A survey sponsored by the British Broadcasting Corporation revealed that 25 percent of people in Great Britain who identify as Christians do not believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead happened as it was told by the Church.

The broadcasting firm commissioned Communicate Research Ltd., also known as ComRes Global, to conduct a survey across the nation regarding Christian beliefs on the resurrection. The results of the study showed that 50 percent of the people interviewed do not believe the resurrection took place while, 43 percent believe that it did.

A small six percent answered they do not know whether it happened or not.

The London-based research firm conducted phone interviews with 2,010 adults all over the country from Feb. 2 to 12. 

Out of the 2,010 people who participated, 349 expressed their belief in the resurrection as described in the Bible "word-for-word." However, 530 people said that while they believe Jesus rose from the dead, they do not believe in the Bible's description verbatim.

Out of the 349 who believed the Bible's account of Jesus' resurrection, 186 or 57 percent of the number are "active Christians" who attend church at least once a month.

Modern Church Acting General Secretary Reverend Dr. Lorraine Cavanagh, however, does not think the survey gave an accurate description of what Christians in Great Britain believe.

"I think [people answering the survey] are being asked to believe in the way they might have been asked to believe when they were at Sunday school," she told BBC. As the survey were conducted on adults aged 18 to 65 years old above, she noted that simply asking the questions will not do.

"You're talking about adults here. And an adult faith requires that it be constantly questions, constantly re-interpreted, which incidentally is very much what Modern Church is actually about," Cavanagh said. The acting general secretary factored in philosophy as well as science in the thought process Christians might have in giving their answers.

She added, "So to ask an adult to believe in the resurrection the way they did when they were at Sundays school simply won't do and that's true of much of the key elements of the Christian faith."