Canada's Religions

Book excerpt: Each Canadian Census reveals Canada to be an Overwhelmingly religious country. With nine out of ten Canadians claiming a religious affiliation of some kind - Aboriginal, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, or one of dozens of new religions - faith has necessarily had an influence on citizens' personal and social lives. In Canada's Religions, Robert Choquette offers a history of religion in Canada and examines the ongoing tug-of-war between modernity and conservatism within the religious traditions themselves. Given that religion affects so many areas of daily life, including politics, education, community standards, and general behaviour, Canada's Religions provides academics, students, and educated readers with an excellent overview of the impact of religion on Canadian life. Understanding the various religions in Canada, argues Choquette, facilitates tolerance and acceptance, and eases the hostility that people may feel towards lesser known faiths. Through illustrative stories and indepth research, Canada's Religions offers an invaluable resource, placing religion within an ever-changing social context and inviting the reader to a new level of understanding of Canada's religious faiths.