Data obtained from Statistics Canada indicates that religious affiliation is at an all-time low. The number of Canadians who report having an affiliation with any religion dropped below 70 percent for the first time since tracking began in 1985. What is fascinating is that this data is not evenly distributed.
The study indicates a glaring generational divide. Participants in the study who were born before 1970 were significantly more likely to report religious affiliation compared to those born after 1990.
The decline in religious affiliation also disproportionately affects the Christian faiths. While the data revealed that Canadians are less likely to identify as Catholic or Anglican when compared to the same time 10 years ago, non-Christian faiths like Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism are actually experiencing growth.
So what is one to make of this data? As human beings, we are natural storytellers. We need stories in order to make sense of the world, and data of this sort is a common way that we derive meaning and draw conclusions. While everyone will have their own interpretation of StatCan findings, a few things become clear when viewed in the context of our lives today.
The Generational Divide
The difference in religiosity between age groups cannot be ignored. What might these numbers say about the world today? Before exploring the divide, it is important to note that these data do not necessarily indicate a lack of interest in spiritual practices or community. They do, however, seem to indicate a rejection of labels.
One may argue that younger folks have access to more information and broader perspectives than were available to previous generations. Perhaps more information leads to more questions and less certainty. Perhaps it fosters a sense of curiosity and humility when it comes to our understanding of the world.
One could also argue that the decline in religiosity among younger Canadians indicates a desire for more flexible and inclusive views. In the face of a world that is growing more complex by the day, it is not hard to imagine a desire for systems of faith that are more nuanced and address the totality of our being.
A More Inclusive Society Leading To Decline
The StatCan data also reveals another interesting trend: that non-Christian religions are actually gaining popularity in Canada. As Canada continues to attract a diverse population of immigrants, new ideas, faiths, and worldviews appear to be making their mark on the country’s religious identity. When combined with the broader perspectives of Canada’s young, one could argue that the interplay between Christian and non-Christian faiths paves the way for broader understandings of spirituality and community.
For some, the trends apparent in this data are a cause for concern or cynicism. After all, the concept of faith is a deeply personal one that provides us with a means to understand and cope. It is not hard to understand how one’s ideas about the world can be shaken when confronted with information like this. Still, there is far more room for hope and optimism.
It is hard to imagine a functioning society without collective belief systems. Humanity as we’ve come to know it would likely not exist without the collective belief in something greater than ourselves. Religion can be a beautiful thing. Yet it is wholly dishonest to ignore the unbelievable harm levied in the name of belief, faith, and tradition.
This data could very well indicate a synthesis between these two divergent perspectives. Rather than wholesale rejection or abandonment of faith and the role that it plays in our lives, we may well be expanding our belief in what is possible and developing something new. This could indicate a move towards something that connects us rather than tearing us apart.
Whether you’re a K-pop fan or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of BTS. The seven-member boy band from Seoul has broken music sales and streaming records in both 2020 and 2021. Religion may not be on your mind when you’re listing to songs like “Dynamite” and “Butter,” but it’s rumored that BTS members V, Jungkook, and J-Hope may be Christians. And they’re not the only ones. Many K-pop idols like Blackpink’s Rosé and solo artist Ailee also call Christianity their faith.
The abundance of South Korean artists and actors who are Christian isn’t surprising. Pew Research Center revealed that around 29% share this faith. PBS’s Hidden Korea series insists that the number is much higher – around 51%. Similar trends exist among Canada’s 240,000 Koreans. So how did an Abrahamic monotheistic faith gain ground in an East Asian country? As it turns out, Korean Christianity has a complex and fascinating history.
Buddhism, Confucianism, and Catholicism
During our lifetimes, we’ve only known Korea as a divided country. The horrors suffered by North Koreans under its current regime frequently make headlines. But Korea’s split into north and south happened in 1945. Its history spans thousands of years, during which several dynasties ruled. The last of these was the Joseon dynasty, ending in the early 20th century.
Korea’s pre-modern religious history begins with its Shinism. This early folk religion blended polytheistic and animistic beliefs. Buddhism arrived during the fourth century C.E. during its Three Kingdoms period. Confucianism rose to prominence during the 14th century C.E.
Meanwhile, Christian missionaries came at various times. By the late-1880s, both Protestant and Catholic schools existed. In 1887, Scottish Presbyterian missionary John Ross finished translating the Bible into Korean.
