Canadian-ness

As you may have noticed, this weekend is a long one. Fantastic! More specifically, it’s the Canada Day long weekend. In a culture where it sometimes seems like every day has a label (Oh look – it’s “Honor Your Iguana” day!), it might be easy to forget that on this particular weekend we are that we are taking an extra day off to mark…what? Arguably, to mark our citizenship in this country; our “Canadian-ness”.

The idea of citizenship is an old one, and its history as an idea is intriguingly intertwined with the history of Christianity. That might all sound a little sleep inducing as a topic, at least until we consider that our perspective on the relationship between religious belief and citizenship deeply affects how people of faith behave in their culture. Different perspectives on this question have produced actions as diverse as the Crusades and the existence of many of our local hospitals. Since we now find ourselves living in a post-Christian culture (many would contend a “post religious” culture), is there still a vital link between faith and citizenship?

If you are weary of camping or lying on the beach (I know…what are the odds?), come and join us at 318 ½ Ross (The Frame) at 6:30 p.m. this Canada Day Monday. Look for the sandwich board, and if you arrive a bit late and there is no one inside the building, check in the local green space right across the street. If the weather is good, that’s probably where we’ll be.

Peace to you, citizens of Canada!