Vol. XIII No. 36
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
This email is sent only to a voluntary subscriber list.
If you no longer wish to receive these weekly columns,
write to me personally - waholst@telus.net
*****
Dear Friends
My Special Item this week takes the form of notes and reflections I have collated from a lecture and the book - upon which the lecture was based - by colleague Reginald Bibby who spoke this week in Calgary.
Please enjoy the other items I have gathered for your interest.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Notes from a lecture by colleague Reginald Bibby -
Keynote Address for Diversity and Religious Pluralism Week
at the University of Calgary, Friday, March 16th, 2018
"TOWARD ENHANCING SOCIAL LIFE: The Current Contributions of Pro-Religious, Low Religious and No Religious"
The content of this lecture was largely based on material from Bibby's recent book "Resilient Gods" (2017) introduced on Colleagues List, December 3rd, 2017 - https://tinyurl.com/ybur2lmm
(In this presentation I hope to share some key impressions from the lecture, and then summarize Bibby's main conclusions from the book.)
Reginald Bibby was introduced as a "national treasure" as, since 1975, he has studied religion in Canada from a sociological perspective and has written a book about it, approximately every five years. He has written 16 books and sold 160,000 copies - impressive for a Canadian author.
--
Bibby started by saying that the secularization thesis - popular in his circles for some decades, is no longer helpful. Don't think secularization in Canada "think polarization". Canadian society is essentially divided into three groups, religiously - "pro" "low" and "no" religious-preference. The question for the next decades is - will these groups find ways to tolerate each other, or will they descend into conflict?
A growing number of Canadians are moving into the "low" category, and some have entered the "no" group, but even then, there are still respectable numbers of Canadians (almost two-thirds of us) who remain in the "open to the spiritual" portion.
Religious people do a lot of good in society. Bibby worries that if their numbers decline, what elements of our culture will make up for the goodness that is currently still being contributed?
Can we be good without God? Yes. But if church-going fades, who will take up the slack in civil society vacated by those who practice their faith through worship attendance and then serve in their communities?
Immigration will have a big impact on Canadian culture through mid-century. The global religious situation is not much different than Canada. New Canadians will tend to help maintain the three categories of faith or no-faith that already exist here.
A number of comments from the audience suggested that our current religious situation is not a negative one. Young people offer hope, even though they do not tend to be church-attenders. Across the board, we Canadians tend to respect and support the rule of law, and this should be another good sign for the future since law should counter conflict.
A major vacuum in our data, unfortunately, is the perspective of Canada's Indigenous Peoples - a major requirement for the future.
--
Conclusions from "Resilient Gods" -
Canada and its understanding of faith can no longer exist in a vacuum. We live in a global culture. What affects the world affects us.
There is no single factor that is going to be more important in defining the future of life in Canada than immigration. In short, people who come to Canada will tend to resemble those already here since where they came from is not that unlike how it is here.
Many children of current immigrants remain involved in Roman Catholic and Evangelical Protestant churches. Will the young continue to remain involved? It is important to remember that at one time many of the immigrants who came to Canada belonged to United, Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. These were not able to retain their youth, and are now in decline. Will the same happen to modern Canadian churches benefitting from immigration? Can they learn from our experience?
Global data are decisive. Religion in Canada and elsewhere is not headed for demise. This has been a contradiction of the common wisdom that has dominated our thinking for two generations.
Because of the eternal questions of meaning - the need to make sense of life and death - there will always be a significant market for religion in Canada and around the world. The elimination of religion due to secularization has not, and will not, happen in Canada.
Throughout our current struggles, the gods remain resilient. They are embraced, ignored, abandoned and scorned - only to be frequently rediscovered. The gods are resilient and are not going away.
Harvey Cox writes (in The Future of Faith, 2009) "All the signs suggest we are poised to enter a new Age of the Spirit and that the future will be a future of faith." Charles Taylor, Canadian philosopher says "Our age is very far from settling into a comfortable unbelief (A Secular Age, 2007).
In conclusion, Bibby asks "How can the presence and absence of faith coexist for the betterment of us all - now that it is clear that both inclinations will always be with us?
(For extensive graphs and other survey results, consult the book)
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
Pat Vitreous,
Calgary, AB.
March 3rd, 2018
Thanks Wayne, for continuing to do Colleagues List.
I always find at least one item each week that’s very
interesting to me. And this comes from a guy who
unsubscribes to most of the stuff that comes my way!
I appreciate all the work you put into it...
Pat
--.
