Baptisms and christenings are the traditional religious rituals to welcome a baby into the church. Although more people are leaning away from religious ceremonies, there is still a need to celebrate the birth of a child with a secular ritual. If you’re looking for a non-religious option for a baptism, you can create a ceremony that fits your beliefs. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Baby Blessing Ceremony
Pull in any elements of your choosing when you host a baby blessing ceremony. It could be an interfaith ceremony or a no-faith ceremony where you bring your friends and family together to meet your baby and welcome him or her into your community. Ask each guest to bring a special blessing to the baby, not a physical gift, but a hope or desire for the future or words of wisdom. You could create a memory box and light candles before having a meal together.
Naming Ceremony
Naming ceremonies are parts of many cultures. With a bit of creativity, you can structure your ritual around your own culture and traditions, including elements that have meaning for your family. Use modern technology to make a video of good wishes that your child can revisit each year on birthdays. Ask an officiant to speak words of wisdom over the child or bring family members together to provide special blessings. Instead of a balloon release, which is bad for the environment, hold a bubble-blowing ceremony as a way to send your hopes for your child into the world.
Plant a Tree
In many cultures, trees are planted at births and deaths to represent life and growth. Select a tree that is right for the growing zone and won’t get too large for the yard. Watching the tree grow as the child grows is a nice remembrance for parents and grandparents both. Dogwood trees represent loyalty and kindness. A gingko tree represents longevity. Maple trees symbolize intelligence and generosity. If you don’t have a yard where you can plant a tree, look for a small or dwarf variety that can be planted in a container or find a park where you can dedicate a tree.
Create a Time Capsule
You could incorporate a time capsule into your blessing ceremony or make it on your own if you can’t bring your support system together. Ask each guest to bring something for your baby to commemorate the birth. You could include family photos, a newspaper from the day of the birth, stamps, coins or other gifts to be opened when the child reaches a significant birthday. Label the box and stash it away in a closet.
Alternatives to Godparents
At one time, godparents would take over raising a child if the parents died. Today, godparents are more of a religious support system. There’s no reason to call them godparents. Humanists call these people “guideparents.” Some Unitarian churches call them Anam Cáirde, which means soul friends. You could refer to the person or persons you choose as a mentor or as an honorary aunt and uncle. The title itself isn’t as important as the relationship.
Create a Joyous Occasion
A baptism isn’t a spectacle. It’s a meaningful ritual to welcome the baby. If you want to hold a non-religious alternative, you can still celebrate your child’s entrance into your life with a small party that has meaning for your family. Don’t think about going over the top. Think about how to personalize your ceremony for your child and your support system. Make the ceremony about the child instead of any religion. Bring meaning to your child’s birth by choosing the elements that have value for you and your family.
Religion has long been a part of the journey of the human race. According to many anthropologists, one of the earliest signs of advanced intelligence in the ancestors of modern humans was the practice of burying the dead. Academics believe the initial burial processes were religious in nature, indicating connections to spiritual beliefs are some of the oldest aspects of the human condition. Still, this doesn’t mean that modern people have the same perceptions when it comes to religious ideologies. In Canada, there have been some very interesting shifts on religious fronts over recent years.
Immigrants Comprise the New Religious Majority
For a long while throughout Canada’s history, a good chunk of the population identified as religious. These individuals typically were influenced in their religious beliefs by their families, meaning that each generation in a group or community tended to reflect the one before. At some point over the last two decades, this began to change. According to statistics compiled from 2001 until 2015, younger individuals coming from families who have Canadian roots dating back centuries are much less religious than those prior.
The same research revealed that immigrants to Canada tend to be much more religious as a whole. With Canada consistently welcoming new residents from across the world, there has been a big uptick in both the number of religious individuals from foreign nations and a shift in what spiritual beliefs are practiced on average. Once, Christianity and its various denominations were most common. Now, populations of Muslims, Buddhists, and other groups have become larger in communities throughout the nation.
Older Canadians Are In Favor of Religion as a Whole
Another bit of data released around 2011 showed a transition in the median age for the average religious citizen. This information, which has remained largely the same over the last decade, revealed that those who identified as religious tended to be on the older end of the spectrum. Those who stated that they were members of a Christian-based faith like Protestantism or Catholicism tended to be around 52 years of age. This is a shift upward when compared to data from previous census reports across the last five decades, which revealed that the median age was closer to 35.
This is another area where differing religious beliefs reveal different sets of data. Though Christians as a whole tend to lean older, this is not true of those who belong to other faiths. In the case of immigrants entering Canada, those who identify as Mulsim tend to be around 27 years of age on average. This is primarily due to the fact that people in the countries where these individuals originated lean younger when it comes to religious beliefs across generations.
