  We test the present expansion of the universe using supernova type Ia data
without making any assumptions about the matter and energy content of the
universe or about the parameterization of the deceleration parameter. We assume
the cosmological principle to apply in a strict sense. The result strongly
depends on the data set, the light-curve fitting method and the calibration of
the absolute magnitude used for the test, indicating strong systematic errors.
Nevertheless, in a spatially flat universe there is at least a 5 sigma evidence
for acceleration which drops to 1.8 sigma in an open universe.
