Olympics fans heading to Vancouver might want to visit a vanishing cultural treasure while they’re in Canada — local churches.
Canada has become a “post-Christian society” where once-dominant Anglicanism has “moved to the margins of public life,” according to a bleak study reported by Michael Valpy at the Globe and Mail.
The stats do indeed show that the decline in oldline Christianity is even more advanced in Canada than in the USA. That the ACoC lost 53% of its membership in the 40 year period from 1961 to 2001 is an even more dramatic and troubling loss than the roughly 35-40% loss sustained by TEC during that time (IIRC).
But this very brief, simplistic article fails to mention that Vancouver is actually one of the BRIGHT spots for orthodox Anglicanism, where there is a particularly robust form of evangelicalism, well anchored by a large, thriving parish like St. John’s, Shaughnessy, which is the largest Anglican congregation in Canada, with an ASA of about 750, and nearby Regent College, that acts as an independent training ground for orthodox clergy.
Michael Valpy calls Canada a “post-Christian” society. I think that’s an unfortunate exaggeration. I’d call it a “post-Christendom” society, which is a very different thing. Turkey is a truly post-Christian society, in that it once was solidly Christian centuries ago, but now is virtually devoid of Christian believers (less than 1% of the population). Fortunately, there are still millions of Christians in Canada, but they are a distinct minority of the population. What makes Canada a “post-Christendom” society is that the old marriage between Christianity and the dominant culture and its institutions has ended in divorce. Christianity hasn’t disappeared, but it is openly disfavored. That’s the difference.
The ACoC is indeed withering and dying, and deservedly so, for abandoning the true gospel. But the future is bright for the ANiC and other faithful Christians, as bright as the promises of God.
David Handy+
Enthusiastic advocate of Post-Christendom style Anglicanism
Well said, David Handy+. I really get irritated when people start talking about “Post-Christian” societies in the West, as if all Christians and Churches everywhere suddenly vanished.
I think there will always be a remnant. Still, even evangelical churches are finding it hard to maintain their standard belief structures.
Even Evangelical kids are more tolerant and pluralistic than the previous generation. It’s going to be a “golden rule” Christianity, one without the church.
But its a good question: would people miss the church if it went? Probably not. We’re busy bickering.
#3 John Wilkins: No we’re not! 😉
RE: “Still, even evangelical churches are finding it hard to maintain their standard belief structures.”
No they’re not.
Of course . . . the word “evangelical” is now so popular that plenty of liberal/progressive churches are trying to claim it as well . . . so . . .