Most Canadians View Religion in a Positive Way
Even though fewer people are identifying as religious in the traditional sense, Canadians by and large accept and are interested in the religions of others. While there are favorable views to popular Canadian belief systems like Protestantism, citizens also respond in a positive way when it comes to religions that weren’t as present in the population over previous years, like Buddhism. Still, this isn’t to say all members of Canada are as open. Small populations still show signs of xenophobia and ignorance when it comes to the religions of others.
While a subject that has fascinated the human race since the dawn of recorded time, religion definitely looks far different today than it did back then. As the world continues to shrink due to the presence of the internet, it is likely true that even more changes will take place at an even faster pace. For now, looking back at the past can be a great way of gaining some perspective on the current zeitgeist and any changes that might be poised on the horizon.
Just 68% of Canadians aged 15 or older currently report having a religious affiliation. This marks the first time that number has dropped below 70% since StatCan started tracking religiosity in 1985. However, minority religions are flourishing, including Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
The Drop in Christian Religiosity
COVID-19 is one reason the number of religious Christians has decreased. Many have left the church due to restrictions on public gatherings. Others cite the inability to take communion, because they would normally share one chalice of wine or grape juice, representing the blood of Christ. Even with vaccination records being shown, people just aren’t willing to take the risk of sharing a chalice with others.
The drop in Christian beliefs is huge. In 2011, about 67% of Canadians said they belonged to a Christian religion. In 2019, that percentage had dropped to about 63%. Canada’s largest denomination, Catholicism, currently makes up 32% of Canadians aged 15 and above. In 1996, it was nearly 47%.
Membership in the United Church of Canada, the second-largest Christian denomination, has dropped even more. It had been on the decline since 1985, when it made up 14.6% of Christians in Canada. In 1996, that percentage decreased to 9.7%.
As of 2019, just 3.8% of Canadian Christians belong to the United Church of Canada. Compare that to Islam, a minority religion, which makes up 3.7% of the Canadian population.
The Anglicans have also seen numbers decline. Data from StatCan shows that in 1986, 10.4% of all Canadians were Anglican. That number slipped to 7% in 1996, then to 3.8% in 2019.
Falling Numbers in Judaism
Judaism faces its own challenges when it comes to retaining and growing its membership in synagogues. One reason is that Shabbat, the Jewish holy day, runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. That’s when a majority of kids’ sporting events happen. Families have to choose between their children’s extracurricular activities and religious events. It may not be an easy decision, but many Jewish families are opting in favor of their kids.
Since 1985, StatCan has reported a steady decline in the number of Jews in Canada. In 1985, 1.6% of Canadians were Jewish. That fell to 1.1% in 1996, then to 0.8% in 2019. This makes holding services difficult. If there isn’t a minyan, or 10 people in attendance, certain prayers aren’t able to be recited.
This is especially difficult for those who have lost a loved one. If a minyan is not present, the Kaddish prayer of mourning — which is to be recited daily for seven days after the death — can’t be recited. Some rabbis have approved an online minyan. Others have commanded that mourners perform a mitzvah — one of the 613 Jewish laws — instead of saying Kaddish. There are also alternate prayers that may be recited in place of Kaddish.
The Growth of Minority Religions
StatCan predicts that the number of people practicing minority religions will double by 2036. Sikhism currently makes up 1.4% of Canada’s population, fueled in large part by immigration. In 2001, Sikhs comprised just 0.9% of Canadians. The World Sikh Organization of Canada says there are more than half a million Sikhs currently living in Canada.
Immigration isn’t just fueling the growth of the Sikh community. Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are all seeing growth from immigrants. New immigrants want to find something familiar, so they seek out the religious communities they left back home for a sense of belonging.
Islam, for example, is currently the largest non-Christian religious group, and the fastest-growing faith in Canada. StatCan reports that 3.7% of Canadians are Muslim, up from 1.5% in 2001 and 1.1% in 1996.
It’s important to understand the changing face of religion in Canada. While majority religions decline, minority faiths flourish. To help create an inclusive environment, take some time to understand the current makeup of the religious communities in Canada.
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary is a fantastic place to start your religious tour.
If you’ve seen the movies “Doctor Zhivago,” “Unforgiven,” or “The Revenant,” you have seen the landscape of Calgary. Most people are familiar with the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo and exhibition, or one of the many other festivals in the city. It’s a cultural mecca, home to ethnic restaurants, venues and museums.
Calgary may not be recognizable for its contribution to the religious fiber of the nation, but it has some beautiful churches that are part of the history of the city. Here are some of the best places to explore this heritage.
St. Mary’s Cathedral
The foundations for St. Mary’s were laid in 1887 and the building was completed in 1889, but the church began in 1873 when Father Constantine Scollen founded the first mission in southern Alberta. The Resurrection Glass Panel is a stunning piece of stained glass art.
