Two per cent of Anglican priests don’t believe in God, a poll of clergy in the United Kingdom has revealed.
A YouGov survey covered more than 1500 clergy from the Church of England, the Church in Wales and the Scottish Episcopal Church.
As many as 16 per cent were “unclear” about God and two per cent thought God is merely a human construct.
The YouGov poll found that three per cent believe there is some sort of spirit or life force.
Clergy were significantly more likely to hold unorthodox beliefs the older they were and the longer they had been in ministry.
Rev. David Paterson, a retired Church of England priest, said there was no conflict in preaching while being unable to believe in God.
“I preach using God’s terminology, but never with the suggestion that God actually exists.
“Once you have accepted that religion is a human creation, then it is like art and literature and things like that.
“They are an extremely valuable way to understand yourself.”
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