Rank the Republican contenders by order of craziness.

[guyser]

I forgot to answer your other question re Cult.

The cult of personality is charasmatic authority, similar to hero worship. Thats where I was coming from with respect to your religious leaders.

Moving on....

I would disagree. I would say that answering an anonymous survey is quite different from "speaking out" about the same issue.

I see and acknowledge your point , but something is sticking here, why would something be subdued if in fact it was wildly held. It goes against the grain.

I certainl,y think it 'could' be, but to me it doesnt make sense.

Just because it's "legit" doesn't mean it's correct.

I do think Americans get more press, not only from Americans, but from the rest of the world. How many people pay as much attention to Canada's religiously zealous as to America's? Even in this thread we have people downplaying what we have cited re: the part religion plays/has played in Canada - while hyping it all up re: the U.S. That's what I think the article I cited is saying, too, and I believe it's true.

How many people pay as much attn? Maybe 8....worldwide.

I have never, ever encountered such a question myself, and seriously know of no one who has, other than in a friendly way. Seriously. I would wager Canada has regions that are similar to "the Bible Belt" in nature too, but as you said, would be much smaller in scale. Also, as I said, the press that the U.S. gets is so much greater. I doubt you would disagree.

All in all I would agree but the bible belt that may exist (bc found one) may refer to a neighbourhood to the extent.

Not that we include the communities with the million wives and one husband. Lets just leave that anomaly at the door.

The reference is there, but I see Harper toning it down through the years. I doubt his beliefs or the importance of religion in his life has diminished, so I attribute it to being more 'hush hush.' His former deputy chief of staff was certainly vocal about it though.

I agree wholeheatedly.He heard the negative press, he wanted to become the PM, and the end result is he shuts up about his religion. In no way does that lessen his belief, so i that sense I see where you were coming from on the other point re 'subdued' .

I have actually already read that article. I don't think "importance of religion in one's life" and "church attendance" are synonymous by any means.

But there is a conundrum there inst there?

The US is football crazy. Fills the stadiums every Sunday. Since it is important , then attendance is fit in ones schedule. (uh oh, fallacy, one could serve God the other 6 days a week)

See what I am getting at?

Again, that pretty much verifies what I've been saying; just because something is "more subdued," doesn't mean it's of less importance.

It does go against the grain of conventional thought though.

[bush_cheney2004]

Bible Belt

In Canada

In Canada, the term is also sometimes used to describe several disparate regions which have a higher than average level of church attendance. These include some rural areas of the Prairies, the rural and more traditional parts of the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia and the Saint John River Valley of New Brunswick.[13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Belt#In_Canada

[dre]

Indeed...one must always remember that the perception of difference is of paramount importance to many a Canadian psyche.

It is fundamental to the Canadian identity as !American.

[Guest American Woman]

good job!

That had to be hard to find. There will always be religious pockets, but I doubt belts.

Actually, it's not hard to find at all. Just for fun, did a quick Google and there's more. Here's a whole forum dedicated to Canada's Bible Belt. Here's a comment from Wiki about the Bible Belt: The completely flip side: Also, today, Americans can see that other countries[3] have their own issues with religious extremists, despite their efforts to conceal it. (I'm looking at YOU, Canada.) Here are some pretty photos of "Sunset in Southern Alberta (Bible belt),Canada." According to this article, Bontshe Shvayg in Lethbridge: Teaching Yiddish Literature in the Canadian Bible Belt "southern Alberta is the Canadian Bible belt;" ironically, it refers to Lethbridge.

At any rate, I'm convinced Canada has it's "Bible Belt" too.

[Guest American Woman]

I forgot to answer your other question re Cult.

The cult of personality is charasmatic authority, similar to hero worship. Thats where I was coming from with respect to your religious leaders.

Thanks for the clarification. I have to wonder if there is "hero worship" involved to any real extent, or if the media and all the attention they get all around doesn't create that illusion for the most part. At any rate, I hardly pay any mind to such religious figures, and I'm sure that's true of the vast majority of Americans. I sometimes wonder if 'foreigners' pay them more heed. Just a thought.

Moving on....

I see and acknowledge your point , but something is sticking here, why would something be subdued if in fact it was wildly held. It goes against the grain.