Central United Church
The original building was dedicated in 1905 and was decorated in antique wood and walnut while he walls were made of sandstone from local quarries. Just 11 years later, the interior was destroyed by a boiler fire and would be refurbished. The church then reopened in 1917. At one time, this congregation had about 3,500 members, the largest congregation in the United Church of Canada, but the growth declined in the 1960s.
Lantern Community Church
This church has a lot of history. It’s over 100 years old, with a majestic pipe organ and what might be the best acoustics in the community. It’s home to many more events than just Sunday service. The most interesting aspect of this congregation is that one Sunday each month, instead of holding service, they go out into the community and do things for their neighbors.
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church
This Catholic church is much newer than most, built in the late 20th century. It is more modern, but still a beautiful building. The church is currently undergoing renovations, which indicates the congregations plans to be here a long time.
St. Bonaventure Church
This Roman Catholic Church has been here for many years, and it hosts beautiful windows and statues that are examples of the connections between art and religion.
Knox United Church
Know Presbyterian Church started out when Reverend James Robertson preached in the local saloon. The men decided Robertson needed a better place to worship, and the church found its place in the town. At one time, the congregation shared a tent with the Methodists. Knox has a Casavant organ and a strong musical program. It hosts many musical events open to the public.
Calgary Alberta Temple
This stunning building is the third temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in Alberta and dedicated two years later. Group tours are available by appointment, but you should at least visit the outside of this church to experience its magnitude.
St. Thomas More Parish
Another newer parish in the community, this church held its initial meeting in 1979. The new church building was completed in 1985, with Bishop Paul O’Byrne blessing the church at its opening mass in October. The stained glass windows are more modern, which allows you to see how art has changed through the years.
Explore Calgary Through Its Churches
While driving through Calgary, take a look at some of the churches and how they are designed and built. It’s a great way to examine how the churches have contributed to the community and will continue to add value to the city.
While taking a religious tour, you get to see the inner workings of how churches function.
Even if you aren’t religious, there’s a lot that can be learned by taking a religious tour within a city. You may need to call and make arrangements if you want to tour the inside of the church, but you don’t even have to go inside to see the architecture of the building. Make sure you don’t interrupt worship services. Vancouver is not one of the oldest cities in Canada, but there’s still a lot of heritage within the city. Here are some of the best churches to visit when you’re in town.
Different Churches to Visit On Your Religious Tour
Paul’s Anglican Church was built in 1905. It is now a heritage building that cannot be torn down, nor have the integrity of its design altered. It’s a Gothic Revival design, and when you go inside, there’s a replica of a medieval labyrinth laid in the floor. It’s not a maze, but a walking path that leads into the centre and back out again. People of all faiths use it for meditation and reflection. The labyrinth is open to the public during certain times of the day.
Christ Church Cathedral is noted for its stained glass windows. It’s such a popular exhibit that the church has a self-guided tour that can be downloaded to walk you through the building. The church itself is an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture built at the turn of the 20th You might even think that it was taken out of the English countryside and moved to its location in Vancouver. In 1995, the church began a restoration project that took about 11 years. Visitors are invited to take a walking tour through the building to enjoy its rich heritage.
The Holy Rosary Cathedral is home to the Roman Catholic faith. Pope John Paul II visited this church when he came to Vancouver. This building was built in the French Gothic style, and it features 21 beautiful pictorial stained glass windows. It’s one of three places in British Columbia where bells are hung in the English way. The bells made three oceanic crossings before the final installation. After one installation, the bells were not considered melodic enough and had to be sent to England to be melted down and recast.
Andrew’s-Wesley United Church is a short walk from downtown. The Gothic building was completed in 1933, and it’s a popular venue for music concerts. Every Sunday, the church offers Jazz Vespers in the afternoon and candlelight and music service in the evening as extra worship services for the community. The church also houses many stained glass windows and liturgical hangings to help understand the faith.
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral is a beautiful building that did not receive the designation of Cathedral until 1983, but the parish was established in 1937. On the first Friday of the month, the church hosts a Ukrainian supper featuring pirogies and cabbage rolls at great prices. The inside of the Cathedral features beautiful paintings of icons. Worshippers venerate, not worship, these icons and show respect for their faith by genuflecting before the icon painting.
Learning more about faiths outside of your own opens your eyes to the similarities and differences between different religions. It can bridge gaps between individuals and in communities. Take a religious tour of your own town if you can’t get to Vancouver to explore its religious heritage. Look at the difference in architecture, decorations and stained glass windows. You don’t have to be a believer to see the beauty in the history of the building and interior décor. Understanding how religion affects someone’s life helps you understand their morals, their celebrations and their lifestyle. And it gives you a better understanding of the world.
