Are Canadians Practicing Religion A La Carte - Essay Example

Are Canadians Practicing Religion 'A La Carte' "In recent years, rational choice/religious market theories of religion have achieved sufficient prominence especially in U.S. sociology of religion that some commentators have even begun talking about a 'paradigm shift' in the field"1 In Canada, however, things are markedly different. So, are Canadians picking and choosing when it comes to their religions and religious practices Using examples from different religions, here it will be examined how Canadians think of religion, what the trend of religious practices are in Canada, and what the future of religion is in Canada. Much like the U.S., Canada is somewhat divided over religion. Depending upon where one goes, there may be more Catholic than Protestant influence. For the most part, Christianity remains one of the religions that plays a major role in Canadians' lives. Since Canada is close to the U.S., Canadians share many of the same Christian values that Americans do-although perhaps not to the extreme that Americans do. The Canadians that this writer knows-who happen to be Christian-tend to be very choosy with the way they practice their Christianity. Basically, their services are boring. Their music is boring. In fact, there is not really too much to celebrate when worship rolls around on Sunday morning. Canadians live in somewhat of a glass bubble. Canadians are sheltered from the world. Usually, their personal views are very narrow. Anyone who does not share these narrow views is considered an outsider. Canadians treat outsiders to their religious practices much the same way that they treat Americans-usually with an odd stare and a disdainful glance. This is not particularly unusual-after all, who wouldn't react the same way The Other is usually considered taboo wherever one goes, and outsiders are almost never welcomed with completely open arms. Let us go back to this notion of closemindedness within Canadian Christianity. Canadian culture in general is very guarded. This is possibly due to the fact that Canada is so close to the U.S. that it competes very fiercely for recognition on many levels. Canadians in general feel that they have been left out of the sociocultural landscape of North America due to their unique position in the world. On one hand, Canada is very isolated. Thus, its people are in many ways sheltered from the world. Unless a Canadian travels outside his or her own country, he or she will not have the kind of cultural experiences that make good breeding ground for a mind rife with religious diversity. Christians in Canada think that basically everyone is out to scam somebody. Canadian Christians generally don't believe in the inherent goodness of people. However, they are skeptical of people who are genuinely in need. Part of this inability to comprehend how people can be in need of goods and services is because Canadians are highly self-reliant. Even if a person is religious, that does not necessarily cut the mustard with Canadian Christians. Generally, Canadian Christians are well-read and well-informed about their faith, in terms of knowing the history behind it. They are very concerned with how their faith evolved over time with regard to their particular religion. Trends of religious practices in Canada include a move towards more inclusion of those with religious differences. For example, Canada is moving towards the inclusion of other religious traditions, especially Islam. Normally Canada might be thought of as an unusual place for Muslims to settle. However, many Muslims are just like their Canadian Christian neighbors-they want to have good home lives with no trouble. Canada has been a good place for Muslims to settle because of the relatively benignly neutral state of the country. Canada in the past has recused itself from getting involved in foreign wars, and has been largely neutral with regards to various wars having been fought. Muslims generally feel more or less accepted moreso in Canada than they do in the United States. The reasons for this are unclear. This may have to do with the fact that Canada is a more culturally homogenous country in some ways. This is very similar to how the city of New York in the U.S. is a melting pot of people from all different religions, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, creeds, races, disabilities, and genders. In this vein, Canada is probably as such a much more understanding place in terms of people being different. Thus, it is not a stretch to imagine that Muslims might feel more of a sense of acceptance and community within Canada than, say, the United States. This is especially because the United States and its citizens have a generally negative view of Islam and Muslims ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. No matter what respectable Muslims say or do, they are going to be forever branded that one of the adherents of their religion made a terrorist attack on the United States. As such, Muslims are regarded not without some level of cynicism and close inspection within the United States. Muslims have stated that they are actually more comfortable when in Canada because they are treated more decently. There is much discrimination in the U.S. based on the fact that the terrorists who crashed into the twin towers in downtown New York were radical jihadist Muslims. Even though these people were from a very extreme sect of Islam, people still continue to judge other decent, law-abiding Muslim citizens based on this mistake made my a small group of radicals. Unfortunately, there is not much one can do except to combat the religious intolerance with love. Canadians are-although they have some narrow-minded views-somewhat more open to the idea that everyone deserves a fair chance to state their case. In Canada, for the most part, people are treated as individuals. This is what should be the rallying cry of Muslims everywhere-that all people, Muslim or not, be treated with respect. In effect, Canada is more accepting of the Muslim community and all it has to offer. Perhaps if Canada were not such a melting pot of religions, it would be less tolerant. Also, the fact that 9/11 did not happen in Canada but the U.S. is of premier importance. This writer is sure that aspect probably has a lot to do with the fact that Americans are