Most Canadians think religion more harmful than good: Survey

[cleanhippie]

OTTAWA — It's no secret fewer Canadians attend church today than 20 years ago, but what may be surprising is almost half of Canadians believe religion does more harm than good, according to the results of a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid.

Explanations from experts vary — from fear of extremists and anger toward individuals who abuse positions of power, to a national 'forgetting' of Canadian history.

"In the past few years, there have been several high-profile international situations involving perceived religious conflicts, as well as the anniversary of 9/11, and I think when people see those, it causes them to fear religion and to see it as a source of conflict," said Janet Epp Buckingham, associate professor at Trinity Western University in Ottawa.

Religion seems to be a key player in many of today's top stories, from stand-alone events — such as the 2005 riots in the suburbs of Paris linked to the French government's proposed burka ban, and right-wing Christian Anders Behring Breivik's shooting rampage in Oslo, Norway — to more drawn-out sagas, such as child abuse in the Catholic Church, and the perception that Christians are constantly campaigning against gay marriage and abortion.

http://www.canada.com/life/Most+Canadians+think+religion+more+harmful+than+good+Survey/5409555/story.html

[RKP5637]

1. Smart Canadians!!! n/t

[ButterflyBlood]

2. I'm a Christian and I would unquestionably agree with that

Adherence to religion is not what Jesus preached (pretty understandable when you consider how Jesus was treated by religious leaders of the time). Trying to fit Jesus' teachings into religious institutions and making rules and commands that did not come from him is what has destroyed and perverted all that.

As one saying goes "Religion kills, Jesus saves."

[Exultant Democracy]

3. I wish the Christian fundi members of my family followed Jesus, wouldn't be so depressing

The kids get sent to this cult factory

http://www.ccama.org/ccama/
"By integrating their faith and a Christian worldview into every aspect of the day, they not only prepare students’ minds, but encourage them in their knowledge of God. The students who come to Cornerstone are truly known and loved for who God created them to be."

The worst part is that her boys are so smart they got into this awesome local magnet school http://www.tworivers.crec.org/ but she pulled them out to send them to a school where they will probably not be able to get into a 4 year college from. (not that everyone need to go to a 4 year, but kids should have the choice, not have it made for them.)

[ButterflyBlood]

5. If only most fundies would just follow Jesus instead

In my youth I realized that I could either be a faithful Catholic following the church, or follow Jesus, but there was no way I could do both. I made my choice. If only fundies would make the same choice between Jesus and their churches.

[polly7]

4. That's a good article. Even if Canadians remember

how native children were ripped from their families and kept in residential schools to 'learn English and adopt Christianity and Canadian culture', it leaves little doubt how much damage was done, there have been so many horror stories of sexual abuse and years of mistreatment. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/05/16/f-faqs-residential-schools.html

Although it wasn't only the Catholic Church involved "On April 29, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "sorrow" to a delegation from Canada's Assembly of First Nations for the abuse and "deplorable" treatment that aboriginal students suffered at Roman Catholic Church-run residential schools."

Yes, what 'Christianity' did to these children was horrible.

[AlwaysQuestion]

7. You are so very, very right!!!!!

I'm a Canuck and I couldn't agree with you more. What the hell were those stupid "Christian" (ha ha ha - Christian my ass!)people abetted by government--of course--thinking? Why in hell couldn't they understand what it would be like to have THEIR children whipped out from under them and sent to residential schools. I daren't think about it often cuz then I can't stop thinking about it and I become viscerally ill. I will have nothing whatever to do with organized religion. Besides, I am not a believer in the god talked about in the bible simply because in my opinion, he's a mean bastard--someone I wouldn't want as a friend much less a god.

As for the friggin' pope expressing his "sorrow," that is a complete and utter joke. He's like the vast majority of leaders--power hungry. They don't believe all this garbage, I swear they can't possibly.

But once again, that is a period in history we Canucks should be ashamed of--and I am!!

But I believe there's gotta be a purpose to this thing we refer to as living--I just haven't figured out what it is.

[iris27]

6. Is it "most", or "almost half"? The article never quotes an actual number.

Just a minor quibble, I guess, but not all that surprising, given that the rest of the article goes on to lament the statistic and tries to point out all the ways 'churches continue to "do good works" across the country'.