Pick up any Christian magazine or read one online, and you’ll find many theories about why churches are losing attendance. Many people believe that the church is no longer relevant. Some think that adults are choosing to ignore God. There are others who see the church as too hierarchal. In Canada, about 25 percent of adults identify as having no religious affiliation. Many studies have been done about the actual number of people who stop attending church, but very few look at the reasons why. The Church of Scotland, which is Scotland’s national church, commissioned a study about the lack of attendance. The findings were surprising.
One of the key beliefs in failing congregations is that the members lose faith in God and this is why they stop attending. Another issue that has been thought to ravage church membership is disagreements. Women still do not find support in leadership in many churches. The LGBTQ community is also disenchanted with the church, which is another reason that people stop attending. However, Dr. Steve Aisthorpe, the researcher who carried out the study for the Church of Scotland, found something interesting.
Are People Leaving Church or God?
Dr. Aisthorpe discovered that about 66 percent, or two-thirds, of those who left the church now practice and worship in different ways. Many still gather with like-minded individuals to discuss theological issues and pray together. They choose different venues, such as homes or parks, or even do activities together where they can share their faith and address questions they have about their convictions. Aisthorpe also found that this phenomenon was not different in rural and urban churches.
This suggests that it is the organization of the church that keeps people away. More people are turning away from large congregations for a more personalized worship ritual. Arguments and division may turn some people away from church, but this doesn’t indicate that they stop believing in God. A spokesman for the National Secular Society states that “Churches are out of step, and the people in the pews are voting with their feet.”
The Health of the Church and Religious Community
Although Dr. Aisthorpe carried out the majority of his research in Scotland, he did not only look at his own country to get information. He looked at related research from the Western world. He found changes in the attendance of Sunday morning worship, but he doesn’t believe that should be the only measure of the health of the Christian community and faith. His research suggests that churches are in a transitional period, rather than a decline.
What happens now with the church, in whatever denomination, is up to the individual community. Pastors, priests, and religious leaders need to find what works for their own congregation. The Christian community is not the only religion that is having a hard time filling their seats. Many Jewish synagogues are finding it difficult to maintain membership rolls. In Japan, religious organizations are facing the crisis of having to close Buddhist monasteries because the smaller communities cannot afford to support the monks. The rural areas do not have the number of people they once had, and those areas with more of a population are finding that nationals are not using the services of the temples.
Another key element that Dr. Aisthorpe’s research demonstrates is that the church leaders have to stop assuming and stereotyping those who do not attend church. The reasons that keep people away may have nothing to do with their actual faith in God. It’s easy to point to other problems when the congregation fails. Instead of pointing fingers, churches need to become more relevant and change their delivery system. This is how the world works. Most faiths are buried deep in rituals and traditions that are difficult to change, but as culture changes, so must religion.
At the University of Regina in Canada, a study has attempted to get some data about the tricky subject of people lying, especially where there is money to gain from the lie. One result of the study seemed to indicate that more than half the subjects were willing to lie to get a direct financial gain. The study was set up to let the subjects remain anonymous, and involved testing whether a person would give truthful information to another person in the test, knowing a lie would likely end up delivering more money to the person who told it.
The study split volunteers into teams of two, separated them, and set up a situation where two packages worth $5 and $7 in one version, or $5 and $15 in another version of the controlled study were to be divided between the two participants. Person A knows the amounts in the delivery, and is directed to tell the other person which is the higher amount. Person B gets to choose which to select (presumably the higher amount). Person A had the opportunity to be dishonest, with anonymity, and with no other impact on the study, except that lying could be counted on to be likely to return a few extra bucks to that person.
The creator of the study then connected the willingness to lie in the study for greater gain to other individual traits, which had been noted at the outset, including major area of study (the subjects were all college students), and other categories, including religion, family background, age, and some economic indicators, including student debt. The three largest indicators of willingness to lie in the study were religious identity (those that self-identified as more religious being more likely to use deceit for financial gain, although lying is classed as a sin in the main religions represented), being a child of a divorced couple, and being a business major.
The creators of the study seemed nonplussed by the last two indicators of higher levels of willingness to be deceitful, being familiar with prior studies that supported the notion that business majors as a class were ambitious and statistically more prone to value financial gain over moral values. Perhaps it is true, as the creator of the study postulates, that a religion that distinguishes itself as the one true faith, as most major faiths teach, creates a condition in which there are those who are inside those particular parameters of righteousness and those who are not of the flock, and perhaps for some with this worldview, it is easier to cheat a little for some extra money, as against those who are not of the same faith, even if lying is a sin in the belief system.
But for those who respect all as children of the same universe, such as the Universal Life Church teaches, the idea of damaging or harming another individual to benefit oneself would be anathema and would conflict also with the principle of doing good in the world. This may be closer to true religion, the notion that harming one causes harm to all.
