The religion in Canadian culture is homogenous of different faiths. Christianly remain to be the most dominant religion here with the Roman Catholic taking the lead in the number of followers. According to statistics, the Christians represent about 67 percent of the total individuals followed by the nonreligious people who are represented by 24 percent. The second religion in prevalence here in Canada is Islam getting an adherence to by 3% of the mass (Statistics Canada 2013). The progress of religious adherence is, however, declining (Melton 201). The Canadian culture is embodied in the faith and Godliness although the nation does not hold any official religion. Ideally, the country supports pluralism in belief, and people have the freedom to worship which is an integral facet of the political culture in Canada (Miedema 120).
There were native religions in Canada before the coming of the European colonizers that utilized the nature and spirits as their reverence in worship. Some of the Aboriginal religious practices in existence then were shamanisms and animisms (Jordan 197). In the 17th century, the French colonizers started the Roman Catholic in the modern Quebec and Nova Scotia. British imperialists inhabited Canada with protestant faith especially Anglicans in the current Ontario. The Orthodox Christianity was also brought in by the Russians empire in the tribes of the western coasts and far north and later spread in the mainland by immigration from Greece and the Soviet Union in the 20th century. The religion that was once an integral part of the Canadian culture and everyday aspects has experienced a depressing era of ‘post-religious' emergence where Christians now embrace secularism with only mere affiliations with it (Bowen 204). Most of the Canadian people view religion as nonfunctional in their everyday activities but still recognize God. Religion practice gets generally regarded as a personal issue throughout the state and society (Boyle 2013).
Religion and government
The modern government in Canada has not officiated any church as a state denomination and remains dedicated to religious pluralism but only acknowledging God's supremacy in the national anthem and the Canadian’s Preamble charter of rights. Due to the rise in the people’s disregard to religion and the subsequent influx of other faiths in the country, the government is increasingly deviating from religion inclination (Roberts 359). Afore is being manifested in things like changing from Christmas holiday to ‘winter festivals' in schools of the public. Although other religious holidays like in the Muslim and Jewish faiths receive off days, they do not get recognition as official holidays, unlike the popular Christmas and Easter holidays. The parliament in 1957 pronounced ‘Thanksgiving’ a national day of giving thanks to God after the harvests to signify the blessings bestowed to the country (Erwin 501).
There had been a continued discussion towards the end of the 19th century to allow religious garments, especially the Sikh turban, get official recognition in the whole of Canadian society. In 1986, the armed forces of Canada eventually allowed soldiers to wear the cloth. Later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police authorized the turban-wearing in 1988 followed by other agencies in the federal government.
Census results on the household survey
A national household survey got undertook in Canada in 2011. Participants were supposed to hint on their religions of choice. 67% were Christians a considerable decrease by 10 in the last census in 2001 where Christians got listed as 77%. Roman Catholics however still hold to be the leading denomination in Canadian Christians. It is also notable that secular culture has been increasing since the 1960s. Precisely in 2011, non-religious people represented 24% compared to 2011's 16.6% (Smith 577).
In the later years, there have been increases of religions that are not Christians in Canada. Within ten years from 1991 to 2011, Hinduism grew by 217%, Islam by 316, Buddhism by 124%, and Sikhism by 209%. Afore represented a rise from 4% to 8% of the Canadian population between 1991 and 2011 (Smith 580).
Abrahamic religions in Canada
Baha’i faith
It was among the dominant belief among women as the first converts in Canada got spearheaded by Kate dating around 1898. According to Momen Moojan in the “The Emergence of the Baha’i Community in Canada, 1898-1948” credits the Magee family for introducing the religion of Baha'i in Canada. In 1898 Magee Edith converted to a Baha'i in while in Chicago, and spread the message to her four members of the family that were females (Hoonaard 196).
Christianity
Christianity has been the most popular religion in Canada although it is becoming continually less dominant in the recent years. A Gallup poll in 2005 depicted that only 28% of Canadians considered religion as ‘very important.' In fact, a there is a similarity in the same view by the Americans at 55% and Britons at 19% (Saad 26). The church attendance in Ontario and Alberta has been recorded to as minimal as 11.1% and as high as 25% the Ipsos Reid poll similarly showing a deteriorated Christian tolerance.