Oppression and War, Then Hope
Korea became a protectorate of Japan in 1905, but Japan’s rule truly began when it annexed the country in 1910. What followed was three and a half decades of oppression, as History explains. Koreans saw their language erased from public life as Japan forbid its use. The ruling government also burned many books, including over 200,000 Korean historical documents. Thousands of Koreans ended up in forced labor. Many women were trafficked into Japanese military brothels. And as a final insult, the government forced Koreans to worship at imperial Japanese shrines.
After the end of World War II, Korea existed in two separate regions. Historian and professor Ji-Young Lee breaks it down: The north was under Soviet rule, while the United States controlled the south. By 1948, each region had its own government – North Korea’s in Pyongyang and South Korea’s in Seoul. When Kim Il-Sung marched into South Korea in 1950, his actions started the Korean War.
During the war, many South Koreans encountered Christianity. USC professor Diane Winston adds that their positive impression of the faith was thanks to American support against Soviet-backed North Korea. They associated this religion with prosperity, liberty, and “divine blessings,” as Winston puts it. The liberation narrative of Exodus also resonated with some South Koreans – they saw parallels between their tribulations and the ancient Israelites in Egypt.
Christianity in Modern South Korea
Today, Christianity in South Korea includes Catholicism and more than 100 Protestant denominations. Though theological diversity exists, megachurches like Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul attract many followers. And as in the West, conservative evangelism plays a large role in Korean culture and politics. Winston explains that it shares some similarities with Confucianism – traditional gender roles, a focus on family, and reverence for authority.
There are nearly 500 Korean Christian congregations across Canada. In large metro areas such as Toronto, Koreans have a wide range of fellowship and worship options. While there are ideological differences between younger Korean Canadians and their elders, faith remains important to both. As Canadian culture changes, Korean Christian spirituality makes up an important part of the country’s religious landscape.
Quebec recently put a law into place regarding religious expression in public, so it may prove valuable to learn some facts regarding religion in Canada.
A few months ago, the Canadian province of Quebec put a new law into place regarding religion. The regulation states that no public employees are allowed to wear or display items of religious significance. This move has caused a lot of criticism from the people, with many arguing that the law seems to specifically target Muslim women who are required by religion to wear head coverings while in public. The law has also started a dialogue about religion in Canada and unearthed some interesting facts about how people identify on a religious level.
Take a moment to explore these facts on religious worship in Canada. A little insight may be able to provide you with a greater understanding of current controversial laws and regulations.
Religion Is Less Present
One of the most interesting discoveries unearthed by recent conversations is that religion does not seem to be important for many people. According to a number of studies conducted throughout 2018 and 2019, roughly 64% of adults polled stated that religion seemed to be less important than it was 20 years earlier. Overall, the individuals who provided information for the studies felt that public life was no longer dictated by religion in the ways that it had been when they were younger. The studies do not, however, include facts on whether citizens feel this shift is good or bad.
Christianity Is Still the Top Religion
Recent years have seen a number of news stories centered around the growing Muslim population in Canada. While certain regions may have higher numbers of followers of Islam, the overall consensus is that Christianity is still the predominant religion in the country. A vast majority of citizens identify as either Christian, Catholic, or Protestant. While other religions are growing in popularity throughout Canada, these studies suggest that less than 8% of the population identifies as Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist.
No Opinion
Interestingly, a large number of citizens seem to not identify with any particular religious movement. Studies suggest that there are growing numbers of individuals who refer to themselves as agnostics, atheists, or totally not connected with any religious group. In 1971, only 4% of Canadians identified as religiously unaffiliated. As of 2018, that figure has jumped to 16%. Overall, it seems younger Canadians are more likely to turn away from religious groups than the generations before them.
Few Restrictions
Some nations, like the United States of America, are known for religious troubles. In America, the “separation of church and state” has caused endless laws and regulations to be implemented in order to keep these entities apart. Canada, on the other hand, does not have the same history. Despite the new regulations banning religious symbols, Canada has very few government restrictions on religion. In fact, most organizations are willing to cater to religious individuals.
One example of this comes from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Years ago, the organization changed its uniform policies on religious grounds. According to its bylaws, members of the police are required to wear hats while working. As Sikh men began to apply for the job, an issue arose. Sikh men are required by their religion to wear turbans. To avoid any problems, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police granted Sikh men the ability to wear turbans instead of hats and still be considered in uniform.