Baptisms and christenings are the traditional religious rituals to welcome a baby into the church. Although more people are leaning away from religious ceremonies, there is still a need to celebrate the birth of a child with a secular ritual. If you’re looking for a non-religious option for a baptism, you can create a ceremony that fits your beliefs. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Baby Blessing Ceremony
Pull in any elements of your choosing when you host a baby blessing ceremony. It could be an interfaith ceremony or a no-faith ceremony where you bring your friends and family together to meet your baby and welcome him or her into your community. Ask each guest to bring a special blessing to the baby, not a physical gift, but a hope or desire for the future or words of wisdom. You could create a memory box and light candles before having a meal together.
Naming Ceremony
Naming ceremonies are parts of many cultures. With a bit of creativity, you can structure your ritual around your own culture and traditions, including elements that have meaning for your family. Use modern technology to make a video of good wishes that your child can revisit each year on birthdays. Ask an officiant to speak words of wisdom over the child or bring family members together to provide special blessings. Instead of a balloon release, which is bad for the environment, hold a bubble-blowing ceremony as a way to send your hopes for your child into the world.
Plant a Tree
In many cultures, trees are planted at births and deaths to represent life and growth. Select a tree that is right for the growing zone and won’t get too large for the yard. Watching the tree grow as the child grows is a nice remembrance for parents and grandparents both. Dogwood trees represent loyalty and kindness. A gingko tree represents longevity. Maple trees symbolize intelligence and generosity. If you don’t have a yard where you can plant a tree, look for a small or dwarf variety that can be planted in a container or find a park where you can dedicate a tree.
Create a Time Capsule
You could incorporate a time capsule into your blessing ceremony or make it on your own if you can’t bring your support system together. Ask each guest to bring something for your baby to commemorate the birth. You could include family photos, a newspaper from the day of the birth, stamps, coins or other gifts to be opened when the child reaches a significant birthday. Label the box and stash it away in a closet.
Alternatives to Godparents
At one time, godparents would take over raising a child if the parents died. Today, godparents are more of a religious support system. There’s no reason to call them godparents. Humanists call these people “guideparents.” Some Unitarian churches call them Anam Cáirde, which means soul friends. You could refer to the person or persons you choose as a mentor or as an honorary aunt and uncle. The title itself isn’t as important as the relationship.
Create a Joyous Occasion
A baptism isn’t a spectacle. It’s a meaningful ritual to welcome the baby. If you want to hold a non-religious alternative, you can still celebrate your child’s entrance into your life with a small party that has meaning for your family. Don’t think about going over the top. Think about how to personalize your ceremony for your child and your support system. Make the ceremony about the child instead of any religion. Bring meaning to your child’s birth by choosing the elements that have value for you and your family.
Religion has long been a part of the journey of the human race. According to many anthropologists, one of the earliest signs of advanced intelligence in the ancestors of modern humans was the practice of burying the dead. Academics believe the initial burial processes were religious in nature, indicating connections to spiritual beliefs are some of the oldest aspects of the human condition. Still, this doesn’t mean that modern people have the same perceptions when it comes to religious ideologies. In Canada, there have been some very interesting shifts on religious fronts over recent years.
Immigrants Comprise the New Religious Majority
For a long while throughout Canada’s history, a good chunk of the population identified as religious. These individuals typically were influenced in their religious beliefs by their families, meaning that each generation in a group or community tended to reflect the one before. At some point over the last two decades, this began to change. According to statistics compiled from 2001 until 2015, younger individuals coming from families who have Canadian roots dating back centuries are much less religious than those prior.
The same research revealed that immigrants to Canada tend to be much more religious as a whole. With Canada consistently welcoming new residents from across the world, there has been a big uptick in both the number of religious individuals from foreign nations and a shift in what spiritual beliefs are practiced on average. Once, Christianity and its various denominations were most common. Now, populations of Muslims, Buddhists, and other groups have become larger in communities throughout the nation.
Older Canadians Are In Favor of Religion as a Whole
Another bit of data released around 2011 showed a transition in the median age for the average religious citizen. This information, which has remained largely the same over the last decade, revealed that those who identified as religious tended to be on the older end of the spectrum. Those who stated that they were members of a Christian-based faith like Protestantism or Catholicism tended to be around 52 years of age. This is a shift upward when compared to data from previous census reports across the last five decades, which revealed that the median age was closer to 35.
This is another area where differing religious beliefs reveal different sets of data. Though Christians as a whole tend to lean older, this is not true of those who belong to other faiths. In the case of immigrants entering Canada, those who identify as Mulsim tend to be around 27 years of age on average. This is primarily due to the fact that people in the countries where these individuals originated lean younger when it comes to religious beliefs across generations.
