First ‘NZ Asks God’ National Poll Identifying Kiwis Top 5 Questions

An Auckland City Church wants to break down barriers by inviting Kiwis nationwide to talk about God and Christianity in an inaugural anonymous poll that closes on 30 June.

Greenlane Christian Centre has launched a quick poll at http://nzasksgod.co.nz to spark an online conversation between believers, seekers and non-believers. While there is plenty of offshore data online this is a first for New Zealand,

“We all have this worry that we’re not meant to talk about politics or religion yet I would argue that they affect us as a country in a significant way” says Jonathan Dove, Pastor at Greenlane Christian Centre.

“The poll is simple way to ask that burning question. It doesn’t matter what your background or belief is or even if you don’t have one.”

Dove hopes the opportunity to ask and get an answer may help Kiwis think and grow as a nation around the topic together.

Common 5 questions this week include “Are you the same God as Muslims worship?”, “Why do some people go to hell, if God is a loving God?”, “What is God’s relationship with the Devil?”, “Is there proof of the miracles in the Bible?”, “Why does God sometimes intervene and other times doesn’t?”

Poll participants have spanned across age groups from Gen Y to Baby Boomers and it’s an even split between men and women responding.

A theologically trained team comprised of the former CEO of the Warehouse Group, several published authors, a MBA and a PhD will thoroughly research and answer the most popular questions before the end of the survey.

Insights from the top 5 questions and answers from the NZ Asks God poll will be released publicly in July both online and at a series of community events.

Currently the church is spreading the word with targeted advertising, a social media campaign resyndicating trending questions and a video team capturing reactions from ‘the man on the street’.

“It seems like there are a tonne of questions in people’s minds that perhaps have put some barriers in between them and God or them and Christianity some way.”

It’s the first national poll conducted by the church, established 35 years ago. It sees it as a pivotal discussion given its effect on identity, beliefs, and how Kiwis act together as a community.

In May as precursor to the survey, the church has hosted a popular ‘conversation series’ involving guest speakers on the themes of poverty, euthanasia, Muslim faith and sexuality.

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