Shifting Attitudes
Religious attitudes in Canada have changed greatly over the last few decades. With new laws being put into place dictating when and where a public worker can display religious symbols, it is important to understand some facts about religion in Canada. In order to help create an environment that is more inclusive to all, give yourself time to understand the current religious landscape in your country.
With current efforts to ban religious veiling in public, it is important to understand the history of this practice.
With several Western nations experiencing increases in Muslim immigration, one major issue rising to the surface is religious veiling. Depending on the type of Islam they practice and the countries from which they originate, Muslim women might opt for simple headscarves, veiling that obscures their heads and shoulders, or complete body coverings. Current public discourse has sometimes resulted in legislation to ban religious veiling in public. Against the backdrop of such fevered discussions, it’s important to understand Islam is not the only faith in which people wear veils. In fact, the origins of religious veiling can prove to be rather surprising.
Religious Veiling in the Ancient Middle East
Racked contributor Liana Aghajanian revealed in a December 2016 piece that women all over the world have been wearing some form of head covering for more than 3,000 years. For instance, the practice was common throughout the ancient Levant region as well as Greece, Rome and regions located in modern-day Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Rather than signifying any devotion to religious piety, they originally denoted that the women who wore them belonged to these societies’ upper classes. Aghajanian discloses the discovery of a 13th-century Assyrian text forbidding anyone other than aristocrats from donning veils. Working class women, slaves and other lower-class individuals faced legally prescribed punishments if they were caught wearing them.
Head Covering and Religion in the Modern Era
It isn’t immediately clear how head coverings became associated with religious modesty, but they were eventually adopted by women of all socioeconomic classes throughout the Middle East. Traditions from the three major Abrahamic faiths soon dictated that veils should be worn. The University of North Carolina’s Center for European Studies explains that some Jewish people interpret their faith’s “tzniuth,” or laws on modesty, to mean that women’s hair should be covered. While the Bible’s New Testament records no commandments issued by Jesus Christ concerning the issue, Saint Paul upheld the practice in his first letter to the Corinthian church.
Meanwhile, various sects of Islam actually disagree over religious veiling. CNN writer Abed Awad disclosed in a June 2015 write-up that the Quran never explicitly mentions the word “veil.” Additionally, there are two general schools of thought on the matter resulting from different interpretations of customs said to be handed from Aisha, one of Muhammed’s wives:
Veil everything except for the hands, feet and face upon reaching puberty.
It’s a good idea to wear veils, but they are not obligatory.
Bill 62: The Latest in Veil Legislation
Recent Canadian news includes reports about Quebec’s Bill 62, which initially required the province’s residents to show their faces to provide or receive any sort of public services. The Globe and Mailclarified in December 2017 that this law, which would have impacted aspects of daily life such as riding public transit and visiting libraries, was temporarily put on hold by the province’s Superior Court. The Quebec law is certainly not the first of its kind. The Guardianrevealed in March 2017 that Europe has an almost decade-long history full of repeated attempts to regulate the practice of religious veiling, and debates over the issue rage on south of our border. While advocates of these regulations cite public security worries, pushback ensues based on concerns about religious discrimination as well as the safety of women who opt to cover their heads. Muslims also hold views on both sides of the issue, with some opining that such bans are fueled by Islamophobia while others support measures to outlaw face covering.
Several factors prove that the issue of religious veiling in public isn’t as cut and dry as one might be tempted to believe. Religion, personal freedom, public safety and concerns about racial and religious discrimination all play into the larger discussion. Since Statistics Canada predicts that the number of Muslims will significantly increase by the year 2036, public debate may continue for some years to come.
The historic embrace of religious freedom is important to reflect upon at a time of increasing global religious persecution. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported in a 2010 study that 75-percent of the human family lived in countries that either 1) had high government religious restrictions, or 2) experienced high social hostility toward religion. This figure was up from 70-percent just three years earlier.
Early Roman Catholic Rights
A seminal event in the propagation of Canada’s religious tolerance occurred when the right of the citizens of Quebec to practice their Roman Catholic faith was affirmed in the Treaty of Paris. The treaty, which marked the end of the Seven Years War between France and Britain, asserted in paragraph IV that,
“His Britannick Majesty, on his side, agrees to grant the liberty of the Catholick religion to the inhabitants of Canada: he will, in consequence, give the most precise and most effectual orders, that his new Roman Catholic subjects may profess the worship of their religion according to the rites of the Romish church, as far as the laws of Great Britain permit.”