Rob Fennell,
Halifax, NS
Introducing my new book -
"Rule of Faith and Biblical Interpretation"
March 10th, 2018
Pat Vitreous,
Calgary, AB.
March 3rd, 2018
Thanks Wayne, for continuing to do Colleagues List.
I always find at least one item each week that’s very
interesting to me. And this comes from a guy who
unsubscribes to most of the stuff that comes my way!
I appreciate all the work you put into it...
Pat
--.
Rob Fennell,
Halifax, NS
Introducing my new book -
"Rule of Faith and Biblical Interpretation"
March 10th, 2018
Dear Wayne
Could I ask you to put a note about my new book into
Colleagues List?
Rob
--
Rob Fennell (Academic Dean of Atlantic School of
Theology in Halifax) has released a new book called
The Rule of Faith and Biblical Interpretation - Reform,
Resistance, and Renewal (Cascade, 2018).
The book has already received some good reviews,
for example from Richard Topping, Principal and
Professor of Vancouver School of Theology: “Fennell
makes a compelling case for reading Scripture with
the ‘communion of saints.’ He commends humility
enough to learn from a series of astute theological
interpreters of Holy Scripture... The book assumes
the natural habitat of the Bible is church, and that
what the Bible is about, God, directs its interpretation.
Absolutely wonderful.”
You can find out more about Rob and his new book here:
https://tinyurl.com/y7pv59xa
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMUNICATIONS
Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON.
Sermons and Blog,
March 15th, 2018
"Perishing"
https://tinyurl.com/y9wzsbqr
--
John G. Stackhouse Jr.
Moncton, NB
Personal Blog
March 14th, 2018
"Who Is Ready?"
https://tinyurl.com/y6we4r5v
--
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
March 14th, 2018
"The Real Miracle of the Miracle Mile"
https://tinyurl.com/y8wxhbb8
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago, IL
Sightings
March 12th, 2018
"Down and Out in Catholic Ireland"
https://tinyurl.com/yaxosrty
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
March 12th, 2018
"The Ups and Downs of Faith"
https://tinyurl.com/y7nskvrf
*****
NET NOTES
WALTER BRUEGGEMANN AT 85
Watch/Read the Krista Tippet Interview on
His Classic - The Prophetic Imagination
On Being,
Dec. 22nd, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/y8vp6xb6
--
A BRIEF HISTORY OF STEPHEN HAWKING'S ATHEISM
Famous Theoretical Scientists Dies this Week at 76
Religion News Service,
May 14th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y6u6fveh
--
FRANCIS INVITES CHANGE - "WE ARE THE CHANGE"
Joan Chittister Lauds the Pope's Fifth Anniversary
National Catholic Reporter
March 10th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y7hjbpdr
--
HOW TRUMP IS REMAKING AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM
New Book Shows Fractures Between Protestant Conservatives
The Atlantic,
March 12th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yc2byefw
--
A CULTURAL LEAP AT THE DAWN
OF HUMAN EXISTANCE
Humans Developed Relations -
Communication, Trade - from the Start
The Atlantic
March 15th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ybm2jp8w
--
CHURCH ORGANIST HAS BEEN
LEADING WORSHIP FOR 86 YEARS
Still Going Strong at 98
United Church Observer,
March, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y9fqlcbp
--
THE 'BAD GIRLS' OF THE BIBLE
DESERVE A FRESH LOOK
Some have Gotten a Bad Wrap
Christianity Today,
March 6th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y9rzaucd
--
A CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE
ON MARY MAGDALENE
BBC Production Incorporates
Modern Scholarship
BBC, Youtube
October 15th, 2013
https://tinyurl.com/yb97ungn
--
WHEN CHURCHES TRY TO MAKE DEALS
WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
The Probability of Success is Slim
UCA News
March 8th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yatbpnd8
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation,
and that is an act of political warfare.
- Audre Lorde
--
And what my mother meant when she said you can’t eat
beauty was that you can’t rely on how you look to sustain
you. What does sustain us ... what is fundamentally
beautiful is compassion for yourself and for those around
you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants
the soul.
- Lupita Nyong’o
--
Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation,
and that is an act of political warfare.
- Audre Lorde
--
And what my mother meant when she said you can’t eat
beauty was that you can’t rely on how you look to sustain
you. What does sustain us ... what is fundamentally
beautiful is compassion for yourself and for those around
you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants
the soul.
- Lupita Nyong’o
--
We pay more attention to dying than to death. We’re more
concerned to get over the act of dying than to overcome
death. Socrates mastered the art of dying; Christ overcame
death as the last enemy.
