Losing our religion: Census shows Canadians becoming less religious

[canada-man]

In parks, at BBQs and on docks across the country, we'll be asking God to keep our land glorious and free this Canada Day weekend.

But increasingly we Canucks don't even believe in God and can't be bothered to go to church, according to a new study by Washington's Pew Research Center that looked at census data spanning the past four decades.

In 1986, 43% of the adult population attended church regularly. In 2013, only 16% of Canadians said they regularly attend church once a month or more.

The main reason we're losing our religion, according to the Canadian Secular Alliance's Justin Trottier, is because we're getting smarter.

"The average highest educational level being obtained by Canadians is continuing to increase. It's well established that higher levels of education correlate with a drop in religious belief and active participation in religious activities," he told QMI Agency, adding he thinks the trend will only continue.

And, he said, it's "becoming more acceptable to identify publicly as an atheist or agnostic."

But while, overall, Canadians are becoming less religious, those who still believe in a god are less likely to be Christian.

The number of Muslim, Sikh, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews in Canada has skyrocketed -- from 1-in-20 in the 1980s to more than 1-in-10 (11%) now.

For those who fear taking the God out of Canada, take note: As Trottier points out, the orignal version of O Canada had no reference to God "whatsoever."

Happy Canada Day, you godless heathens!


http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2013/06/20130629-142237.html

 

[SchlongConery]

My friend suffers from that disease which makes him allergic to facts.

Religion.

 

[SchlongConery]

Religion is like internet explorer. You either use it because:

You're not smart enough to change it.

You're afraid to download anything new.

It was there when you started.

 

[canada-man]

But the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms begins with

"Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law"

Good luck changing that thing.

one day that will change

 

[Aardvark154]

one day that will change

There I believe will probably be a lawsuit from the Faculté de droit (Faculty of Law) de l'Université Laval. :wink:

 

[Aardvark154]

Religion is like internet explorer.

Gee that's profound :frusty:

 

[Butt Monster]

But while, overall, Canadians are becoming less religious, those who still believe in a god are less likely to be Christian.

The number of Muslim, Sikh, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews in Canada has skyrocketed -- from 1-in-20 in the 1980s to more than 1-in-10 (11%) now.

How many of these actually believe in god though? There's a difference between a Hindu and a 'Hindu' that an article like this one would likely gloss over.

 

[blackrock13]

Gee that's profound :frusty:

Too bad they aren't his words.

http://joyreactor.com/post/372623

 

[5hummer]

THANK GOD!!!!! :hippie:

 

[highpark]

I'd love to get god out of the national anthem Having the word god in the anthem completely discriminates against mon believers and agnostics. And which god is it referring to any ways ???? And it's so dated. As people become less religious y would god be in a national anthem anyways. How juvenile.

 

[blackrock13]

I'd love to get god out of the national anthem Having the word god in the anthem completely discriminates against mon believers and agnostics. And which god is it referring to any ways ???? And it's so dated. As people become less religious y would god be in a national anthem anyways. How juvenile.

Didn't the present government try to change the anthem once before and then backed off because of the backlash. You must feel so downtrodden because the country's anthem mentions God. ~65% of the country is still Christian, ~25% have no religious affiliation, still well over twice as much, get over it. The fact that fewer people are attending church is more a comment on what part the church as an edifice plays in today modern life style, little else. CM is so desperate to showcase even the slightest facts that might support his hate on for religions he will bray any chance he gets.

 

[saxon]

I believe in a god that doesn't need heavy financing.

 

[blackrock13]

I believe in a god that doesn't need heavy financing.

They are out there, continue your search.

 

[SchlongConery]

I remember being a kid and my parents filling my head with nonsense, like Santa, the Easter bunny and the Tooth fairy etc.

Well now that I'm older I don't fall for that shit anymore, thank God.

 

[rhuarc29]

Didn't the present government try to change the anthem once before and then backed off because of the backlash.

I personally don't give a crap about the word "God" being present in the national Anthem. Even so, I find it strange and wrong that it is. 25% with no religious affiliation is enough to justify removing it IMHO. What God has to do with our nation is beyond me.

 

[blackrock13]

I personally don't give a crap about the word "God" being present in the national Anthem. Even so, I find it strange and wrong that it is. 25% with no religious affiliation is enough to justify removing it IMHO. What God has to do with our nation is beyond me.

Every one is entitled to an opinion, I guess.

 

[basketcase]

I personally don't give a crap about the word "God" being present in the national Anthem. Even so, I find it strange and wrong that it is. 25% with no religious affiliation is enough to justify removing it IMHO. What God has to do with our nation is beyond me.

'No religious affiliation' does not necessarily mean not believing in god.

 

[Samurai Joey]

How many of these actually believe in god though? There's a difference between a Hindu and a 'Hindu' that an article like this one would likely gloss over.

A very good point, since I would suspect that a sizeable proportion of the non-Christian population in Canada may very well be non-religious, at least in comparison with their fellow co-religionists in other countries. There are many people that I know personally who were brought up as Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews who are not religious.

It's also worth keeping in mind that there is a distinction between not believing in God (or gods, depending on the faith) and not being religious. After all, someone could philosophically believe in a Supreme Being or deity but otherwise does not practice the religion that he/she was brought up in.

 

[blackrock13]

A very good point, since I would suspect that a sizeable proportion of the non-Christian population in Canada may very well be non-religious, at least in comparison with their fellow co-religionists in other countries. There are many people that I know personally who were brought up as Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews who are not religious.

It's also worth keeping in mind that there is a distinction between not believing in God (or gods, depending on the faith) and not being religious. After all, someone could philosophically believe in a Supreme Being or deity but otherwise does not practice the religion that he/she was brought up in.

All good points, but too much to handle for CM. He's tried to flog this supposed fact in the recent past insinuating that since you don't go to church you aren religious, and therefore don't have a quality christian life and therefore don't believe in God or the teachings of Christ and therefore....... around and around and around. None of which matters to anyone who welcomes religion to play a part in their life. I can't remember anyone in my circle ever beating themselves because they weren't a good christian, jew, muslim, or buddhist.

 

[Aardvark154]

: For those who fear taking the God out of Canada, take note: As Trottier [Justin Trottier of the Canadian Secular Alliance] points out, the orignal version of O Canada had no reference to God "whatsoever."

Perhaps neither Justin Trottier nor Bryn Weese are able to read French.

The original French Lyrics from 1880:

Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est né d'une race fière,
Béni fut son berceau.
Le ciel a marqué sa carrière
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumière,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l'auréole de feu.
Ennemi de la tyrannie
Mais plein de loyauté,
Il veut garder dans l'harmonie,
Sa fière liberté;
Et par l'effort de son génie,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.

Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel,
Remplis nos cœurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races étrangères,
Notre guide est la loi :
Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pères,
Le cri vainqueur : "Pour le Christ et le roi!"
Le cri vainqueur : "Pour le Christ et le roi!"


That looks like two mentions of God, one mention of sacred love, and two mentions of Christ the King.

Further the current French version contains the lines

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!

That's Cross C-M and Mssrs Trottier and Weese.