In the late 1700s, it received an influx of religious groups from a perhaps unexpected place — the American Colonies to the south. Ironically, although many came to the New World to escape religious persecution, many religious groups had Loyalist leanings as America’s Revolutionary War commenced. Many of these groups then migrated to north.
Religion really took hold as the Enlightenment unfolded into the early 19th Century. As the country’s populace expanded and diversified, its tolerance of diverse religious viewpoints typically expanded as well.
Lords Day Act
However, there was rigorous debate regarding religious viewpoints that revolved around the Lord’s Day Act of 1906. The Act prohibited certain business activities on Sundays. This drew opposition from religious groups that did not accord the same religious significance to Sundays as Christians did.
In 1961, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Lords Day Act. However, in 1985, The Supreme Court, in a landmark case involving a drug store in Calgary (R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd), declared the law unconstitutional.
A Precipitating Event
There are assertions that some of the impetus for the creation of Canada’s new Office For Religious Freedom stemmed from the death of Shahbazz Bhatti in March of 2011. Bhatti, a Catholic, served as Pakistan’s minister of minorities. In that capacity, he visited Canada and met with Prime Minister Harper. Just three weeks later, he was killed by Islamic extremists.
In remembering Bhatti, Harper recalled that “he and I discussed the threats faced by religious minorities and the need for our country to do more.” The prime minster also stated that Bhatti was both a humble and an honorable man that had worked without ceasing to defend the most vulnerable, whether they were Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, or members of other religious minorities.
A New Office
In February of 2013, the country established its new office within the nation’s Department of Foreign Affairs. In so doing, it became only the second nation worldwide to establish such an office. The United States established a similar agency in the late 1990s.
This new Office has already taken an important step by establishing the “Religious Freedom Fund.” Interestingly, this fund, within certain parameters, will actually finance projects outside of its borders. It will seek to fund projects around the world that will help religious communities facing religious intolerance and/or persecution.
The establishment of such a fund may be seen as both a continuation of country’s proud heritage of religious tolerance, and a more proactive effort to assail intolerance even beyond its borders.
Data obtained from Statistics Canada indicates that religious affiliation is at an all-time low. The number of Canadians who report having an affiliation with any religion dropped below 70 percent for the first time since tracking began in 1985. What is fascinating is that this data is not evenly distributed.
The study indicates a glaring generational divide. Participants in the study who were born before 1970 were significantly more likely to report religious affiliation compared to those born after 1990.
The decline in religious affiliation also disproportionately affects the Christian faiths. While the data revealed that Canadians are less likely to identify as Catholic or Anglican when compared to the same time 10 years ago, non-Christian faiths like Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism are actually experiencing growth.
So what is one to make of this data? As human beings, we are natural storytellers. We need stories in order to make sense of the world, and data of this sort is a common way that we derive meaning and draw conclusions. While everyone will have their own interpretation of StatCan findings, a few things become clear when viewed in the context of our lives today.
The Generational Divide
The difference in religiosity between age groups cannot be ignored. What might these numbers say about the world today? Before exploring the divide, it is important to note that these data do not necessarily indicate a lack of interest in spiritual practices or community. They do, however, seem to indicate a rejection of labels.
One may argue that younger folks have access to more information and broader perspectives than were available to previous generations. Perhaps more information leads to more questions and less certainty. Perhaps it fosters a sense of curiosity and humility when it comes to our understanding of the world.
One could also argue that the decline in religiosity among younger Canadians indicates a desire for more flexible and inclusive views. In the face of a world that is growing more complex by the day, it is not hard to imagine a desire for systems of faith that are more nuanced and address the totality of our being.
A More Inclusive Society Leading To Decline
The StatCan data also reveals another interesting trend: that non-Christian religions are actually gaining popularity in Canada. As Canada continues to attract a diverse population of immigrants, new ideas, faiths, and worldviews appear to be making their mark on the country’s religious identity. When combined with the broader perspectives of Canada’s young, one could argue that the interplay between Christian and non-Christian faiths paves the way for broader understandings of spirituality and community.
For some, the trends apparent in this data are a cause for concern or cynicism. After all, the concept of faith is a deeply personal one that provides us with a means to understand and cope. It is not hard to understand how one’s ideas about the world can be shaken when confronted with information like this. Still, there is far more room for hope and optimism.