There is a real difference between the two things; the one is
within the scope of human possibilities, the other means
resurrection.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
--
In the old days, on Easter night, the Russian peasants used
to carry the blessed fire home from church. The light would
scatter and travel in all directions through the darkness, and
the desolation of the night would be pierced and dispelled as
lamps came on in the windows of the farmhouses, one by one.
Even so, the glory of God sleeps everywhere, ready to blaze
out unexpectedly in created things.
Even so, his peace and his order lie hidden in the world, even
the world of today, ready to reestablish themselves in his way,
in his own good time – but never without the instrumentality
of free options made by free people.
- Thomas Merton
--
- Thomas Merton
--
We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah,
certified him “meek and mild,” and recommended him as a
fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.
To those who knew him, however, he in no way suggested a
milk-and-water person; they objected to him as a dangerous
firebrand.
True, he was tender to the unfortunate, patient with honest
inquirers, and humble before heaven; but he insulted
respectable clergymen by calling them hypocrites; he referred
to King Herod as “that fox”; he went to parties in disreputable
company and was looked upon as a “gluttonous man and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners”; he assaulted indignant tradesman and threw them and their belongings out of the Temple; he drove a coach-and-horses through a number of sacrosanct and hoary regulations; he cured diseases by any means that came handy, with a shocking casualness in the matter of other people’s pigs and property; he showed no proper deference for wealth or social position; when confronted with neat dialectical traps, he displayed a paradoxical humor that affronted serious-minded people, and he retorted by asking disagreeably searching questions that could not be answered by rule of thumb.
He was emphatically not a dull man in his human lifetime, and if he was God if he was God, there can be nothing dull about God either.
- Dorothy Sayers
*****
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
March 15, 1827:
University of Toronto chartered
For the price King’s College paid for 150 acres of land in
downtown Toronto in 1827, a real estate buyer today could
not purchase a single house. But that investment of £3,750
now equivalent to about £340,000, or $614,941) secured the
land on which the University of Toronto would eventually rise.
The first higher learning institution in what was then Upper
Canada, King’s College was established through a royal
charter granted by King George IV on March 15, 1827.
John Strachan, an Anglican clergyman, had lobbied for
the charter, warning that if young men of the colony were
to continue being educated in the United States, they could
become infected with a “liberty which has degenerated into
licentiousness.” Beset by financial problems and complaints
from students about an unrelenting diet of “puddings and pies” in the residence dining hall, King’s limped along for a while.
By 1850, King’s was transformed into the non-denominational
University of Toronto, an institution beholden to the provincial
government. But the university would not win complete autonomy until the early 20th century, after the firing of a popular professor showed the need for an independent board of governors. The student leaders of the protest to reinstate the professor? Future prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.
– Simona Chiose
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - - Anne C. Weisberg
We all participate in weaving the social fabric; we should
therefore all participate in patching the fabric when it
develops holes.
(end)
*****
For Those Interested -
NOT IN GOD'S NAME - Confronting Religious Violence
42 copies of the book have been secured and all
have been sold. 35 persons have registered for the
course. Others are reading it alone or in another
small study group.
This series is already going well with strong,
Read my background information on this study
ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Ten Sessions January 18th - March 29th, 2018
Thursday morning sessions 10-11 AM
This term we are studying:
certified him “meek and mild,” and recommended him as a
fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.
To those who knew him, however, he in no way suggested a
milk-and-water person; they objected to him as a dangerous
firebrand.
True, he was tender to the unfortunate, patient with honest
inquirers, and humble before heaven; but he insulted
respectable clergymen by calling them hypocrites; he referred
to King Herod as “that fox”; he went to parties in disreputable
company and was looked upon as a “gluttonous man and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners”; he assaulted indignant tradesman and threw them and their belongings out of the Temple; he drove a coach-and-horses through a number of sacrosanct and hoary regulations; he cured diseases by any means that came handy, with a shocking casualness in the matter of other people’s pigs and property; he showed no proper deference for wealth or social position; when confronted with neat dialectical traps, he displayed a paradoxical humor that affronted serious-minded people, and he retorted by asking disagreeably searching questions that could not be answered by rule of thumb.
He was emphatically not a dull man in his human lifetime, and if he was God if he was God, there can be nothing dull about God either.
- Dorothy Sayers
*****
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
March 15, 1827:
University of Toronto chartered
For the price King’s College paid for 150 acres of land in
downtown Toronto in 1827, a real estate buyer today could
not purchase a single house. But that investment of £3,750
now equivalent to about £340,000, or $614,941) secured the
land on which the University of Toronto would eventually rise.