Most Canadians View Religion in a Positive Way
Even though fewer people are identifying as religious in the traditional sense, Canadians by and large accept and are interested in the religions of others. While there are favorable views to popular Canadian belief systems like Protestantism, citizens also respond in a positive way when it comes to religions that weren’t as present in the population over previous years, like Buddhism. Still, this isn’t to say all members of Canada are as open. Small populations still show signs of xenophobia and ignorance when it comes to the religions of others.
While a subject that has fascinated the human race since the dawn of recorded time, religion definitely looks far different today than it did back then. As the world continues to shrink due to the presence of the internet, it is likely true that even more changes will take place at an even faster pace. For now, looking back at the past can be a great way of gaining some perspective on the current zeitgeist and any changes that might be poised on the horizon.
Just 68% of Canadians aged 15 or older currently report having a religious affiliation. This marks the first time that number has dropped below 70% since StatCan started tracking religiosity in 1985. However, minority religions are flourishing, including Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
The Drop in Christian Religiosity
COVID-19 is one reason the number of religious Christians has decreased. Many have left the church due to restrictions on public gatherings. Others cite the inability to take communion, because they would normally share one chalice of wine or grape juice, representing the blood of Christ. Even with vaccination records being shown, people just aren’t willing to take the risk of sharing a chalice with others.
The drop in Christian beliefs is huge. In 2011, about 67% of Canadians said they belonged to a Christian religion. In 2019, that percentage had dropped to about 63%. Canada’s largest denomination, Catholicism, currently makes up 32% of Canadians aged 15 and above. In 1996, it was nearly 47%.
Membership in the United Church of Canada, the second-largest Christian denomination, has dropped even more. It had been on the decline since 1985, when it made up 14.6% of Christians in Canada. In 1996, that percentage decreased to 9.7%.
As of 2019, just 3.8% of Canadian Christians belong to the United Church of Canada. Compare that to Islam, a minority religion, which makes up 3.7% of the Canadian population.
The Anglicans have also seen numbers decline. Data from StatCan shows that in 1986, 10.4% of all Canadians were Anglican. That number slipped to 7% in 1996, then to 3.8% in 2019.
Falling Numbers in Judaism
Judaism faces its own challenges when it comes to retaining and growing its membership in synagogues. One reason is that Shabbat, the Jewish holy day, runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. That’s when a majority of kids’ sporting events happen. Families have to choose between their children’s extracurricular activities and religious events. It may not be an easy decision, but many Jewish families are opting in favor of their kids.
Since 1985, StatCan has reported a steady decline in the number of Jews in Canada. In 1985, 1.6% of Canadians were Jewish. That fell to 1.1% in 1996, then to 0.8% in 2019. This makes holding services difficult. If there isn’t a minyan, or 10 people in attendance, certain prayers aren’t able to be recited.
This is especially difficult for those who have lost a loved one. If a minyan is not present, the Kaddish prayer of mourning — which is to be recited daily for seven days after the death — can’t be recited. Some rabbis have approved an online minyan. Others have commanded that mourners perform a mitzvah — one of the 613 Jewish laws — instead of saying Kaddish. There are also alternate prayers that may be recited in place of Kaddish.
The Growth of Minority Religions
StatCan predicts that the number of people practicing minority religions will double by 2036. Sikhism currently makes up 1.4% of Canada’s population, fueled in large part by immigration. In 2001, Sikhs comprised just 0.9% of Canadians. The World Sikh Organization of Canada says there are more than half a million Sikhs currently living in Canada.
Immigration isn’t just fueling the growth of the Sikh community. Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are all seeing growth from immigrants. New immigrants want to find something familiar, so they seek out the religious communities they left back home for a sense of belonging.
Islam, for example, is currently the largest non-Christian religious group, and the fastest-growing faith in Canada. StatCan reports that 3.7% of Canadians are Muslim, up from 1.5% in 2001 and 1.1% in 1996.
It’s important to understand the changing face of religion in Canada. While majority religions decline, minority faiths flourish. To help create an inclusive environment, take some time to understand the current makeup of the religious communities in Canada.
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Calgary is a fantastic place to start your religious tour.
If you’ve seen the movies “Doctor Zhivago,” “Unforgiven,” or “The Revenant,” you have seen the landscape of Calgary. Most people are familiar with the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo and exhibition, or one of the many other festivals in the city. It’s a cultural mecca, home to ethnic restaurants, venues and museums.
Calgary may not be recognizable for its contribution to the religious fiber of the nation, but it has some beautiful churches that are part of the history of the city. Here are some of the best places to explore this heritage.
St. Mary’s Cathedral
The foundations for St. Mary’s were laid in 1887 and the building was completed in 1889, but the church began in 1873 when Father Constantine Scollen founded the first mission in southern Alberta. The Resurrection Glass Panel is a stunning piece of stained glass art.
