoever needs us."

Non-religious

Christchurch student Rata Ingram, 16, does not believe in God and never has.

"Religion has never made any sense to me," she said.

"I've got a strong interest in science and religion doesn't fit in with that. It's always seemed a bit silly."

She was raised in an atheist household and the majority of her friends were non-religious.

"Ever since I was a little kid we were brought up in a house without religion and it's never played a part of my life. I think it's a personal choice to believe and I don't."

Ingram believed religion held little relevance to today's society and said church was unappealing to young people.

"It doesn't have much to do with our lives. It seems very outdated and restrictive. I don't think many people can relate to it."

She had never been to a church youth group and said her friends who attended only went for fun, not because they were Christian.

"They don't see it as a religious thing, but just as a way to hang out."

Ingram believed religious holidays, such as Easter, now held little significance for most people.

"People now grow up with the Easter bunny and Santa Claus instead of Jesus. In the olden days it would have had more relevance. Religion just has less and less to do with everyday life."