Sunday 17 February 2013

Culture & Religion of Canada

Canada is similar to the United States in that it is a melting pot of different cultures and religions. Canada is a country without an official religion. Although about seventy-five percent of Canadian citizens claim to be practitioners of Christianity, religious pluralism is a valued part of Canada's culture. Unfortunately, many believe Canada has entered a depressing "post-religious"period. This is a fancy why of saying that people have become cynical and stopped openly displaying their Christianity.

However, other religions still seem to be en vogue. The stark increase in immigration from areas such as Asia, Africa, and the Middle East has contributed to the expansive growth of Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu communities within the country of Canada. More exclusive religious cultures also call Canada home. These include the Bahá'í Faith, Unitarian Universalists, Judaism, Pagans, First Nations religions.

The Musli. Religion is very popular in Canada. The first mosque was built in Edmonton, a fashionable Canadian area, way back in the year 1936. In fact, the first Canadian census found thirteen Muslims already living in the country. With a long history like that, it is no wonder that Canada hosts such a large population of Muslim devotees.

Sikhism is another of the more popular religions in the Great White North. With Canadian origins dating all the way back to the year of 1897, Sikhs were o­ne of the rare Asian cultures that were actually loyal to the Queen of England. However, this did not help them gain good rights or immigration laws for the first half of the last century. After a large wave of Sikhs came to Canada at the beginning of the nineteenth century, immigration laws were soon tightened o­n them, and they were denied the right to vote for quite some time. Since immigration laws were liberalized in the 1960s, the Sikh population has exploded.

Canada has many diverse and wonderful religious cultures, which make it a fun place to live or visit.

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