Comments on: Canadians http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/09/23/canadians/ by Hemant Mehta Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Early October Quickies « Disparate http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-566 Early October Quickies « Disparate Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:52:38 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-566 [...] Friendly Atheist » Canadians [...] [...] Friendly Atheist » Canadians [...]

]]> By: Alexandre http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-563 Alexandre Sun, 01 Oct 2006 14:38:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-563 The column itself is rather funny (in a Canadian fashion, as per the Robertson Davies comment). The comments reveal a bit of what is going on, here in Canada. Religious affiliation is clearly a taboo here in Quebec. Malick observes a similar attitude in her neck of the woods (apparently, Toronto and the GTA). While living in some parts of the U.S. (Indiana and Massachusetts, mostly) I noticed that lack of religious affiliation was taboo and that religious labels were sometimes used to describe people. This is not to say that people in the U.S. are more religious than Canadians, but that there are clear differences in attitudes toward religion in general and religious belief systems specifically. These days, religious tolerance frequently becomes newsworthy in Canada. For instance, the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kirpan/" rel="nofollow">kirpan case</a> in Quebec is clearly on people's minds, regardless of their specific opinions on the case. There really needs to be a public discussion of issues related to religious tolerance, multiculturalism, secularism/atheism/agnosticism, and peace. The column itself is rather funny (in a Canadian fashion, as per the Robertson Davies comment). The comments reveal a bit of what is going on, here in Canada.
Religious affiliation is clearly a taboo here in Quebec. Malick observes a similar attitude in her neck of the woods (apparently, Toronto and the GTA). While living in some parts of the U.S. (Indiana and Massachusetts, mostly) I noticed that lack of religious affiliation was taboo and that religious labels were sometimes used to describe people. This is not to say that people in the U.S. are more religious than Canadians, but that there are clear differences in attitudes toward religion in general and religious belief systems specifically.
These days, religious tolerance frequently becomes newsworthy in Canada. For instance, the kirpan case in Quebec is clearly on people’s minds, regardless of their specific opinions on the case.
There really needs to be a public discussion of issues related to religious tolerance, multiculturalism, secularism/atheism/agnosticism, and peace.

]]> By: Karen http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-549 Karen Sun, 24 Sep 2006 17:05:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2006/09/23/canadians/#comment-549 Very clever; she's a fun writer. :-) I'm glad, however, that not all atheists are this bored with religion. Hemant, I'm glad that you were engaged enough to want to understand what you weren't exposed to growing up (i.e. Christian churches). I'm glad that a lifelong skeptic like Eliza (from the CaTE DB) is interested enough about religious thought to participate in discussions with Christians and attend a church-based "Intro to Lutheranism" class this fall. It seems to me that understanding the motivations and concerns of religious people is vital for skeptics and freethinkers. Former Christians, like Dan Barker and Michael Shermer, need to stay in the forefront of important discussions. There seems to be a tendency amongst atheists and agnostics to withdraw into "they're-all-crazy-and-I-don't-get-it" mode. I understand that tendency, but I think if we all succumbed to it, we'd never be heard in the greater dialogue of our times. Very clever; she’s a fun writer. :-)

I’m glad, however, that not all atheists are this bored with religion. Hemant, I’m glad that you were engaged enough to want to understand what you weren’t exposed to growing up (i.e. Christian churches). I’m glad that a lifelong skeptic like Eliza (from the CaTE DB) is interested enough about religious thought to participate in discussions with Christians and attend a church-based “Intro to Lutheranism” class this fall.

It seems to me that understanding the motivations and concerns of religious people is vital for skeptics and freethinkers. Former Christians, like Dan Barker and Michael Shermer, need to stay in the forefront of important discussions. There seems to be a tendency amongst atheists and agnostics to withdraw into “they’re-all-crazy-and-I-don’t-get-it” mode. I understand that tendency, but I think if we all succumbed to it, we’d never be heard in the greater dialogue of our times.

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