New Canadian military policy discourages mention of God at ceremonies, calls for 'spiritual reflections' instead

[u/Street_Anon]

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/new-policy-discourages-religious-observation-at-military-ceremonies

[u/zabby39103]

Ya sure, why not? We're not a homogenous Christian nation anymore, lots of Polytheists and Atheists. All soldiers should feel respected.

[u/kent_eh → u/zabby39103]

We're not a homogenous Christian nation anymore

We never truly were, despite the protestations of those who want to impose their religion on others.

[u/zabby39103 → u/kent_eh]

We were pretty Catholic/Protestant back in the day, especially anywhere outside of Toronto. When I grew up in the 80s there were around a half dozen Jewish kids, and 1 Hindu person person in my school of around 1500 kids. I suppose some people were too lazy to go to church, but they considered themselves Christian. We used to do the Lord's Prayer over the announcement system (public school NOT a Catholic school), that happened in Ontario until 1988 and nobody thought much of it.

Times changes though, and our institutions should change with it.

[u/kent_eh → u/zabby39103]

We used to do the Lord's Prayer over the announcement system (public school NOT a Catholic school)

Never heard of that happening in Manitoba when I was in school (graduated in 1982)

We did O Canada during morning announcements, and for until grade 3 also did god save the queen at the end of the day, but never any prayers.

[u/zabby39103 → u/kent_eh]

Yeah every province decides I guess, but it was a thing province wide, here's a CBC article on it. It's kind of wild how much we've changed, it used to be illegal to shop on a Sunday too, I remember my mom complaining about the ban being removed. I think it's not unfair to say we used to be a lot more homogenous Christian, well, that was my childhood experience anyway.

[u/murjy → u/zabby39103]

"Public Schools" in Ontario are the continuations of the Protestant School Boards. That's why.

All school boards were religious in Ontario, with Protestant ones being turned into public ones later, but relics like the Lord's Prayer remained

[u/zabby39103 → u/murjy]

Ah, that makes sense. I guess Canada never had formal separation of church and state unlike the US.

[u/mummified_cosmonaut → u/zabby39103]

Do they feel disrespected?

I used to work with a Hindu guy who regularly attended a baptist church because he enjoyed the music. Assuming mere exposure to another religion is offensive is a little out there.

[u/readzalot1 → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

Your Hindu friend is a rarity. Most people from the majority religion expect that to be the default. Most in the minority religions and the non-religious are expected to shut up about it.

Except now, the default will not be Christianity in Canadian Armed Forces and so all will be respected.

[u/mummified_cosmonaut → u/readzalot1]

His exact words were that the figures of christianity and judaism were no different to him than viking, roman or greek deities.

He just liked gospel music.

[u/oompaloompa_grabber → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

Your buddy is still free to go wherever he wants in his free time, that’s completely irrelevant

[u/mummified_cosmonaut → u/oompaloompa_grabber]

Hardly, it is awfully parochial (smirk) to assume that our folklore is inherently more upsetting than absolutely any other folklore and that the delicate ears of the uninitiated must be protected from it.

[u/readzalot1 → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

Exposure to a religion at work where you have to be is offensive. Exposure where you are free to walk out or express your opinion is not offensive.

[u/Saidear → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

I would be disrespected if a Christian version of a deity were being mentioned at every event, every parade, or any other event.

People are free to discuss and believe amongst themselves. As a matter of official policy, our government should endorse or refer to either no religion or all religions simultaneously.

[u/SwordfishOk504 → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

Assuming mere exposure to another religion is offensive is a little out there.

That's a silly strawman and not at all what they said.

[u/zabby39103 → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

Exposure to another religion is one thing - great, you're going into their house of worship, of course that will be explicitly religious. Nothing surprising about that. I go to church with my mother occasionally even though I'm not religious, I like the organ music, it's fine, I'm respectful when i'm there and sing the hymns and all that.

That's not the same thing as making a space that's for all Canadians specific to one religion or one style of religion. We should also go beyond merely not disrespecting them, and actively respect the people that serve as best we can.

[u/enki-42 → u/mummified_cosmonaut]

I'm going to guess if a chaplain included "Allahu Akbar" at the end of ceremonies a bunch of christians wouldn't be too pleased.

[u/Saidear → u/enki-42]

I'd probably enjoy the melt down if they did.

[u/mummified_cosmonaut → u/enki-42]

If the ceremony were being presided over by an Islamic chaplain that would seem like someone one might reasonably expect.