It doesn't have to be "wildly held." Do you think religious beliefs are "wildly held" or "wildly important" in the United States? If answering a survey, I would respond that I am Christian and believe in God, while others holding my level of beliefs might answer differently, not as positively. So perhaps people in the U.S. tend to respond more positively than their Canadian counterparts do even though their beliefs/thoughts are basically the same.

I certainl,y think it 'could' be, but to me it doesnt make sense.

It makes sense to me. Everyone isn't as demonstrative about such feelings, especially if the general feeling is to deny the importance of such beliefs as a nation, rather than openly, and by that I mean publicly, embrace them.

How many people pay as much attn? Maybe 8....worldwide.

I wish the same number of people would pay attention to ours - I personally think it would be much better that way.

All in all I would agree but the bible belt that may exist (bc found one) may refer to a neighbourhood to the extent.

Not from what I've found (see my previous post). I think the mindset exists geographically in Canada, too; but as you pointed out, on a 10% smaller scale - and less well known/publicized.

Not that we include the communities with the million wives and one husband. Lets just leave that anomaly at the door.

Agreed. I won't get into my feelings about that.

I agree wholeheatedly.He heard the negative press, he wanted to become the PM, and the end result is he shuts up about his religion. In no way does that lessen his belief, so i that sense I see where you were coming from on the other point re 'subdued'.

It seems to be a requirement in Canada, hence my observations; the trend seems to be to downplay one's beliefs while in America it seems to be the opposite come election time. But then, Americans in general tend to be more on the boisterous side, eh? Unless hockey is involved.

But there is a conundrum there inst there?

The US is football crazy. Fills the stadiums every Sunday. Since it is important , then attendance is fit in ones schedule. (uh oh, fallacy, one could serve God the other 6 days a week)

See what I am getting at?

Not really. Not sure what filling football stadiums has to do with attending church. At any rate, I honestly can't remember the last time I stepped foot in a church, but I don't see myself as "less religious" than I was when I was attending regularly. It's like you said - one can serve God whenever, and I'll add wherever.

It does go against the grain of conventional thought though.

How so?

[Smallc]

Do you think religious beliefs are "wildly held" or "wildly important" in the United States?

Uhh, yeah, that's kind of the entire point that was being made by most of us here.

[WWWTT]

Go for it. All I know is that most of them would be a lot better than the disaster currently occupying the White House.

Are you saying Obama cuased this disaster?

Really?!?!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

Maybe not...maybe so. Canada is a very different country. Our political discourse is on a very different level and deals with very different subjects. Social issues don't really come to the forefront very often. Regionalism, and government spending...that's what it's mostly about up here (regionalism, less so in the last 5 years or so).

Not necessarily true!

It seems like things like hockey and being able to play a musical instrument and sing somehow hit a political chord(no pun intended) come election time in Canada.

Aswell isn't the conservative crime bill somewhat of a social issue?Or the conservative alleged image they are trying to project as a tough on crime party?

WWWTT

[Smallc]

Aswell isn't the conservative crime bill somewhat of a social issue?

In a way, yes, but those aren't the types of issues that I'm talking about. Oh, and what are they talking about in regards to the crime bill? Well it's price, of course.

[Guest American Woman]

American Woman, on 17 November 2011 - 05:01 AM, said: Do you think religious beliefs are "wildly held" or "wildly important" in the United States?

Uhh, yeah, that's kind of the entire point that was being made by most of us here.

Uhh, I wasn't asking you, or even "most of [you] here." I'm well aware of your viewpoint.* I was asking guyser, which is why my question was directed at him.

*(and fyi, you're wrong.)

[Smallc]

I've already provided links that show religion is far more important to Americans than other Westerners. Americans are also the least likely to believe in evolution of the Western countries surveyed (Canada wasn't one of them.

[WWWTT]

To be honest I liked Oleg.

He did not leave much for the imagination.

He was definetly an open book!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

In a way, yes, but those aren't the types of issues that I'm talking about. Oh, and what are they talking about in regards to the crime bill? Well it's price, of course.

True the left does counter the "tough on crime" image" with the economics of their proposals.

But the point I am trying to make is that the conservatives in Canada are trying to use religion,moral ethics in their campaign style.Much like the Republicans in the US.

I find this puts them in somewhat of a contradiction with many Canadian voters because the conservatives are also pro Isreali anti arab.And the Canadian voters that are the most religous are from the Islamic faith.

