The Persecution Next Door

Other — By Rachel Motte on May 28, 2011 at 10:46 am

New research suggests that, while Evangelical Christians in Canada no longer feel free to practice their faith, their Muslim counterparts do:

“I was a little bit surprised by the degree to which Christians feel put upon. The ‘Religulous’ message is getting across and it’s not a good message,” said Peter Beyer, a professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa, referring to the 2008 Bill Maher film that cast a critical eye on organized religion.

“They feel like there’s prejudice against religious people: ‘I can’t pull out my Bible, I can’t talk about my religion without getting shot down. I don’t even mention it for fear of getting a bad reaction.’ ”

His study gathered insights from about 350 second-generation Canadians aged 18 to 30 through 36 focus groups in Sydney, N.S, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Each focus group drew together young adults with common religious backgrounds, and many Christians expressed the worry that Christianity is no longer a dominant force in Canadian society, Beyer said.

On the other hand, Muslims attributed the discrimination they felt to racial or cultural prejudices rather than religious issues, saying they felt they could follow their faith unfettered in Canada.

“They feel that they’re perfectly free to practice Islam here in Canada, unlike some of the Christians who feel that their ability to practise their religion is restricted in this country,” Beyer said. “But they did feel Islamophobia.”

Christians in the UK have similar complaints–similar enough that
one Irish MP is out to defend them. David Simpson argues,

“In the United Kingdom, the policy seems to be that people can do whatever they like against Christianity — criticize it or blaspheme the name of Christ — as long as they do not insult Islam.”

“It is sad because this country is based on civil and religious liberty for all. When Queen Victoria was on the throne, the secret behind England’s greatness was its open scriptures and open Bible.

“Today, that policy is being hammered into the ground, and that concerns me greatly for the years and months that lie ahead.”

The problem, of course, is not that Muslims are free to practice their faith: they should be free to do so, and it’s good that they are.

The problem is that not every faith is granted that same freedom. Canada and the U.K. do their people a grave disservice when they make some more equal than others. The stifling of Christians in those nations cannot compare to the atrocities found in other parts of the world, but it is nonetheless a key cultural shift that ought to be noted and addressed.

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  • Benjamin

    This is amaaaaaazing. Being open to criticism is persecution?  No longer
    being a “dominant force in society” is persecution?  Do you guys have
    like… ANY perspective at all?

    I suspect that Muslims being granted “more equality than others” has something to do with their not being so spoiled and mind-blowingly egocentric as to consider anything less than cultural domination and universal praise a form of persecution.

    When they start making new prime ministers swear on a declaration of atheism or collecting signatures to outlaw Christians getting married or adopting, you let me know.

  • http://homewardbound-cb.blogspot.com ChrisB

    “I suspect that Muslims being granted “more equality than others” has something to do with their not being so spoiled and mind-blowingly egocentric ”

    Or perhaps because they tend to blow things up when criticized.

  • Pingback: Persecution Up North | Connected Kingdom

  • Anonymous

    Having spent a good deal of time in Canada, I suggest that the problem is not that “Christians” are being rebuffed, but that in-your-face evangelical and fundamentalist Christian politico-religionists are finding themselves unpopular. It is no doubt dismaying (but a Great Truth, nevertheless) that it is time for them to consider that there is more than one authentic version of Christianity.

  • Silicon Valley Christians

    I could not agree more with this article. I live in the Bay Area (http://siliconvalleychristians.blogspot.com/) and your argument could not hold more true out here on the West Coast. Berkely, in particular, seems to be ground zero for the persecution of just about any god loving Christian. What is this country coming too?

  • Ivor’s friend

    Why would Christians complain about “being persecuted” when Jesus warned that their faith would attract persecution? What do they want… acceptance by a predominantly material and secular society? Isn’t there an inherent irony there?

    Of course, if evangelical beliefs are equally about a right wing conservative agenda and as much about political policies as faith, then I can see why perceptions that there is victimization going on might hurt. But come on… Christianity is inherently about being persecuted…. Jesus said so. Moreover there should be separation from politics, not an embrace of it if you are a true Christian. “Render onto Caesar…” implies distance, detachment from the theater of power. Pay your dues as citizen but remain apart from “the things of this world.”

    In essence the gospel of Jesus is purely spiritual as were his parables – all prioritizing the life of the spirit. He didn’t point toward political solutions, social agendas… he pointed away from them. The myopia of many so-called Christians in America today in their wrong headed embrace of politics is the reason why the work of the spirit is being stymied at every turn and badly misrepresented.

    Christianity is not about politics, temporal power, wealth, affluence… and most assuredly not about being accepted by an essentially non-Christian society. As to whether or not Muslims can practice in peace is a red herring and a comparison that is mischievous in this context.