Jesus and Buddha have high approval ratings among British Columbians. The founders of Christianity and Buddhism both receive strongly favourable rankings in B.C. and Metro Vancouver, according to an Easter poll conducted for The Vancouver Sun.

Two of the best-known living leaders in Christianity and Buddhism - Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama - also win top approval ratings.

According to an Insights West online poll of 815 B.C. residents conducted last weekend, three of four believe both Jesus Christ and Buddha "had a positive influence on mankind."

The Dalai Lama received virtually the same approval ratings as the head of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, Pope Francis.

The performances of the Dalai Lama and the Pope were "approved" by more than 55 per cent. Only five per cent "disapproved" of the Dalai Lama; 11 per cent were critical of the pope.

It's no surprise that two of the major religions with historical links to the East and West are well-received here.

After all, Metro Vancouver is the most Asian major city outside Asia - 43 per cent of Metro residents have an Asian background. Mario Canseco, who conducted the poll for Insights West, said Pope Francis, elected last year, scored across all age groups.

Although the poll indicated the Eastern-rooted religions of Sikhism and Islam are not as popular in B.C. as Buddhism, there are other signs that aspects of Eastern spirituality have taken hold here.

There is a high rate of acceptance, for instance, of the concept of "karma." It is a Buddhist-Hindu teaching that, at the broadest level, suggests people will suffer for their unethical acts and be rewarded for virtuous behaviour.

Sixty-one per cent say they "believe" in karma. Belief in karma, oddly enough, is even higher among Christians, at 65 per cent.

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Western and Eastern spirituality thrive, and mix, in B.C.