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A new survey found that nearly half of Australians who do not consider themselves born-again Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead.
Ahead of Easter, the Center for Public Christianity in Sydney surveyed 2,500 people and found that 45 percent of those who do not identify themselves as born-again, including those of other religions, believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"We are staggered," said John Dickson, co-director of the research center, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. "We thought the survey would show the profound skepticism of Australians. Instead it shows there is a base-level assumption among the Australian public that accepts the Jesus story even if it has no relevance to their lives."
The research center, which works to promote the public understanding of the Christian faith, sought to explore the beliefs of those who do not attend church, loosely identify with Christianity, are non-religious or identify with a non-Christian religion.
In addition to belief in the resurrection, 57 percent said they knew Easter was connected with the death of Jesus Christ and 87 percent knew it concerned the resurrection.
Also, 90 percent of non-born-agains identified Jesus with Christianity and 60 percent knew his life was recorded in the New Testament.
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Half said they believe Jesus was a real figure with divine powers; 39 percent said he was real but without divine powers; and only 11 percent said Jesus was not a real figure.
Only 4 percent confused Easter with Christmas.
A similar survey in the United States in 2007 found that 75 percent of non-born-again Christians believe that Jesus literally came back to life, according to the Center for Missional Research of the North American Mission Board. Among those who never attend church, 39 percent said they believe in the resurrection.
Easter Sunday this year falls on April 12.
