{"id":672,"date":"2008-03-29T14:04:32","date_gmt":"2008-03-29T22:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oxgoad.ca\/2008\/03\/29\/rampant-secularism\/"},"modified":"2008-03-29T14:04:32","modified_gmt":"2008-03-29T22:04:32","slug":"rampant-secularism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxgoad.ca\/2008\/03\/29\/rampant-secularism\/","title":{"rendered":"rampant secularism"},"content":{"rendered":"
Douglas Todd is the very fine religion writer for the Vancouver Sun newspaper. By that I don’t mean he is a believer, he may be, I just have no idea. I mean that he is an excellent writer with a keen eye for trends in religion. He now has a blog on the Vancouver Sun site. Today’s entry is an eye-opener in some ways … not that it surprises me, but rather confirms what I have long sensed. The post is entitled “Secularism is the new default position – almost everywhere<\/a>“. A few snippets:<\/p>\n Fittingly, British Columbia, gets a good dose of attention. The study repeats what many already know about B.C.; that it’s arguably the most “secular” region in North America. That 36 per cent of British Columbians have “no religion,” and another 21 per cent say they’re affiliated with a religion, but virtually never attend.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n No surprises here, but perhaps outsiders might be surprised to know it. There is a ready antagonism to the gospel that surrounds us when we witness.<\/p>\n More…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the ‘default’ position in BC:<\/p>\n In other words, secularism is the default position in Canada, especially B.C.<\/b> Going to a church, synagogue or temple is now a counter-cultural act.<\/b> <\/p>\n Even though church attendance is higher in the U.S., a secular ethos also remains strong there. Like Canadians, many Americans consider themselves secular- but-spiritual. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On France, Todd reports:<\/p>\n hardcore secularism is one of the things that makes French people think they’re just as special as Americans think they are.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The situation in Britain is a divide between old and young, with the young politely disinterested in religion, and the net result an even more secular society than Canada.<\/p>\n Denmark has only 5% church attendance, though much more are officially members of the state church.<\/p>\n On Israel:<\/p>\n It surprises many outsiders, but 44 per cent of Israeli Jews are secular; utterly non-religious.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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