It is hard to imagine a functioning society without collective belief systems. Humanity as we’ve come to know it would likely not exist without the collective belief in something greater than ourselves. Religion can be a beautiful thing. Yet it is wholly dishonest to ignore the unbelievable harm levied in the name of belief, faith, and tradition.
This data could very well indicate a synthesis between these two divergent perspectives. Rather than wholesale rejection or abandonment of faith and the role that it plays in our lives, we may well be expanding our belief in what is possible and developing something new. This could indicate a move towards something that connects us rather than tearing us apart.
Whether you’re a K-pop fan or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of BTS. The seven-member boy band from Seoul has broken music sales and streaming records in both 2020 and 2021. Religion may not be on your mind when you’re listing to songs like “Dynamite” and “Butter,” but it’s rumored that BTS members V, Jungkook, and J-Hope may be Christians. And they’re not the only ones. Many K-pop idols like Blackpink’s Rosé and solo artist Ailee also call Christianity their faith.
The abundance of South Korean artists and actors who are Christian isn’t surprising. Pew Research Center revealed that around 29% share this faith. PBS’s Hidden Korea series insists that the number is much higher – around 51%. Similar trends exist among Canada’s 240,000 Koreans. So how did an Abrahamic monotheistic faith gain ground in an East Asian country? As it turns out, Korean Christianity has a complex and fascinating history.
Buddhism, Confucianism, and Catholicism
During our lifetimes, we’ve only known Korea as a divided country. The horrors suffered by North Koreans under its current regime frequently make headlines. But Korea’s split into north and south happened in 1945. Its history spans thousands of years, during which several dynasties ruled. The last of these was the Joseon dynasty, ending in the early 20th century.
Korea’s pre-modern religious history begins with its Shinism. This early folk religion blended polytheistic and animistic beliefs. Buddhism arrived during the fourth century C.E. during its Three Kingdoms period. Confucianism rose to prominence during the 14th century C.E.
Meanwhile, Christian missionaries came at various times. By the late-1880s, both Protestant and Catholic schools existed. In 1887, Scottish Presbyterian missionary John Ross finished translating the Bible into Korean.
Oppression and War, Then Hope
Korea became a protectorate of Japan in 1905, but Japan’s rule truly began when it annexed the country in 1910. What followed was three and a half decades of oppression, as History explains. Koreans saw their language erased from public life as Japan forbid its use. The ruling government also burned many books, including over 200,000 Korean historical documents. Thousands of Koreans ended up in forced labor. Many women were trafficked into Japanese military brothels. And as a final insult, the government forced Koreans to worship at imperial Japanese shrines.
After the end of World War II, Korea existed in two separate regions. Historian and professor Ji-Young Lee breaks it down: The north was under Soviet rule, while the United States controlled the south. By 1948, each region had its own government – North Korea’s in Pyongyang and South Korea’s in Seoul. When Kim Il-Sung marched into South Korea in 1950, his actions started the Korean War.
During the war, many South Koreans encountered Christianity. USC professor Diane Winston adds that their positive impression of the faith was thanks to American support against Soviet-backed North Korea. They associated this religion with prosperity, liberty, and “divine blessings,” as Winston puts it. The liberation narrative of Exodus also resonated with some South Koreans – they saw parallels between their tribulations and the ancient Israelites in Egypt.
Christianity in Modern South Korea
Today, Christianity in South Korea includes Catholicism and more than 100 Protestant denominations. Though theological diversity exists, megachurches like Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul attract many followers. And as in the West, conservative evangelism plays a large role in Korean culture and politics. Winston explains that it shares some similarities with Confucianism – traditional gender roles, a focus on family, and reverence for authority.
There are nearly 500 Korean Christian congregations across Canada. In large metro areas such as Toronto, Koreans have a wide range of fellowship and worship options. While there are ideological differences between younger Korean Canadians and their elders, faith remains important to both. As Canadian culture changes, Korean Christian spirituality makes up an important part of the country’s religious landscape.
Quebec recently put a law into place regarding religious expression in public, so it may prove valuable to learn some facts regarding religion in Canada.
A few months ago, the Canadian province of Quebec put a new law into place regarding religion. The regulation states that no public employees are allowed to wear or display items of religious significance. This move has caused a lot of criticism from the people, with many arguing that the law seems to specifically target Muslim women who are required by religion to wear head coverings while in public. The law has also started a dialogue about religion in Canada and unearthed some interesting facts about how people identify on a religious level.
