*****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
Dear Colleagues:
Enhancing your reading experience is very
important to me.
I am attempting to refine and reduce the
length, but not the content and quality,
of each issue.
Please let me know how I'm doing.
--
This is the final edition of Volume XI
of Colleagues List. As a bi-weekly, it
is longer than usual.
During the past year, I have sent you
44 issues, and my average for the past
11 years is 46 (a total of 513) editions.
Many thanks to so many of you for faithful
readership and contribution to this blog.
I am encouraged to continue this ministry.
--
My Special Item this week is indeed special.
I introduce a new book by colleague Reg.
Bibby of Lethbridge, AB and his associate,
Canadian pollster, Angus Reid.
The book is entitled "Canada's Catholics"
and I hope you like it.
Scroll down, past this letter to read about it.
Thanks to Jim Taylor, Ron Rolheiser and
Martin Marty for contributing your columns.
Twelve "Net Notes" appealed to me during
the past two weeks. I share them with you,
below.
Nine contributions appear as "Wisdom of
the Week."
The New York Times provides three historic
news items from the archives.
I end this letter with a closing thought.
If you are interested, we start to build our
fall adult spiritual development program
at St. David's, Calgary and I invite you to
participate with us, directly or indirectly.
For that, scroll to the end of the blog.
The next issue of Colleagues List will be
Volume XII, No. 1. It appears, July 10th
and we continue our summer bi-weekly
schedule.
Good wishes,
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
CANADA'S CATHOLICS
Vitality and Hope in a New Era
by Reginald Bibby and Angus Reid
Novalis, Toronto, June, 2016
192 pages. $19.95 CAD
ISBN #978-2896-88261-8.
Publisher's Promo:
An essential guide to the Canadian Catholic
Church from award-winning sociologist
Reginald Bibby and well-known pollster
Angus Reid.
The Catholic Church in Canada experienced
seismic shifts in the 20th century.
Once a stronghold of national and provincial
culture and life, the Church underwent a
dramatic transformation, with decreased
participation and a loss of social prominence
However, according to Bibby and Reid, there’s
evidence that we ought not despair Rather, the
Church is in a period of major transformation,
and there is hope.
Drawing from a new cross-country survey
of 3,000 Canadians, Bibby and Reid offer an
insightful look into what lay Catholics believe
and what draws women and men to the life
of the Church.
--
Reg. Bibby Wiki Bio: http://tinyurl.com/j8svkru
Angus Reid Institute: http://angusreid.org/
--
Note: Bibby is Protestant by background, and
Reid is Roman Catholic. Their research synergy
greatly enhances the quality of this book.
Authors' Words:
(Partway through our collaboration since 2014,
Reg came up with an idea that would help us
make this book possible - to extend the overall
sample of a Canadian survey on attitudes to
religion in this country - to include 1,000 Catholics.)
This allowed us to generate largely unprecedented
data on beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Catholics
across the country, including, of course - Quebec.
Comprehensive national survey data on Catholics
has been sparse, which is somewhat surprising,
given the historical place of the (Catholic) Church
in Canada, especially during the country's
formative years...
Media reports in recent decades, for example,
have offered at best a confusing picture of the
status of Catholicism in Canada... (some of the
perspectives tend to portray a Church in decline,
while others suggest a Church that is healthy,
vigorous and confident.)
Faced with this cacophony of mixed signals, and
contradictory reports (Reg and Angus) decided to
go straight to Catholics to get a more direct
reading that would help provide insight into
current trends and future directions.
Contrary to dominant views among social
scientists that religion has been experiencing
a declining role in contemporary societies, we
have found precisely the opposite to be the
case in Canada when it comes to Catholics.
Indeed, globalization and immigration have
been bringing to our shores millions of people
whose identities are firmly fixed by religious
beliefs and practices.
Surprisingly, the Catholic Church in Canada has
been benefiting enormously from developments
in the postmodern world that experts had
predicted would be its nemesis.
Independent of the immigration factor, we also
see a Catholic community that remains deeply
rooted in an identity that is Catholic... Catholic
culture, along with beliefs, practices and the
vital role of faith in life's key events - birth,
marriage and death - serve to unite the 13
million Canadians who define themselves as
Catholic. Our research points to considerable
vitality and fertile ground for creating vibrant
Christian communities in the new millennium...
The spirit of the research project and this book
has been a full-fledged partnership... an uplifting
and enjoyable relationship.
Our hope is that Catholics and others will find
the material to be of value.
- Angus and Reg in the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
Taken together, Bibby and Reid have been polling
Canadians for three quarters of a century. That
means they have developed a rather refined sense
of the communities out of which we live our lives,
and what occupies our thoughts. What a formidable
combination on an increasingly complex topic!