not as willing to accept Muslims into their community as much as they are willing to accept them in Canada. Another growing trend in religion in Canada is the concept of Buddhism. Buddhists are all over in Canada, and one reason why is because Canada has become a place of exile for those seeking refuge and asylum from countries in which people are being persecuted. Buddhist thought and practice centers around mindfulness. The Four Noble Truths in Buddhism, which is recited at the beginning and end of every meeting in the temple, is repeated in the following manner: "However innumerable the beings are, I vow to save them. However inexhaustible the passions are, I vow to extinguish them. However immeasurable the Dharmas are, I vow to master them. However incomparable the Buddha-truth is, I vow to attain it." This saying is a way of letting go of all the cares of life. These vows, when said every day, are meant to strengthen the Buddhist's commitment to obtaining enlightenment or nirvana. Another chant that is said during a Buddhist meeting is the Five Remembrances: "I will lose my youth, my health, my loved ones, everything I hold dear and, finally, life itself by the very nature of being human." This is very common to hear, especially since Buddhists also practice the act of being unattached. The concept of having no attachments resounds with Canadian culture. Many Canadians are hard-boiled personalities with a resolve to succeed. Buddhist culture strongly believes in self-reliance. In Buddhism one realizes that one cannot hold onto one's earthly delights forever. Thus, the transient nature of Buddhism suits Canadians well. Many Buddhists are peace-loving people, and therefore this coincides well with the Canadian mindset, which is to do no harm. Canadians find Buddhism attractive because it is a throwback to the '60s when the Peace Movement was popularized. John Lennon did a bed-in in Canada with his wife Yoko Ono for peace, and Canada still maintains traces of this piece of cultural history. Buddhist practice is starting to see a resurgence now in the 21st century. This is partly due to the sensationalization of Buddhism in the media. With the problem of Tibet being a contested geographical area, Buddhism has come to the forefront. Buddhist thought continues to thrive in Canada. With the spread of Bikram Yoga to international sites, Buddhist practice has become more widespread. Bikram Yoga is a type of yoga that is performed in 104-degree heat. Bikram Yoga was started by a man named Bikram Choudhury. He is East Indian, and was a champion weight-lifter. Unfortunately, Mr. Choudhury injured his knee during weightlifting. He seriously injured his knee. By developing this special type of yoga, Mr. Choudhury not only healed his knee. He also began Bikram Yoga studios all over the world that would not only foster health and best practices in yoga and exercise, but would spread Buddhist practices. For example, at the end of every Bikram Yoga class, the teacher will say to his or her students, "Namaste." Namaste roughly translates to, "I give deference to the God within you." The poses in Bikram Yoga are words from Sanskrit. Many Buddhist texts, in fact, are written in Pali, which is an ancient language found in the South East Asian subcontinent. Obviously, the spread of this religious practice of yoga with a Buddhist influence has become commonplace in Canada as well as in other parts of the world. Buddhism has a large audience in Canada. Buddhist retreat centers are being set up all over Canada. This is done in order to keep up with the demand for more spaces to meditate, have retreats, and so forth. What is the future of religion in Canada It starts as a simple matter. Canadians must learn to be more self-accepting. Then they will learn how to accept others more readily whose religious traditions vary vastly from their own. Canada has a long way to go in order to become more tolerant of other religions. Like in the U.S., there is still discrimination against Muslims. The likelihood of discrimination happening against Muslims is still less than in the U.S. This is largely because the terrorist attack which occurred on 9/11 was on American soil. In any event, Muslims must strive to be accepted wherever they go unless they reside in Muslim countries where Islam is the official religion. Christians in Canada have a much easier time of it. Buddhists may be looked upon a bit skeptically. However, Buddhism is making a comeback in Canada. Canadians have a long way to go in terms of accepting people from other religious traditions. However, that gap is not, fortunately, that difficult to fill. Canadians must be more open-minded in order to achieve a homeostatic sense of balance with regard to approaching religion and other religious traditions in its own country. If the U.S. is a melting pot, Canada is surely not that far off. Whatever religion is being practiced in Canada, it must be realized by its own people that no one is going to feel accepted unless those in the dominant religion of the region step up to the plate and are cordial towards those who are not of the same religion. This mainly concerns Canadian Christians. Until Christians in Canada can truly be more open-minded about the true state of affairs with regard to how religion is being practiced in Canada, then and only then can Christians say that they are practicing their faith. Having judgmental attitudes only causes more pain and strife for everyone involved. It can be difficult for a Christian of any stripe, Canadian or not, to accept the fact that someone else does not share the same religious beliefs or even values as oneself. However, this is an obstacle which must be overcome. If Canadian Christians want to cherry-pick their theology, then they should not be surprised when others do the same thing. Canadian Christians must realize that their days are numbered in terms of being in the majority as far as religion is concerned. Once Canadians realize the intrinsic value of reaching out to people from different religious backgrounds other than their own, that will be a great day. Until then, one must continually analyze thoughts about religion, trends, and the future of religion in Canada. REFERENCES Beaman, Lori G. Religion and Canadian Society: Traditions, Transitions, and Innovations. Canada: Canadian Scholars' Press, Inc., 2006. Read More