Take a moment to explore these facts on religious worship in Canada. A little insight may be able to provide you with a greater understanding of current controversial laws and regulations.
Religion Is Less Present
One of the most interesting discoveries unearthed by recent conversations is that religion does not seem to be important for many people. According to a number of studies conducted throughout 2018 and 2019, roughly 64% of adults polled stated that religion seemed to be less important than it was 20 years earlier. Overall, the individuals who provided information for the studies felt that public life was no longer dictated by religion in the ways that it had been when they were younger. The studies do not, however, include facts on whether citizens feel this shift is good or bad.
Christianity Is Still the Top Religion
Recent years have seen a number of news stories centered around the growing Muslim population in Canada. While certain regions may have higher numbers of followers of Islam, the overall consensus is that Christianity is still the predominant religion in the country. A vast majority of citizens identify as either Christian, Catholic, or Protestant. While other religions are growing in popularity throughout Canada, these studies suggest that less than 8% of the population identifies as Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist.
No Opinion
Interestingly, a large number of citizens seem to not identify with any particular religious movement. Studies suggest that there are growing numbers of individuals who refer to themselves as agnostics, atheists, or totally not connected with any religious group. In 1971, only 4% of Canadians identified as religiously unaffiliated. As of 2018, that figure has jumped to 16%. Overall, it seems younger Canadians are more likely to turn away from religious groups than the generations before them.
Few Restrictions
Some nations, like the United States of America, are known for religious troubles. In America, the “separation of church and state” has caused endless laws and regulations to be implemented in order to keep these entities apart. Canada, on the other hand, does not have the same history. Despite the new regulations banning religious symbols, Canada has very few government restrictions on religion. In fact, most organizations are willing to cater to religious individuals.
One example of this comes from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Years ago, the organization changed its uniform policies on religious grounds. According to its bylaws, members of the police are required to wear hats while working. As Sikh men began to apply for the job, an issue arose. Sikh men are required by their religion to wear turbans. To avoid any problems, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police granted Sikh men the ability to wear turbans instead of hats and still be considered in uniform.
Shifting Attitudes
Religious attitudes in Canada have changed greatly over the last few decades. With new laws being put into place dictating when and where a public worker can display religious symbols, it is important to understand some facts about religion in Canada. In order to help create an environment that is more inclusive to all, give yourself time to understand the current religious landscape in your country.
With current efforts to ban religious veiling in public, it is important to understand the history of this practice.
With several Western nations experiencing increases in Muslim immigration, one major issue rising to the surface is religious veiling. Depending on the type of Islam they practice and the countries from which they originate, Muslim women might opt for simple headscarves, veiling that obscures their heads and shoulders, or complete body coverings. Current public discourse has sometimes resulted in legislation to ban religious veiling in public. Against the backdrop of such fevered discussions, it’s important to understand Islam is not the only faith in which people wear veils. In fact, the origins of religious veiling can prove to be rather surprising.
Religious Veiling in the Ancient Middle East
Racked contributor Liana Aghajanian revealed in a December 2016 piece that women all over the world have been wearing some form of head covering for more than 3,000 years. For instance, the practice was common throughout the ancient Levant region as well as Greece, Rome and regions located in modern-day Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Rather than signifying any devotion to religious piety, they originally denoted that the women who wore them belonged to these societies’ upper classes. Aghajanian discloses the discovery of a 13th-century Assyrian text forbidding anyone other than aristocrats from donning veils. Working class women, slaves and other lower-class individuals faced legally prescribed punishments if they were caught wearing them.
Head Covering and Religion in the Modern Era
It isn’t immediately clear how head coverings became associated with religious modesty, but they were eventually adopted by women of all socioeconomic classes throughout the Middle East. Traditions from the three major Abrahamic faiths soon dictated that veils should be worn. The University of North Carolina’s Center for European Studies explains that some Jewish people interpret their faith’s “tzniuth,” or laws on modesty, to mean that women’s hair should be covered. While the Bible’s New Testament records no commandments issued by Jesus Christ concerning the issue, Saint Paul upheld the practice in his first letter to the Corinthian church.
Meanwhile, various sects of Islam actually disagree over religious veiling. CNN writer Abed Awad disclosed in a June 2015 write-up that the Quran never explicitly mentions the word “veil.” Additionally, there are two general schools of thought on the matter resulting from different interpretations of customs said to be handed from Aisha, one of Muhammed’s wives:
Veil everything except for the hands, feet and face upon reaching puberty.