It is surprising that the subject they address in
this book - Canada's Catholics - has received so
little attention over the years. Here, they set
about to rectify that deficiency.
Since Roman Catholics make up a third of the
Canadian population - by far he largest single
religious grouping in the country - this subject
is of considerable importance as far as faith
studies go. Their work benefits not only
Catholics, but the rest of us as well.
The strong presence of Catholics in Canada,
(in terms of the total population, including the
large French-speaking Catholic population of
Quebec) is a very big factor distinguishing
this country from the United States.
Protestants were the principle founders of America.
while Catholics were the formative constituency of
Canada. Subsequent immigration has changed the
population mix of both nations, but that important
distinction remains. When Canadians and Americans
assess each other, this key reality may be forgotten.
I would suggest that the book under consideration
should not only serve Canadians, but those wishing
to gain a better understanding of Canada from an
international perspective. Indeed, the book is written
with a globalized point of view. We are a nation of
immigrants - no doubt our First Nations people as
well - and we are now, more than ever, a global
community and not simply a people with European
ancestry. This is reflected in our church life today.
In a true sense, the Catholic Church is positioned,
like few others, to benefit significantly from our
global society, multi-cultural in-migration, and
the resulting Canadian population.
Stated simply, many Catholics from around the
globe are helping to build the new Canada and
the new church of which we are all part.
As this occurs, I am so grateful that Canada
today is a far different place, faith-wise,
that it used to be. In a world where narrow
nativism constantly raises its ugly head, we
Canadian shave been celebrating globalized
religious and cultural diversity for almost
fifty years.
What benefits some of us benefits us all.
When Canada's heart goes out to Muslim
refugees and when "Canada's Catholics"
celebrate the revitalization of a Christian
tradition other than my own - I take great
pride in my country. I am part of it - even
as I must also be mindful that this blessed
tolerant state could easily be lost without
our vigilance.
I rejoice that all non-Catholic Canadians -
Protestants and non-Christian people of
faith - are part of a great development.
Speaking more to this volume - I have read,
reviewed or introduced most of Reg Bibby's
books over the past 30 years (see a selected
list of them by clicking his Wiki bio, above).
I am not as familiar with Angus Reid's work,
even though he has been a household name.
To have a Catholic and a Protestant join
forces to create this important study is
indeed fortuitous. My sense is that one
tends to complement the other. Where
one has lacked background, the other is
there to fill the gap.
In an ever-increasing and effective way,
Canadians are able to articulate their
evolving identity as a people. This book
is one more building block making that
possible.
For these and many other good reasons,
I encourage you to secure and read this
book and to make it part of the way you
understand Canada and religion in this
country.
---
Bibby Web Page:
http://tinyurl.com/jnszknw
Contact Reg:
pcbooks@reginald.bibby.com
Buy the book:
Amazon.ca
http://tinyurl.com/gt53vvg
Chapters.ca
http://tinyurl.com/zes4q9w
***
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
June 5th, 2016
"A Uniquely Canadian Church Has a Birthday"
http://tinyurl.com/z7qv4ve
June 22nd 2016
"Live Longer, Join a Church"
http://tinyurl.com/gq3snbo
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
June 20th, 2016
"Of Guns and Pacifism"
http://tinyurl.com/jzsav3m
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago. Il.
Sightings,
June 13th, 2016
"Heresy and Popes"
http://tinyurl.com/z7fh9cl
June 20th, 2016
"Hate is Mobile"
http://tinyurl.com/jx35ujn
***
NET NOTES
TRUMP'S MORMON PROBLEM
Republican Loyalists Face Dilemma
New York Times
June 13th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/zsw3nah
--
GO SLOW ON ASSISTED DYING
A Lesson from the Past
Globe and Mail
June 13th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/jlw6nxu
--
THE GOSPEL AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
Making our Worship Terms Relevant
Christian Century
June 9th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/h4rre9y
--
EASTERN ORTHODOX PATRIARCHS
MEET IN CRETEFocus is on the Integrity of Creation
Oblate USA Website
June 17th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/jg6jxpe
"Crete Gathering Reflects
Classic Orthodox Divisions"
BBC News
June 19th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/zyek842
"Will this Orthodox Council
be Ecumenically Relevant?"
