Cherishing & Supporting Religious Diversity

 

I'm a sucker for graphs and images such as this one and I'm always curious about religious diversity. We now live in a world I couldn't have imagined as a child in the 50s, one in which we can be informed about the religious practices of others beyond caricatures and stereotypes. This said, we are also in a disturbing moment of rising hatred toward those of other religions and the need for governments to address anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. 

I am encouraged to see that according to Pew Research Canada has the highest level of religious diversity in North America and ranks "very high" amongst all nations. We should be proud of this. 

Yet we are aware of alarming incidents of increasing vandalism at synagogues and mosques and harassment of those who wear religious garb. I have expressed my alarm at what is discriminatory legislation in Quebec with bans on wearing religious symbols and clothing in public as well as gathering for public prayer. All of this is regressive and none of it should be acceptable.

I write this as a Christian who is committed to my faith and its unique tenets. I also have respect for other religions and have benefitted from dialogue and mutual projects such as refugee sponsorship with wonderful people from other faiths. 

I hope that we live up to this high standard and will contintue to work to ensuring it. We can't take religious diversity for granted.