Changing Face of Religion in Canada
Peace to my Logos Forums Brothers and Sisters!
It's my humble opinion that lots of "stuff" that has happened in our Canadian Society over against "religion" also happens in the United States .... about 15 years later ...
Of course, I know that every generalisation is wrong, including this one! *smile*
However, declining church attendance et cetera, et cetera, et cetera that happens and happened here in Canada is also happening and will happen in the United States...
One of our so-called Canadian "experts" who actually has international credentials has served the church-at-large well over the last 20 years plus .... Reginald Bibby ...
He has some free stuff available that has interested me and might be of interest to you ....
Here is the web site for the download of a .pdf file (or an e-book perhaps) in case you do want to peruse this subject ... to get the .pdf .... click on the book cover ....
http://www.churchinlethbridge.com/index.php?page=public.viewhomearticle&nArticlesID=62
Copyright © 2012 by Reginald W. Bibby All rights reserved. Any form of not-for profit reproduction is encouraged, but must acknowledge the source: Reginald W. Bibby, A New Day. Lethbridge: Project Canada Books, 2012.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for profit in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from Project Canada Books, www.projectcanadabooks.com.
A Project Canada Book
Available complimentary as an e-book; hard copies available via ProjectCanadaBooks.com.
Also distributed as an e-book and in hard copy by Wood Lake Publishing The Alban Institute www.woodlakebooks www.alban.org
Also in hard copy by Novalis www.novalis.ca Also as an e-book by
The Leadership Centre World Vision Canada Church Relations
www.churches.worldvision.ca Willow Creek Canada www.growingleadership.com
ISBN 978-0-98-10614-5-0 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication data available from Library and Archives Canada
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand..........
Comments
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Great post Milford. I think you are totally right that Canada seems about 15 years ahead on this. In Canada we are seeing an increasingly secular view where tolerance is "king". I have directed a Christian summer camp and year-round leadership centre for over three decades and can attest to the changes to which you refer.
Bibby has done a lot of great research in Canadian society over the years. A new study that was release last year is called Hemorrhaging Faith which measures why Canadian youth are also leaving the church. I would say that this is the Canadian equivalent to "You Lost Me" by David Kinnaman of the Barna Group. Anyone interested in this topic may be interested in reading it as well. Here is the link - http://tgcfcanada.org/hemorrhagingfaith/
One positive thing that I think will result as traditional Christianity struggles in our society is that a new type of openness to faith exists and this serves as a positive platform for interactions with our neighbors. One book that I pre-ordered from Logos this past weekend was "The End of Apologetics" which is currently on pre-pub at 40% off (special from Baker).
I believe that we must have a different strategy as we reach out to our society in our post-modern and even post-Christian society. This book looked like it may positively contribute to this discussion.
Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God
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Bruce Dunning said:
Great post Milford. I think you are totally right that Canada seems about 15 years ahead on this. In Canada we are seeing an increasingly secular view where tolerance is "king".
15 years ahead of the US, but about 20 years behind the UK and Western Europe. [:P]
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Thanks, Bruce! Your post is appreciated! AND Thanks, Paul! You are absolutely correct! My daughter lived in London for a while; and we tried in our various visits to understand what was going on in the U.K. ...... which I think was even more so on the Continent ....
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand..........
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Thanks so much Milford for this `Canadian`content.
Regards, SteveF
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Paul-C said:
15 years ahead of the US, but about 20 years behind the UK and Western Europe.
How true!
Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God
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As has been pointed out by Paul-C, we have been watching this in the U.S. for 15+ years. It started here in even before Roe v.Wade and the disintegration of the family since then.
Thank God for Logos! The more we can encourage others to open the Word and the proclomation of the Gospel message, the better we will all be.
Thanks, Milford.
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