It’s a good idea to wear veils, but they are not obligatory.
Bill 62: The Latest in Veil Legislation
Recent Canadian news includes reports about Quebec’s Bill 62, which initially required the province’s residents to show their faces to provide or receive any sort of public services. The Globe and Mailclarified in December 2017 that this law, which would have impacted aspects of daily life such as riding public transit and visiting libraries, was temporarily put on hold by the province’s Superior Court. The Quebec law is certainly not the first of its kind. The Guardianrevealed in March 2017 that Europe has an almost decade-long history full of repeated attempts to regulate the practice of religious veiling, and debates over the issue rage on south of our border. While advocates of these regulations cite public security worries, pushback ensues based on concerns about religious discrimination as well as the safety of women who opt to cover their heads. Muslims also hold views on both sides of the issue, with some opining that such bans are fueled by Islamophobia while others support measures to outlaw face covering.
Several factors prove that the issue of religious veiling in public isn’t as cut and dry as one might be tempted to believe. Religion, personal freedom, public safety and concerns about racial and religious discrimination all play into the larger discussion. Since Statistics Canada predicts that the number of Muslims will significantly increase by the year 2036, public debate may continue for some years to come.
The historic embrace of religious freedom is important to reflect upon at a time of increasing global religious persecution. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported in a 2010 study that 75-percent of the human family lived in countries that either 1) had high government religious restrictions, or 2) experienced high social hostility toward religion. This figure was up from 70-percent just three years earlier.
Early Roman Catholic Rights
A seminal event in the propagation of Canada’s religious tolerance occurred when the right of the citizens of Quebec to practice their Roman Catholic faith was affirmed in the Treaty of Paris. The treaty, which marked the end of the Seven Years War between France and Britain, asserted in paragraph IV that,
“His Britannick Majesty, on his side, agrees to grant the liberty of the Catholick religion to the inhabitants of Canada: he will, in consequence, give the most precise and most effectual orders, that his new Roman Catholic subjects may profess the worship of their religion according to the rites of the Romish church, as far as the laws of Great Britain permit.”
In the late 1700s, it received an influx of religious groups from a perhaps unexpected place — the American Colonies to the south. Ironically, although many came to the New World to escape religious persecution, many religious groups had Loyalist leanings as America’s Revolutionary War commenced. Many of these groups then migrated to north.
Religion really took hold as the Enlightenment unfolded into the early 19th Century. As the country’s populace expanded and diversified, its tolerance of diverse religious viewpoints typically expanded as well.
Lords Day Act
However, there was rigorous debate regarding religious viewpoints that revolved around the Lord’s Day Act of 1906. The Act prohibited certain business activities on Sundays. This drew opposition from religious groups that did not accord the same religious significance to Sundays as Christians did.
In 1961, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Lords Day Act. However, in 1985, The Supreme Court, in a landmark case involving a drug store in Calgary (R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd), declared the law unconstitutional.
A Precipitating Event
There are assertions that some of the impetus for the creation of Canada’s new Office For Religious Freedom stemmed from the death of Shahbazz Bhatti in March of 2011. Bhatti, a Catholic, served as Pakistan’s minister of minorities. In that capacity, he visited Canada and met with Prime Minister Harper. Just three weeks later, he was killed by Islamic extremists.
In remembering Bhatti, Harper recalled that “he and I discussed the threats faced by religious minorities and the need for our country to do more.” The prime minster also stated that Bhatti was both a humble and an honorable man that had worked without ceasing to defend the most vulnerable, whether they were Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, or members of other religious minorities.
A New Office
In February of 2013, the country established its new office within the nation’s Department of Foreign Affairs. In so doing, it became only the second nation worldwide to establish such an office. The United States established a similar agency in the late 1990s.
This new Office has already taken an important step by establishing the “Religious Freedom Fund.” Interestingly, this fund, within certain parameters, will actually finance projects outside of its borders. It will seek to fund projects around the world that will help religious communities facing religious intolerance and/or persecution.
The establishment of such a fund may be seen as both a continuation of country’s proud heritage of religious tolerance, and a more proactive effort to assail intolerance even beyond its borders.
The historic embrace of religious freedom is important to reflect upon at a time of increasing global religious persecution. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported in a 2010 study that 75-percent of the human family lived in countries that either 1) had high government religious restrictions, or 2) experienced high social hostility toward religion. This figure was up from 70-percent just three years earlier.
