London - Google is on a par with God in terms of public trust, a study has revealed.
When asked to rank organisations they believe have their interests at heart, religious institutions came out on top for a very modest 17 percent of people – exactly the same as the omnipresent internet search engine.
And in a world where more people go shopping than to church on a Sunday, it seems that many now place their faith in supermarkets, as the big chains such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s were held up as most trustworthy by 19 percent.
The figures may well alarm the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Rev Justin Welby, who faces an uphill struggle in reconnecting with the concerns of ordinary Britons.
The study asked more than 2 000 people to rank the top three institutions they trusted the most. Overall, the NHS came out highest on 37 percent, ahead of the police on 26 percent and big charities on 21 percent.
As well as revealing which organisations the public relies on, the Future Of Britain report, aimed to lift the lid on how the rising cost of living and economic crisis has imposed lifestyle changes – and it claims to reveal a nation in survival mode.
The report added: “Rather than being defeatist, in many ways the slump is bringing out British qualities last seen during World War Two, such as prudence, self-reliance, self-confidence, personal responsibility, flexible attitudes to work and mobility and a greater interest in local communities.” - Daily Mail