The "Bible Belts" in Canuckville

[JLM]

No Bible Belts among the Catholics of Ontario and Quebec and the Maritimes? Just in the lower parts of the prairies. Interesting.

I do everything in my power to avoid "Bible Belts". I have no problem with religion either, but think it's a personal matter, nobody else's business (unless you want to make it your business) but if you do, don't come around me. If an area was populated with religious people who kept it to themselves the area wouldn't be recognized as a Bible Belt. I have absolutely no use for "Bible Thumpers".

 

[JLM]

You can always PM me and I'll post it.

Getting nosy are you, Anna....................:lol::lol::lol: (just joking)

 

[JLM]

I don't give a crap about who picks on Porker, but if you think my showing where he makes errors is picking on him, then fine, you go ahead and believe that. But he is not the only one who's errors I point out when I see them, so according to you, I must be picking on everyone.
Want to get back to the topic now?

Anna, I explained to V.I. that we only pick on S.J. when he gets ridiculous like when he hands me crap, I hand it back, otherwise he gets treated amicably. Knowing that V,I. is quite understanding I'm sure she sees the picture now. :smile:

 

[Cliffy]

There are charismatic Catholics who you would not be able to differentiate from evangelical protestants.

 

[MHz]

There are charismatic Catholics who you would not be able to differentiate from evangelical protestants.

Are they considered to be 'spies'?

 

[cdarro]

I've lived in southwestern Alberta and Calgary all my life and don't consider it a bible belt. There are a fair number of mormons and dutch reformed who might be considered by some to be the religious right. Other than those two groups, not much different than anywhere else. Only one religious radio station in Lethbridge. The ultra religious are a small albeit very vocal minority here.

Btw, I've spent the last two winters in southeast Texas. You want to experience a bible belt, head there for a few weeks.

 

[countryboy]

There are charismatic Catholics who you would not be able to differentiate from evangelical protestants.

If I remember correctly, wasn't Pierre Trudeau a Catholic? And didn't the media portray him as "charismatic?" If so, does that mean he was a fundamentalist Christian, out to convert the masses to his way? (Jeez, maybe we'd better check out the fine print in that Charter a bit more closely!) :lol:

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Look at this now - this thread is (as Avro has already pointed out) becoming about SJP rather than the OP. Ignore it when he does that and it goes away. It won't be long until you see him saying something along the lines of "Another thread all about little ole' me". Quit giving him the satisfaction. I have talked to SJP for years and I am not here to defend the way he posts. I just don't like nitpicking by anyone on a continual basis. It's not productive and it takes everyone off topic.

Well, do you know me or what, VanIsle? That is exactly what I was going to say. Another thread about little ole’ me? Oh, you guys are making me blush.

I am gratified that I have so much power over other posters that they discuss me even when I am not participating in the thread. And I didn’t discover the thread until now. I like to give my attention fully to a few threads and this one escaped my attention until now.

Well, it didn’t make any difference, I dominated the thread anyway. And yes, the thread is about me. Anyway, I don’t have time to post here right now, but you can be sure I am not going to neglect a thread about me.

You guys have been so good as to spend considerable amount of time talking about me, I am flattered. Do you think I am going to ignore the thread? No way. I will be back.

Anyway, thanks Anna for posting a thread about me, I am flattered.

 

[lone wolf]

How do you get your head through doorways?

 

[petros]

As a Prairie person I don't know whether to put Bringing In the Sheaves or Don't Fear the Reaper on the playlist in the combine?

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I think there seems to be some confusion as to what is meant by Bible Belt. Bible Belt does not simply refer to number of religious people, it refers to number of Fundamentalists in the population. Total number of religious people is really not relevant here.

I did try to find statistics as to the percentage of Fundamentalists in each province, but was not able to. If somebody can dig up such statistics, it will be well worth looking at.

So we must consider indirect evidence. What are the issues that characterize the Bible Belt, or religious right? The issues are social issues, they are the red meat to Bible Belt. Issues such as abortion, homosexuality, death penalty etc. If a province has high proportion of religious right, if it is indeed the Bible Belt, we would expect that to be reflected in the attitude of that province towards social issues.