WWWTT

[Guest American Woman]

I've already provided links that show religion is far more important to Americans than other Westerners. Americans are also the least likely to believe in evolution of the Western countries surveyed (Canada wasn't one of them.

No, you've already posted links that you think show that; but even if they had, "far more important" - doesn't translate to "wildly important."

[Smallc]

[Guest American Woman]

Yet another smiley face, and nothing else, smallc response. If you have nothing to say, perhaps you should try to resist the urge to hit the response button simply to post a smiley face - 'better to remain silent and thought a fool than post yet another smiley and remove all doubt.' Until you can manage that, here's a tip - don't direct any of your posts/responses to me, because I won't be wasting my time on them.

Have a nice day.

[Smallc]

Look, it isn't my fault that evidence and facts pass right through you. You're doing the same thing with this discussion as you do with so many others. It's your MO and everyone knows it.

There are differences between Canada and the US. The level of religiosity and religious importance is one of those differences. Deal with it.

[bush_cheney2004]

I've already provided links that show religion is far more important to Americans than other Westerners. Americans are also the least likely to believe in evolution of the Western countries surveyed (Canada wasn't one of them.

None of these assertions changes the fact that religion has played and continues to play an important role in many Canadian lives. I don't know how you can dismiss that just for the sake of disparaging Americans or the stances of their political candidates.

As for Westerners and religion, clearly you have not studied the influence in Mexico and many other Latin/South American nations. Religion matters a great deal in many nations around the world.

[Guest American Woman]

I don't know how you can dismiss that just for the sake of disparaging Americans or the stances of their political candidates.

But... but ..... Americans are all wildly religious, don't cha know. Bible thumping yahoos, we are. The whole lot of us. Statistics prove it.

[Smallc]

Do you have an inability to understand things as they're presented? Americans, as a whole, are far more religious. That's undeniable. That doesn't mean that all Americans are religious, it simply means that more Americans than Canadians are as a percentage of the population. Also, of religious people, Americans are more committed and find their religion to be more important overall. That, again, doesn't mean that all Americans are religious bible thumpers.

Comprehension is an important tool when engaging in debates.

[bush_cheney2004]

But... but ..... Americans are all wildly religious, don't cha know. Bible thumping yahoos, we are. The whole lot of us. Statistics prove it.

It surely must be true...out of all "westerners", the Americans are the most religious, even compared to the Vatican itself.

[Guest American Woman]

It surely must be true...out of all "westerners", the Americans are the most religious, even compared to the Vatican itself.

The Vatican, I'm sure, strives to be as religious as Americans, but evidently religion just doesn't mean as much to them there.

I wonder what Canadians who are oh-so-proud of Canada's lack of interest in religion think of all those religious Muslims moving into their oh-so-enlightened non-religious country?

[BubberMiley]

I wonder what Canadians who are oh-so-proud of Canada's lack of interest in religion think of all those religious Muslims moving into their oh-so-enlightened non-religious country?

You haven't been able to figure that out from the umpteen threads on this board on that subject?

[Bonam]

I wonder what Canadians who are oh-so-proud of Canada's lack of interest in religion think of all those religious Muslims moving into their oh-so-enlightened non-religious country?

Why wonder? It's all been extensively talked about. Some of us have expressed our disapproval, while others have expressed their unquestioning support.

[Guest American Woman]

Why wonder? It's all been extensively talked about. Some of us have expressed our disapproval, while others have expressed their unquestioning support.

It hasn't been discussed in the context I'm referring to at all, so I can't help but wonder what all of those expressing their unquestioning support, who are oh-so-proud of their belief regarding Canada's lack of interest in religion, feel about Muslims, whose religion unquestionably plays a very important part in their lives, moving into Canada - in that context.

The Canadians who are oh-so-proud of Canada's lack of interest in religion make no bones about their smug superiority over those who hold religious beliefs, so it seems to me that same attitude would extend to Muslims - yet some have oh-so-tolerantly said they would be fine with Muslims someday being the majority in Canada, so how would that affect their pride regarding the un-importance that they believe religion plays in Canada? And how is their 'tolerance' consistent with their feelings of 'superiority' over people with religious beliefs? How do those who say they aren't sure leaders should hold religious beliefs reconcile their contradicting claims?

That is what I wonder - and why wouldn't I?