Central United Church
The original building was dedicated in 1905 and was decorated in antique wood and walnut while he walls were made of sandstone from local quarries. Just 11 years later, the interior was destroyed by a boiler fire and would be refurbished. The church then reopened in 1917. At one time, this congregation had about 3,500 members, the largest congregation in the United Church of Canada, but the growth declined in the 1960s.
Lantern Community Church
This church has a lot of history. It’s over 100 years old, with a majestic pipe organ and what might be the best acoustics in the community. It’s home to many more events than just Sunday service. The most interesting aspect of this congregation is that one Sunday each month, instead of holding service, they go out into the community and do things for their neighbors.
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church
This Catholic church is much newer than most, built in the late 20th century. It is more modern, but still a beautiful building. The church is currently undergoing renovations, which indicates the congregations plans to be here a long time.
St. Bonaventure Church
This Roman Catholic Church has been here for many years, and it hosts beautiful windows and statues that are examples of the connections between art and religion.
Knox United Church
Know Presbyterian Church started out when Reverend James Robertson preached in the local saloon. The men decided Robertson needed a better place to worship, and the church found its place in the town. At one time, the congregation shared a tent with the Methodists. Knox has a Casavant organ and a strong musical program. It hosts many musical events open to the public.
Calgary Alberta Temple
This stunning building is the third temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in Alberta and dedicated two years later. Group tours are available by appointment, but you should at least visit the outside of this church to experience its magnitude.
St. Thomas More Parish
Another newer parish in the community, this church held its initial meeting in 1979. The new church building was completed in 1985, with Bishop Paul O’Byrne blessing the church at its opening mass in October. The stained glass windows are more modern, which allows you to see how art has changed through the years.
Explore Calgary Through Its Churches
While driving through Calgary, take a look at some of the churches and how they are designed and built. It’s a great way to examine how the churches have contributed to the community and will continue to add value to the city.
While taking a religious tour, you get to see the inner workings of how churches function.
Even if you aren’t religious, there’s a lot that can be learned by taking a religious tour within a city. You may need to call and make arrangements if you want to tour the inside of the church, but you don’t even have to go inside to see the architecture of the building. Make sure you don’t interrupt worship services. Vancouver is not one of the oldest cities in Canada, but there’s still a lot of heritage within the city. Here are some of the best churches to visit when you’re in town.
Different Churches to Visit On Your Religious Tour
Paul’s Anglican Church was built in 1905. It is now a heritage building that cannot be torn down, nor have the integrity of its design altered. It’s a Gothic Revival design, and when you go inside, there’s a replica of a medieval labyrinth laid in the floor. It’s not a maze, but a walking path that leads into the centre and back out again. People of all faiths use it for meditation and reflection. The labyrinth is open to the public during certain times of the day.
Christ Church Cathedral is noted for its stained glass windows. It’s such a popular exhibit that the church has a self-guided tour that can be downloaded to walk you through the building. The church itself is an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture built at the turn of the 20th You might even think that it was taken out of the English countryside and moved to its location in Vancouver. In 1995, the church began a restoration project that took about 11 years. Visitors are invited to take a walking tour through the building to enjoy its rich heritage.
The Holy Rosary Cathedral is home to the Roman Catholic faith. Pope John Paul II visited this church when he came to Vancouver. This building was built in the French Gothic style, and it features 21 beautiful pictorial stained glass windows. It’s one of three places in British Columbia where bells are hung in the English way. The bells made three oceanic crossings before the final installation. After one installation, the bells were not considered melodic enough and had to be sent to England to be melted down and recast.
Andrew’s-Wesley United Church is a short walk from downtown. The Gothic building was completed in 1933, and it’s a popular venue for music concerts. Every Sunday, the church offers Jazz Vespers in the afternoon and candlelight and music service in the evening as extra worship services for the community. The church also houses many stained glass windows and liturgical hangings to help understand the faith.
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral is a beautiful building that did not receive the designation of Cathedral until 1983, but the parish was established in 1937. On the first Friday of the month, the church hosts a Ukrainian supper featuring pirogies and cabbage rolls at great prices. The inside of the Cathedral features beautiful paintings of icons. Worshippers venerate, not worship, these icons and show respect for their faith by genuflecting before the icon painting.
Learning more about faiths outside of your own opens your eyes to the similarities and differences between different religions. It can bridge gaps between individuals and in communities. Take a religious tour of your own town if you can’t get to Vancouver to explore its religious heritage. Look at the difference in architecture, decorations and stained glass windows. You don’t have to be a believer to see the beauty in the history of the building and interior décor. Understanding how religion affects someone’s life helps you understand their morals, their celebrations and their lifestyle. And it gives you a better understanding of the world.