The stratification of Christianity has been the Roman Catholic and the United and Anglican Churches as the largest holders of the Canadian Christian community. Other smaller groups include the Orthodox Christianity, Baptists, Jehovah Witness, and others.
Islam
In 1871, there were only 13 Muslims in Canada according to census then. In the present day, Islam has got marked as the second largest religion at 3.2% of all Canadians. The first mosque in the country was constructed in 1938 at Edmonton with a congregation of about 700 followers in the country. Muslims began to flood in large numbers after the ban on preferences on European immigration in the late 1960s. 2001 census in Canada showed the Muslim population at 579,700. By 2011, the count proved a growing Muslim community being second from Christianity (Statistics Canada 2013).
Judaism
Judaism is signified by the Jewish Community who inhabited Canada as early as 1754 according to the records of the army in the Seven Years of War. Aaron Hart who is considered to be the godfather of Jews in Canada was among the soldiers who participated in the war bringing the victory to Canada. Ezekiel Hart was elected as a lawmaker in 1807 and was the first official to be sworn in by a Hebrew Bible although he got vehement objection leading to his expulsion (Brown 19). The first synagogue got erected in 1768 in Montreal. In 1832, Ezekiel Hart plight got heard, and a law enacted that gave Jews and Christians same political rights. In the modern era, the fourth largest Jewish community in the world is from Canada (Copeland 497).
Other Religions
Many other religions exist in Canada including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Neopaganism, and neo-Druidism.
Irreligion
Irreligionists in Canada include the agonists, atheists, and humanists. The spiritual, pantheists, and deists can also get classified in the same group. The irreligious group comprised 12.1% of the total population in Canada. The census in 2001 showed an increase to 16.2% that progressed to 24% in 2011. Some groups have been formed in Canada to represent the nonreligious members, for example, the Toronto Secular Alliance and Humanist Association of Canada.
Conclusion
The religion in Canada has been dynamic. The changes in religion represent the evolving culture in the people of Canada. Although Christianity remains as the leading religion in Canada, it can get seen that it is progressively becoming unpopular just like other parts of the world like Britain and American states. People are slowly shifting their strict indoctrinations stipulated in religion into more meaningful ways of life. Instead of following the masses into a predetermined religion, a vast group of people is more concerned with the belief in God and not religion. In fact, even the Canadian government that has got more oriented into Christianity in the past is slowly changing to reach religion neutrality. On the other hand, other religions that were insignificant years back are rising in popularity due to immigration. There is another group of people gaining popularity in Canada who do not believe in the existence of God. I am firmly convinced although the Canadian government has given people the freedom of worship, the only culture that should get exercised is the one indicated in the national anthem that acknowledge God.
Works cited
Bowen, Kurt. Christians in a secular world: The Canadian experience. Vol. 27. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2004.
Boyle, Kevin, and Juliet Sheen. Freedom of religion and belief: A world report. Routledge, 2013.
Brown, Michael The Beginning of Jewish Emancipation in Canada: The Hart Affair. Michael, vol. 10. (1986).
Copeland, Scott. "Israel travel education." The International Handbook of Jewish education. Springer, Dordrecht, 2011. 497-513.
Fahlbusch, Erwin, and Geoffrey William Bromiley, eds. The encyclopedia of Christianity. Vol. 4. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005.
Jordan D. Paper. Native North American religious traditions: dancing for life. Praeger, 2007.
Melton, J. Gordon, and Martin Baumann, eds. Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, [6 volumes]: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. ABC-CLIO, 2010.
Miedema, Gary. For Canada's sake: Public religion, centennial celebrations, and the re-making of Canada in the 1960s. Vol. 2. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2005.
Roberts, Lance W., Rodney A. Clifton, and Barry Ferguson. Recent social trends in Canada, 1960-2000. Vol. 12. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2005.7
Saad, L. "Can a "Reagan Revolution" Happen in Canada?". Gallup.com. January 20, 2006. Retrieved on June 1, 2018
Smith, Tom W. "Religious diversity in America: The emergence of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and others." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 41.3 (2002): 577-585.
Statistics Canada. "2011 National Household Survey: Immigration, place of birth, citizenship, ethnic origin, visible minorities, language, and religion." Statistics Canada: The Daily (2013).
Van den Hoonaard, Will C. The origins of the Baha'i community of Canada, 1898-1948. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press, 1996.
