Canadian, American religious divide

[olp1fan]

Harper is an evangelical Christian right? One thing I admire about him is he never talks about his christianity

its almost like he is scared to ... can't say the same about Obama though, the man constantly talks about religion

In Canada if a politician openly talks about their religion theres a backlash but in the US all they do is talk about their religions

and faith

Any comments?

Edited November 17, 2011 by olp1fan

[Topaz]

A person's religion doesn't matter until they are power to use it if they wish and that would go for world leaders, which would be important. Now Harper's, which is Christian and Missionary Alliance, which I've never hear of, but for those who never heard of it either this is what it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_and_Missionary_Alliance

[Smallc]

That's because in Canada, in general, people don't want to hear about religion, and they don't want it to influence public policy. In the US, again, generally, the opposite is true. Religion, especially in the Republican Party, is worn as a badge of honour. In the primaries, if you aren't Christian enough, you don't stand a chance.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

if you aren't Christian enough, you don't stand a chance.

This is unfortunate.

I don't mind if a politician is religious.

But, I am glad that we don't have the circus that is Republican primaries in Canada.

[olp1fan]

A person's religion doesn't matter until they are power to use it if they wish and that would go for world leaders, which would be important. Now Harper's, which is Christian and Missionary Alliance, which I've never hear of, but for those who never heard of it either this is what it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_and_Missionary_Alliance

Cam Ward & Ryan Smyth eh, didn't know that

[dre]

I don't mind if a politician is religious.

I cant decide. I agree people should be able to think what they want. On the other hand, I worry about putting people in charge that have radical beliefs.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's because in Canada, in general, people don't want to hear about religion, and they don't want it to influence public policy. In the US, again, generally, the opposite is true.

Yep...that would explain why religion does affect public policy in Canada via the Constitution Act, while the Americans figured it out almost 100 years before that.

[cybercoma]

Yep...that would explain why religion does affect public policy in Canada via the Constitution Act, while the Americans figured it out almost 100 years before that.

British Dominion (read: colony)... tough for you to understand?

[bush_cheney2004]

British Dominion (read: colony)... tough for you to understand?

Funding for Catholic and Protestant schools in several provinces as of 1998....too hard for you to understand?

[Shwa]

But, I am glad that we don't have the circus that is Republican primaries in Canada.

Really? Without forcing thread drift, I WISH we had primaries in Canada or something similar adapted to our system. A leadership convention spread across the country every four years for all the parties?

That "circus" exposes the candidates and provides far more information about their potential than a couple of carefully staged "debates" or photo ops in Brampton that practically nobody cares about. At least the Yanks know who they are voting for, warts and all. We still seem to get hoodwinked alot. Still.

[Guest American Woman]

I cant decide. I agree people should be able to think what they want. On the other hand, I worry about putting people in charge that have radical beliefs.

Because of course non-religious, atheists, never have radical beliefs. I cite as an example, Mao.

Come on, dre. As if people who aren't religious never have "radical beliefs." Good grief.

[olp1fan]

Because of course non-religious, atheists, never have radical beliefs. I cite as an example, Mao.

Come on, dre. As if people who aren't religious never have "radical beliefs." Good grief.

this is about US and Canada... you may only use examples for those two countries

[cybercoma]

Funding for Catholic and Protestant schools in several provinces as of 1998....too hard for you to understand?

You know people choose which system their tax-dollars go towards, right?

[The_Squid]

I cant decide. I agree people should be able to think what they want. On the other hand, I worry about putting people in charge that have radical beliefs.

I agree.... Personally, it's odd to vote for anyone who believes in myths, whatever the religion.

Yep...that would explain why religion does affect public policy in Canada via the Constitution Act, while the Americans figured it out almost 100 years before that.

You're absolutely correct.... we haven't got it figured out quite yet.... hopefully we will one day.

In notes for his June 8, 1789, speech introducing the Bill of Rights, Madison indicated his opposition to a "national" religion.

Now if only some people in your country would agree with you and Madison about a national religion... it seems that, in practice, this is not lived up to by a vocal minority, or maybe even a majority of people in the USA. In practice, the USA does has a national religion.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Really? Without forcing thread drift, I WISH we had primaries in Canada or something similar adapted to our system. A leadership convention spread across the country every four years for all the parties?

That "circus" exposes the candidates and provides far more information about their potential than a couple of carefully staged "debates" or photo ops in Brampton that practically nobody cares about. At least the Yanks know who they are voting for, warts and all. We still seem to get hoodwinked alot. Still.

You do make a valid point.

I was thinking more along the lines of how embarassing it is to have someone like Michelle Bachmann being considered a serious contender at one point.

Edited November 18, 2011 by MiddleClassCentrist

[dre]

Because of course non-religious, atheists, never have radical beliefs. I cite as an example, Mao.

Come on, dre. As if people who aren't religious never have "radical beliefs." Good grief.

Absolutely. I wouldnt want an atheist with radical beliefs in charge either.

[cybercoma]

I'm not sure the point of primaries in Canada. The PM could step down tomorrow and we wouldn't have another election. He would simply be replaced by the new leader of the CPC.

[Guest American Woman]

Absolutely. I wouldnt want an atheist with radical beliefs in charge either.

By the same token, just as atheists can have radical beliefs, not all religious people have radical beliefs. I would hope you're able to recognize that. Fact is, the vast majority don't.

Edited November 18, 2011 by American Woman

[olp1fan]

By the same token, just as atheists can have radical beliefs, not all religious people have radical beliefs. I would hope you're able to recognize that. Fact is, the vast majority don't.

anyone who quotes scriptures of the bible to make a political point or a moral issue is a radical

[jbg]

Harper is an evangelical Christian right? One thing I admire about him is he never talks about his christianity

its almost like he is scared to ... can't say the same about Obama though, the man constantly talks about religion

In Canada if a politician openly talks about their religion theres a backlash but in the US all they do is talk about their religions and faith

In the U.S. Barack Obama is fighting the (probably accurate) perception that he's a Muslim. So he wears what religion he has on his sleave.

[olp1fan]

In the U.S. Barack Obama is fighting the (probably accurate) perception that he's a Muslim. So he wears what religion he has on his sleave.

it doesnt help his case when hes caught on camera not putting his hand on his heart during the national anthem / sitting down

[g_bambino]

That's because in Canada, in general, people don't want to hear about religion, and they don't want it to influence public policy.

This is likely the modern result of the original need to make as cohesive a society as possible out of two linguistically, culturally, and religiously different groups.

[Smallc]

In the U.S. Barack Obama is fighting the (probably accurate) perception that he's a Muslim.

It's far more likely that he's an atheist.

[bush_cheney2004]

It's far more likely that he's an atheist.

Wishful atheist thinking....but not the case at all:

I'm a Christian by choice. My family didn't – frankly, they weren't folks who went to church every week. And my mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew, but she didn't raise me in the church. So I came to my Christian faith later in life, and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead – being my brothers' and sisters' keeper, treating others as they would treat me. I think also understanding that Jesus Christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings, that we're sinful and we're flawed and we make mistakes, and that we achieve salvation through the grace of God. But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people and do our best to help them find their own grace. That's what I strive to do. That's what I pray to do every day. I think my public service is part of that effort to express my Christian faith.

— President Barack Obama, September 27, 2010

[jbg]

It's far more likely that he's an atheist.

I can imagine him joining Chretien in smug satisfaction or happiness at the September 11 attacks.