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The Media

Journal Interrobang's Journal: Godless Canadian Heathens 13

Journal by Interrobang
(Don't Say It Like It's A Bad Thing, or Census Data Unleashed.)

Two articles in The Toronto Star today give me some pause, and food for thought on the religious mores of Canadians. Apparently more of us opted to select "No religion" than ever before, and 20K of us opted to write in "Jedi," apparently in imitation of similar pranks elsewhere.

I guess we're all going to Hell.

Then again, I wouldn't so much mind going to Hell, if Debbie Riddle is really right, because, well, I'd like my benefits to continue. On the other hand, as ajc from Eschaton's comments points out, "But, really, how does she know Russia has doesn't have a pretty damn good free healthcare system? Or Hell for that matter? Of course, we'd have to ask Richard Nixon about Hell's healthcare."

One shakes one's head and laughs, while wistfully wishing to see similar numbers for the US, and then cringing at the thought of what those numbers might reveal. (Yes, folks, we are different.)
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Godless Canadian Heathens More

Godless Canadian Heathens

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  • My tombstone reads:

    1. Here lies an Atheist ...
      All dressed up with no place to go.


    -Ab
  • Here in Soviet Canuckistan, religion is merely the opiate of the masses.
  • Hobbes: Marx said "Religion is the opiate of the masses."

    Calvin: what does that mean?

    TV: It means Marx hasn't seen anything yet!

  • If you look at the numbers that surveys seem to regularly show, there are significant numbers of Americans who identify as having no religion. In fact, I think last I heard, more people identify that way than identify as Jewish.

    But with the very strong streak of religion that runs through America, and the level of bigotry that still runs through the country (half of Americans said they would not vote for an atheist for political office), and many people who identify that way remain silent about it, often
    • Far more wars have been caused by money (or equivalently, access to resources) than by religion. Did it escape your notice that every major American religious group (except, notably, the Southern Baptist convention) opposed the Iraq war?

      And just because Jerry Falwell is an idiot (again with the Southern Baptists), it doesn't mean that all Christians, or all persons with strong religious beliefs, share his views. I'm an Anglican, which in this country is a very tolerant church ... it's just that messages
      • Far more wars have been caused by money (or equivalently, access to resources) than by religion. Did it escape your notice that every major American religious group (except, notably, the Southern Baptist convention) opposed the Iraq war?

        I never claimed that all or most wars were caused by religion - but that it has been a reason in the past for people to go to war. That cannot be denied. People without religion won't have that incentive to go to war, no matter how rare it has become. After all, while
    • the number of religious people does not concern me. one of the bigger points i get from religion is, "be respectful." religious people who don't "love their neighbors" are no more irritating to me than anyone else who doesn't treat others with respect, although it is slightly more hypocritical for so-called "religious" people in my opinion. i have personally seen both believers and non-believers be overly judgemental of those who do not share their views.

      but who knows. maybe i and a couple people i kno
  • Canadians are more religious than people in New Zealand, where 30 per cent of the population claimed no religion.

    Hehe, I will have to tell my Kiwi manager about this - oddly enough, he's fairly religious, himself!

    I wonder which nation is the MOST Godless ... ?

    YS
    • My impression was Australia and New Zealand went to extremes. Either bible thumping hellfire-and-damnation ultra-religious types or completely non-religious. (with a few quietly faithful in the middle)

      My impression is based on the fact that there seem to be some extreme moralists in both countries who are able to get parliament to pass "family values" laws to suit them.
  • How many people who are now atheist might have gone to a catholic school, or attended church as a youngster? I grew up going to church and catholic schools, and only when I was older did I realize how much a farce most of the teachings actually are.

    I was hoping to get the long form Census last time they came around, because I wanted to write Atheist in the religion box.

  • The US (Score:2)

    by ces ( 119879 )
    One shakes one's head and laughs, while wistfully wishing to see similar numbers for the US, and then cringing at the thought of what those numbers might reveal. (Yes, folks, we are different.)

    It does vary somewhat. On the West Coast I suspect the numbers for "no religion" are probably similar to Canada. On the other hand in some parts of the "Bible Belt" it can be uncomfortable to be anything other than one of the socially acceptable Christian denominations. Witness the recent story involving the pagan
    • Also remember that those who identify themselves as pagans, wiccians, "new age", buddists, or whatever count against the "no religion" category.

      Actually, I think Buddhist was its own separate category, IIRC from the article, and there was also a write-in spot for other religions (ie. pagan, Wiccan, "New Age" [whatever that means] and so on -- how do you think "Jedi" got there, eh?), so no, all those other religions (and pseudoreligions -- or do you really think there are that many practicing Jedi in Cana
  • The Jedis are going to be a force (Force?) to be reckoned with, at the rate they're going!

    I am going to be maid of honor at a Jedi wedding this summer...I'll let you know what it's like.

    Tucker

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