God bless Canada?

[Hollybaby]

I think this deserves a thread of it's own.

There's been some talk about Stephen Harper saying "God Bless Canada" after his victory speech. He has begun to say this a lot.

Now, some people don't think it's a big deal. Why not let the guy say his one little religious sentence if he wants to? It's not hurting anyone, right?

Wrong.

What he's doing is getting Canadians familiar with hearing the word "God" in politics. It triggers something in people to hear that word. He wants to get people used to hearing the word and associating it with his decisions.

And it's not just any god he's talking about, it's the Christian god. Many of his MPs have ties to REAL Women, and Focus on the Family. These sorts of organizations believe that Christianity determines what's right and wrong. They are anti-gay rights, and anti-women's rights (and I'm not just talking about abortion).

Christians have this ability to get really riled up, and vote in large numbers. They can be very powerful. It frightens me to hear him appealing to these people.

I think individual moral decisions have no place in our laws. So long as one does not hurt another, there should be no limits as to how he/she expresses his/her sexuality.

Besides, I believe that a Prime Minister should represent the people. The majority of Canadians are not Christian.

(Please note that I'm not talking about your nice granny that goes to church on sundays and leaves everyone well alone. I'm talking about the fanatical Christians that think gays are evil and try to push those beliefs on others)

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

Totally agree,

As like has been said recently on this board, Harper is just going to be
another Bush. Using god to make everything come out rosy!

Anti gay and anti woman's rights, yes, what's next;

Like it's ok to have our country in other countries affairs, IE the radical Muslim threat, God willing, we will prevail....who the hell does this guy think he's trying to send a message from, himself to us........NOT!!

He's perpetrating (spelling?) that's its ok cuz god has given him permission
to speak on his behalf.........gimme a break, please.


..............QM'r

 

[mustangjoe]

The guy is creepy.

Our new PM looks like a child molester

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

With a choir boy haircut!

.............QM'r

 

[Rain Man]

Your own words

The majority of Canadians are not Christian.)

Really? Try this on for size

72% of the Canadian population list Catholic or Protestant as their religion.

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/rel/canada.cfm

Christians have this ability to get really riled up, and vote in large numbers. They can be very powerful)

That's a pretty wide brush you are painting with. Change Christians to "gay" or "black" or ............. Pretty inaccurate and prejudiced don't you think?

(Please note that I'm not talking about your nice granny that goes to church on sundays and leaves everyone well alone. )

Don't you think that is the majority of Christians?

(Besides, I believe that a Prime Minister should represent the people.)

70% not enough for you?

 

[HankQuinlan]

If we elect an evangelical christian to office, we should expect to hear him express his beliefs. We will have to live with it while he's there.

 

[samsmith]

The real issue is going to be who's in cabinet. If its the right wing evangelicals a la Stockwell Day,Jason Kenny,Rob Anders,Myron Thompson
"GOD" help us all(I just couldn't resist that)

 

[Rain Man]

If 72% claim that, then how come I've seen statistics that say only 20% of Canadians attend church at least once a year?

I don't have to go to church to believe in God. There is a difference between a religious belief and values and organized religion structure

It's one thing to say you believe in God, quite another to actually practice a religion.

maybe you can expand on this. What exactly are you saying by practice a religon? I also want to point out that both the Jews and the Christians believe in the same God but they are very different gods. Further on that point, Muslims, Jews and Christian beliefs do all orginate from the same point

our wonderful country is all about not making the mistake of mixing church and state! If you want to see what's the big deal, look down south to our neighbours and see if you still think it's OK.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in separation of church and state. I do have a problem with the Christian bashing that happens on this board. Hollybaby has made several statements that if you change the word Christians to Muslims would result in everyone crying racism.

 

[HankQuinlan]

I absolutely agree that religion has no place in politics. Ontario quite rightly abandoned its idea of allowing sharia family courts --- that has no place in our country.

As far as marriage goes, I don't think government has any business there, either. Any two people who wish to engage in an exclusive relationship can go through a civil ceremony to signify it, and get whatever benefits -- insurance, inheritance, etc. that come with that. "Marriage" could be through a religious cerermony appropriate to their beliefs --- and remember, some churches do allow gay marriage, so that wouldn't help the bible belters that want to prevent it a bit.

But -- if you don't want our prime minister to espouse his beliefs in public, don't elect one that will. Harper has never hidden his beliefs. We will have to live with it until he is gone.

 

[Rain Man]

Exactly, so what does a belief in a higher power, ANY higher power have to do with running our country?!

Why ask me? Don't believe I ever said it did.

By practice, I mean...... but actually live your life by the doctrines of said religion.

Although similar, each protestant denomination actually has different doctrines. For example, the United Church openly supports and accepts gay ministers and has gay members. They are still Christian

In Canada apparently only 20% do actually live by the rules of their claimed religion.

When did going to church mean you were living by the rules of the religion?

If I go to Church - am I then Christian? If I don't go to Church - then I am not?

I didn't notice it as Christan bashing,

But I did

if the word Christian was switched to Muslim it would be more a case of discriminating against a minority

see you did it yourself

And that's bad!

We do agree on this.

 

[Rain Man]

It has been fun

baiting all of you.

Thanks for the enjoyment but that's all on the subject.


RM

 

[Quarter Mile'r]

What he's doing is getting Canadians familiar with hearing the word "God" in politics. It triggers something in people to hear that word.

Uhhhh.......excuse me, but who baited who here bro!!


..............QM'r

 

[The Lizard King]

Hey Hifi, you missed one!