Sightings,
June 16th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/h7m4647
--
A BRIGHTER FUTURE
FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Five Ways Education Can Help
CBC.ca News
June 23rd, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/z42fubj
--
ONE WINNER, FOUR LOSERS
WITH BREXIT REFERENDUM
Vox (via Sojourners)
June 24th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/zkuja6s
--
ARCTIC ANGLICANS SAY NO
TO SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Desire Church Unity, However
Anglican Journal
June 22nd, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/jes96sr
--
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS REPUDIATE
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
Seek Racial Unity After Ferguson, Charleston
Christianity Today
June 14th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/h956axk
--
SCIENTISTS ENTER PURPORTED
TOMB OF CHRIST IN JERUSALEM
Making New, Critical Assessment
The National Post
June 21st, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/h4l3e26
--
GREECE AND TURKEY SPAR OVER
RAMADAN PRAYERS IN HAGIA SOPHIA
Religion News Service
June 14th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/jrexoql
--
RABBI MICHAEL LERNER SPEAKS AT
MUHAMMAD ALI LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL
He Shares Profound Spiritual Association
Youtube
June 10th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/hxa9fc4
--
HARVARD ACADEMIC NOW ADMITS THAT
GOSPEL OF JESUS' WIFE LIKELY A FRAUD
Karen King Had Proposed Otherwise in 2012
Religion News Service
June 20th, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/hoj2c4l
"The Unbelievable Tale of Jesus' Wife"
The Atlantic Online
July, 2016
http://tinyurl.com/z47gzw4
***
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
From Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
I have so much to do that I shall
spend the first three hours in prayer.
- Martin Luther
--
You may not control all the events that happen
to you, but you can decide not to be reduced
by them.
- Maya Angelou
--
Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door
of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.It is
a power that breaks the chains of bitterness
and the shackles of selfishness.
- Corrie Ten Boom
--
Sometimes you say to yourself: the fire in me
is going out. But you were not the one who lit
that fire. Your faith does not create God, and
your doubts cannot banish Him to nothingness.
- Brother Roger of Taizé
--
I've had enough of someone else's propaganda.
I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice,
no matter who it's for or against. I'm a human being
first and foremost, and as such I am for whoever
and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.
- Malcolm X
--
Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing
compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams
is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed
and in sight of all. People will give their lives if
only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over,
with all looking on and applauding as if on the
stage. But active love is labor and fortitude.
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
--
If I am soft to myself and slide comfortably
into self-pity and self-sympathy,
if I do not by the grace of God practice fortitude,
then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I myself
dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round
myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely
have “a heart at leisure from itself,” then I know
nothing of Calvary love.…That which I know not,
teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.
- Amy Carmichael
--
Eternity is a very radical thought...
and thus a matter of inwardness.
Whenever the reality of the eternal
is affirmed, the present becomes
something entirely different from
what it was apart from it. This is
precisely why human beings fear
it (under the guise of fearing death).
You often hear about particular
governments that fear the restless
elements of society. I prefer to say
that the entire age is a tyrant that
lives in fear of the one restless
element: the thought of eternity.
It does not dare to think it. Why?
Because it crumbles under – and
avoids like anything – the weight
of inwardness.
- Søren Kierkegaard
***
ON THIS DAY
From the archives of the New York Times -
"Hitler Gains Stunning Victory Over France in WWII"
http://tinyurl.com/5uy55h2
"Muhammad Ali Convicted in Houston for Refusing Draft"
http://tinyurl.com/zo2ms5w
"UN Declaration of Human Rights is Adopted"
http://tinyurl.com/83wo9bn
***
CLOSING THOUGHT - Maya Angelou
You may not control all the events that happen
to you, but you can decide not to be reduced
by them.
(end)
*****
For Those Interested:
Beginning Our Program Planning Season -
Autumn 2016 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry at St. David's United Church, Calgary
FALL 2016 MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
This series begins in September
Theme: "Rediscovering the Bible for Today"
Book: "Reclaiming the Bible
for a Non-Religious World"
by Bishop John Spong
http://tinyurl.com/jfanqdp
with help to engage it meaningfully, now.
Ten Monday evenings, 7-9PM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 19th - November 28th, 2016
Excluding Monday of Thanksgiving Weekend
Books and Registration/Hospitality - $60.00
Books only - $20.00
Total book sets made available for sale: 35.
All sale books have now been secured.
Now beginning eighteen years
of Monday Night Studies
Our thirty-fifth series of
(usually) ten week sessions!
Course design: TBA in September
Check our complete archives
for all 48 book studies since 2000:
http://tinyurl.com/q3bw6dh
***
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Theme: TBA in September, 2016
Group Decides Theme at First Meeting
Ten sessions 10-11 AM
Gathering at 9:30 AM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 15th - November 24th.
No charge.
Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
(copy available in our church library)
***
NEW SEASON,
NEW ST.DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVEL PROJECT
The Planning Cycle for a 2017 Tour Continues.
The Travel Destination has been selected
with Rostad Tours. It is a seventeen-day trip
which will take place in October of next year.
Location, cost and itinerary will be made
available summer 2016. Promotion will begin
in September. Follow these notices for
weekly updates.
*****
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