Poll reveals ignorance about meaning of Easter

The nation has just enjoyed a four-day weekend to mark Easter but a new poll has revealed widespread ignorance of what the festival is actually about.

The Sunday Telegraph went on to the streets of London, Birmingham and Bristol to ask around 100 people five questions about the Easter story.

Only around half – 55 per cent – correctly identified Judas Iscariot, or at least “Judas”, as the person who betrayed Jesus.

One respondent identified his betrayer as “Judas Priest”, the name of a heavy metal band. Other suggestions as to who betrayed Jesus included his brother, Peter, Moses, Nazarus and Judas Escargot.

Around 51 per cent knew who Pontius Pilate, although one respondent said he was “one of Jesus’ disciples”.

Around a fifth – 21 per cent – could not say what happened on Good Friday or Easter Sunday, while 23 per cent were not able to identify Jerusalem as the place where the events of Easter unfolded.
Incorrect guesses included Rome, London and Bethlehem.

Andrea Minichiello Williams, of Christian Concern, told the newspaper that more needed to be done to educate people about Christianity.

“We have a great and rich Christian and Biblical heritage and not so long ago all our children would have been steeped in it from a young age," she said.

"We lose the knowledge of such things at our peril. It anchors us in who we are and gives us a sense of meaning, belonging and a common identity.

"We need to recapture these things before they are lost and understand that they bring exactly what the message of Easter brings – hope, salvation and love for all."