Homosexuality – The opposition to gay marriage was strongest and most fierce in Alberta. Indeed, Klein and Harper felt compelled to proclaim that they will erect a firewall around Alberta to keep gay marriage out. Alberta was also the last province to legalize gay marriage, it was dragged kicking and screaming into doing so.

Death penalty – I have already posted a poll about death penalty showing that support for death penalty is the highest in Alberta.

Abortion – I remember seeing polls which show that opposition for abortion is the highest in Alberta.

The only prominent Fundamentalist politician is Stockwell day, who is from Alberta. Now, a leader like that does not arise in a vacuum, there has to be plenty of activists, plenty of supporters for a leader to arise.

Taken it all together, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Alberta is indeed the Bible Belt of Canada.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

If I remember correctly, wasn't Pierre Trudeau a Catholic? And didn't the media portray him as "charismatic?" If so, does that mean he was a fundamentalist Christian, out to convert the masses to his way? (Jeez, maybe we'd better check out the fine print in that Charter a bit more closely!) :lol:

‘Charismatic’ has a religious meaning and a secular meaning. Trudeau was charismatic in the secular sense of the word. I am sure he would have taken offense if he had been referred to as charismatic in the religious sense.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Not that I know of, biblical literalism and fundamentalism as I've encountered them personally and through the media are generally a Protestant phenomenon. I wouldn't categorically exclude Catholicism from them,

Have you heard of Catholic League? That is a Fundamentalist Catholic organization.

Catholic League: For Religious and Civil Rights

 

[SirJosephPorter]

You people crack me up :lol:....you all love to hate SJP and talk about him on every thread and even when he goes on holiday you are pining for his return (example seen in the Kennedy seat goes to a republican thread).

Who's more sad, him, or the rest of you.:roll:

Quite so, Avro. Their life will be empty without me participating here.

 

[petros]

Taken it all together, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Alberta is indeed the Bible Belt of Canada.

Nah. You'd be surprised SJP. You really would. Fringe churches are popping up but they have a drop out rate of over 90%. They survive attrition through recruitment. It only appears these sects are on the rise but what you see is only a rise in the marketing of Evangelism not necessarily Evangelism .

Don't fear the reaper dude.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Nah. You'd be surprised SJP. You really would. Fringe churches are popping up but they have a drop out rate of over 90%. They survive attrition through recruitment. It only appears these sects are on the rise but what you see is only a rise in the marketing of Evangelism not necessarily Evangelism .

Don't fear the reaper dude.

I don't fear the reaper, petros. And I don't have firsthand experience of Alberta, I have only spent ten days in Alberta (and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit). I can only go by what the press and the opinion polls tell us. The talk about building firewall around Alberta reverberated all over Canada.

 

[VanIsle]

I don't give a crap about who picks on Porker, but if you think my showing where he makes errors is picking on him, then fine, you go ahead and believe that. But he is not the only one who's errors I point out when I see them, so according to you, I must be picking on everyone.
Want to get back to the topic now?

You do do more than your fair share of picking on people. That surprized me because I thought you were different than that. You take shots at SJP all the time. In fact I have never seen you miss a chance. He's a big boy and he can look after himself. We don't really need anyone to point out his errors or my errors or - even yours.
Do I want to get back on topic? Nah, not really. It's a pretty boring topic when it really comes down to it.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Nah, not really. It's a pretty boring topic when it really comes down to it.

A discussion about me, a thread about me boring? Wash you mouth with soap, VanIsle.

 

[VanIsle]

Thank you Avro and VI for hijacking the thread I started and turning it into a big flap about petty, little Porker. And thanks a bunch to the rest of you who followed their bait. At this point in time, I think you're all contemptible.

You are very welcome. That last line - right back at ya.

 

[petros]

I don't fear the reaper, petros. And I don't have firsthand experience of Alberta, I have only spent ten days in Alberta (and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit). I can only go by what the press and the opinion polls tell us. The talk about building firewall around Alberta reverberated all over Canada.

You only hear those who are stupid enough to spend their money and lives making noise just for the sake of making noise. It's all bull****. Nobody with half a brain is willing to spend money to go on the record opposing these fools because it only makes them look just as foolish to try and oppose a religious nut job sect with money.