When frustration with complex problems sets in, it’s easy for humans to blame someone else for our predicaments. That’s especially true when the causes of our problems are not easy to change, such as global economics. Scapegoating, which redirects blame to a person or group not at fault, often happens when legitimate fears and frustration…
Christian nationalism is no longer just an abstract concept for academic debate. It is now shouted with pride by some political leaders, while other people live in fear of its real-life impacts for them. It rallies support from many Christians, while others are embarrassed to be associated with it, and a smaller number actively oppose…
Writing about threats to democracy is no longer prophetic. The future of democracy is now a topic for coffee conversation and social media warfare. Words that are central to good governance are being hijacked to dismantle the very principles they represent. “Will of the people,” for example, is used to claim legitimacy for whatever a…
“You are too woke.” That comment, after church, prompted me to probe deeper into the use of “woke” and the way that certain words are being redefined and weaponized in current wars of communication. It takes an unusual kind of translation skill to discern a wise response. Dictionaries define “woke” as being aware and alert…
Is there anything that Christian citizens can contribute to the Team Canada plan for managing the impacts of change in U.S. policies under the Trump administration? Tactics range from appeasement of a bully with the hope he will leave Canada alone to Captain Canada fighting back; both approaches are needed, but they are surface-level actions….
For those who haven’t signed up for Dry January, the local pub could be considered a supervised consumption site. Customers consume addictive, unhealthy substances to feel better in the short term. Trained staff, rules of operation, bouncers and laws provide guard-rails to prevent or control excess. Society condones it and many governments benefit from it…
Mary’s Song is ideal for Advent liturgies. I have promoted its use in worship committees for years, from Edmonton to Ottawa. It focuses on themes of the great reversal, or the upside-down kingdom. These themes are rich in Biblical stories and symbolism, but they create some discomfort in the pews. Mary’s talk about taking down…
It was not surprising to read a strong, clear case for access to primary health care in Dr. Jane Philpott’s prescription to reform health care in Canada, in her manifesto Health for All: A Doctor’s Prescription for a Healthier Canada. I was surprised by her focus on spiritual health in the second section – as…
Restoring trust in a “low-trust” context was one rationale for strict enforcement of decisions made by the Christian Reformed Church’s (CRC) Synod 2024. But as CRC churches in Canada implement the detailed rules to ensure that all office-bearers agree with Synod’s definition of chastity, I hear more stories of lost trust and higher anxiety than…
Election talk will permeate the air this Fall. British Columbia will vote on October 19, New Brunswick on October 21 and Saskatchewan on October 28. The US votes on November 4. It feels like the next federal election has already begun; there is growing speculation about an early election in Ontario. Each election is cast…
Did you know that children have a right to play? Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes “the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child, and to participate freely in cultural life and the…
When I agreed to participate in a Vote 16 Summit on Parliament Hill, I expected to hear all the reasons for and against allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal, provincial and/or federal elections. And I did hear that. Much stronger, however, were concerns about the state of democracy in Canada. Concern came from…
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