Pick up any Christian magazine or read one online, and you’ll find many theories about why churches are losing attendance. Many people believe that the church is no longer relevant. Some think that adults are choosing to ignore God. There are others who see the church as too hierarchal. In Canada, about 25 percent of adults identify as having no religious affiliation. Many studies have been done about the actual number of people who stop attending church, but very few look at the reasons why. The Church of Scotland, which is Scotland’s national church, commissioned a study about the lack of attendance. The findings were surprising.
One of the key beliefs in failing congregations is that the members lose faith in God and this is why they stop attending. Another issue that has been thought to ravage church membership is disagreements. Women still do not find support in leadership in many churches. The LGBTQ community is also disenchanted with the church, which is another reason that people stop attending. However, Dr. Steve Aisthorpe, the researcher who carried out the study for the Church of Scotland, found something interesting.
Are People Leaving Church or God?
Dr. Aisthorpe discovered that about 66 percent, or two-thirds, of those who left the church now practice and worship in different ways. Many still gather with like-minded individuals to discuss theological issues and pray together. They choose different venues, such as homes or parks, or even do activities together where they can share their faith and address questions they have about their convictions. Aisthorpe also found that this phenomenon was not different in rural and urban churches.
This suggests that it is the organization of the church that keeps people away. More people are turning away from large congregations for a more personalized worship ritual. Arguments and division may turn some people away from church, but this doesn’t indicate that they stop believing in God. A spokesman for the National Secular Society states that “Churches are out of step, and the people in the pews are voting with their feet.”
The Health of the Church and Religious Community
Although Dr. Aisthorpe carried out the majority of his research in Scotland, he did not only look at his own country to get information. He looked at related research from the Western world. He found changes in the attendance of Sunday morning worship, but he doesn’t believe that should be the only measure of the health of the Christian community and faith. His research suggests that churches are in a transitional period, rather than a decline.
What happens now with the church, in whatever denomination, is up to the individual community. Pastors, priests, and religious leaders need to find what works for their own congregation. The Christian community is not the only religion that is having a hard time filling their seats. Many Jewish synagogues are finding it difficult to maintain membership rolls. In Japan, religious organizations are facing the crisis of having to close Buddhist monasteries because the smaller communities cannot afford to support the monks. The rural areas do not have the number of people they once had, and those areas with more of a population are finding that nationals are not using the services of the temples.
Another key element that Dr. Aisthorpe’s research demonstrates is that the church leaders have to stop assuming and stereotyping those who do not attend church. The reasons that keep people away may have nothing to do with their actual faith in God. It’s easy to point to other problems when the congregation fails. Instead of pointing fingers, churches need to become more relevant and change their delivery system. This is how the world works. Most faiths are buried deep in rituals and traditions that are difficult to change, but as culture changes, so must religion.
At the University of Regina in Canada, a study has attempted to get some data about the tricky subject of people lying, especially where there is money to gain from the lie. One result of the study seemed to indicate that more than half the subjects were willing to lie to get a direct financial gain. The study was set up to let the subjects remain anonymous, and involved testing whether a person would give truthful information to another person in the test, knowing a lie would likely end up delivering more money to the person who told it.
The study split volunteers into teams of two, separated them, and set up a situation where two packages worth $5 and $7 in one version, or $5 and $15 in another version of the controlled study were to be divided between the two participants. Person A knows the amounts in the delivery, and is directed to tell the other person which is the higher amount. Person B gets to choose which to select (presumably the higher amount). Person A had the opportunity to be dishonest, with anonymity, and with no other impact on the study, except that lying could be counted on to be likely to return a few extra bucks to that person.
The creator of the study then connected the willingness to lie in the study for greater gain to other individual traits, which had been noted at the outset, including major area of study (the subjects were all college students), and other categories, including religion, family background, age, and some economic indicators, including student debt. The three largest indicators of willingness to lie in the study were religious identity (those that self-identified as more religious being more likely to use deceit for financial gain, although lying is classed as a sin in the main religions represented), being a child of a divorced couple, and being a business major.
The creators of the study seemed nonplussed by the last two indicators of higher levels of willingness to be deceitful, being familiar with prior studies that supported the notion that business majors as a class were ambitious and statistically more prone to value financial gain over moral values. Perhaps it is true, as the creator of the study postulates, that a religion that distinguishes itself as the one true faith, as most major faiths teach, creates a condition in which there are those who are inside those particular parameters of righteousness and those who are not of the flock, and perhaps for some with this worldview, it is easier to cheat a little for some extra money, as against those who are not of the same faith, even if lying is a sin in the belief system.
But for those who respect all as children of the same universe, such as the Universal Life Church teaches, the idea of damaging or harming another individual to benefit oneself would be anathema and would conflict also with the principle of doing good in the world. This may be closer to true religion, the notion that harming one causes harm to all.