The first higher learning institution in what was then Upper
Canada, King’s College was established through a royal
charter granted by King George IV on March 15, 1827.
John Strachan, an Anglican clergyman, had lobbied for
the charter, warning that if young men of the colony were
to continue being educated in the United States, they could
become infected with a “liberty which has degenerated into
licentiousness.” Beset by financial problems and complaints
from students about an unrelenting diet of “puddings and pies” in the residence dining hall, King’s limped along for a while.
By 1850, King’s was transformed into the non-denominational
University of Toronto, an institution beholden to the provincial
government. But the university would not win complete autonomy until the early 20th century, after the firing of a popular professor showed the need for an independent board of governors. The student leaders of the protest to reinstate the professor? Future prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.
– Simona Chiose
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - - Anne C. Weisberg
We all participate in weaving the social fabric; we should
therefore all participate in patching the fabric when it
develops holes.
(end)
*****
For Those Interested -
ST. DAVID'S ACTS MONDAY NIGHT WINTER STUDY
A Ten Week Series January 22nd - March 26th, 2018
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
NOT IN GOD'S NAME - Confronting Religious Violence
Author: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
42 copies of the book have been secured and all
have been sold. 35 persons have registered for the
course. Others are reading it alone or in another
small study group.
This series is already going well with strong,
enthusiastic attendances.
Read my background information on this study
--
During the 2016-2017 two session-term there were
class registrations of 70 and total books sold: 78
2017 was our best year ever, since we began in 1998!
class registrations of 70 and total books sold: 78
2017 was our best year ever, since we began in 1998!
ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Ten Sessions January 18th - March 29th, 2018
Thursday morning sessions 10-11 AM
This term we are studying:
THE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE
(in the Four Gospels and in several non-canonical texts)
Check out a good BBC video on Mary Magdalene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-jx8I49D3k&sns=em
Gathering at 9:30 AM in the St. David's TM Room.
(in the Four Gospels and in several non-canonical texts)
Check out a good BBC video on Mary Magdalene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-jx8I49D3k&sns=em
Gathering at 9:30 AM in the St. David's TM Room.
No charge
15 persons make up our study group.
15 persons make up our study group.
Study resource -
"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
Edited by John Bowker
Edited by John Bowker
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS EVENT, 2017
South Africa was our destination! We planned a nineteen-
day tour that combined a focus on spirituality, social
justice, culture, and nature, and it ran October 21st
thru November 8th.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints was published.
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Twenty-five persons registered and paid in full to
take the trip. This was our tour group.
All together, thirty-two persons made deposits
but some had to withdraw for health or other
reasons.
We have activated a South Africa Spiritual Travelers
discussion list group to and used it to build community
amongst the participants, and to share news and
resources.
We reported our experiences to St. David's congregation
as a travel group reflection during the worship service Sunday, January 14th, 2018. For information click Rostad Tours:
day tour that combined a focus on spirituality, social
justice, culture, and nature, and it ran October 21st
thru November 8th.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints was published.
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Twenty-five persons registered and paid in full to
take the trip. This was our tour group.
All together, thirty-two persons made deposits
but some had to withdraw for health or other
reasons.
We have activated a South Africa Spiritual Travelers
discussion list group to and used it to build community
amongst the participants, and to share news and
resources.
We reported our experiences to St. David's congregation
as a travel group reflection during the worship service Sunday, January 14th, 2018. For information click Rostad Tours:
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
This marks the end of our South African travel project.
We will soon be asking people "Where do we travel next?"
***
Lenten Notice:
ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S LENTEN RETREAT
AT MT. ST. FRANCIS, COCHRANE
Sunday, March 4th, 2018. 11:30 AM - 4:00PM
Theme: "Encountering a Sacred Intimacy With God"
Spiritual Director: Susan Campbell
This event drew 22 registrants and was much appreciated.
https://tinyurl.com/ybyvgegu
*****
This marks the end of our South African travel project.
We will soon be asking people "Where do we travel next?"
***
Lenten Notice:
ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S LENTEN RETREAT
AT MT. ST. FRANCIS, COCHRANE
Sunday, March 4th, 2018. 11:30 AM - 4:00PM
Theme: "Encountering a Sacred Intimacy With God"
Spiritual Director: Susan Campbell
This event drew 22 registrants and was much appreciated.
https://tinyurl.com/ybyvgegu
*****
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