[JustKate]

You be the judge.

Our Anthem:

God keep our land
Glorious and free

Anthem sung as Canadian Flag is raised along with a sideways Sweden Flag that looks like a Cross beside our flag. Coincidence? Gave me goosebumps watching our Flag raised with a Cross beside it.

From this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEJprBX ... re=related

[Choban]

If that's your preference than fine. I for one am not christian, I do love our anthem and don't believe it should be changed or omitted. But thats the beauty of our country, I don't get persecuted for not beleiving in god.

[Strutz]

All 3 of the flags are sideways. Most flags look different when turned sideways but it doesn't mean anything. So, yes, it is a coincidence. So what? Besides, I get goosebumps anytime I see our flag being raised accompanied by Canadians singing our anthem with pride (especially when hockey gold is involved )

Choban wrote:

If that's your preference than fine. I for one am not christian, I do love our anthem and don't believe it should be changed or omitted. But thats the beauty of our country, I don't get persecuted for not beleiving in god.

Me too .

[rawmeat]

I am a proud Canadian and couldn't give two @%$#^ about religion, so no I don't think Canada is a christian nation, but it is a country that allows Christianity. The line in the anthem you refer to says "God" keep our lnad, not "Jesus" keep our land. God could refer to any God or any persons concept of a God.

[JustKate]

The majority of Canadians are Christian. Just take a drive in any part of our country and the majority of churches are Christian (Catholic/Protestant), with that said, I'm pretty sure the "God" referred to in our Anthem is the Father of Jesus Christ. JMHO

Religion in Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Canada

[BeaverFever]

rawmeat wrote:

I am a proud Canadian and couldn't give two @%$#^ about religion, so no I don't think Canada is a christian nation, but it is a country that allows Christianity. The line in the anthem you refer to says "God" keep our lnad, not "Jesus" keep our land. God could refer to any God or any persons concept of a God.

Well Said!

[Choban]

JustKate wrote:

The majority of Canadians are Christian. Just take a drive in any part of our country and the majority of churches are Christian (Catholic/Protestant), with that said, I'm pretty sure the "God" referred to in our Anthem is the Father of Jesus Christ. JMHO

Religion in Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Canada

Oh I'm not disputing you Kate, but we have to account for al other religions in our country and the lack of by personal choice for some people. I think its quite fair to be able to interpret it to mean your particular god. It sure beats trying to omit the verse or argue that you aren't included.
Like I said, I'm not religious, but I take no offence to the verse or people believing what they will.

[CanadianJeff]

Personally I"m free to befriend and engage in most any religion on earth. I can also abstain from religion in this country and I enjoy talking with atheists who I honestly find can be even more moral at times then the best of the faithful.

That to me is Canada. Freedom to be who you want to be and talk with whom you wish. That is hardly a Christian value in terms that we are under the bible supposed to pay homage to one god and one god only and it's a HUGE sin to do otherwise or tolerate your neighbor doing otherwise.

I would argue that while we do install the values of love and peace and turning the other cheek into our culture we have taken in many values outside Christianity into the Canadian identity.

In that respect we truly are a nation under god. Just many versions of god.

edit: You realize the reason why there is a Swedish flag next to the Canadian flag in that video is Canada beat Sweden in that game to get the gold medal in the World Juniors. It would have been the flag of whatever country got second in that spot.

[JustKate]

CanadianJeff wrote:

Personally I"m free to befriend and engage in most any religion on earth. I can also abstain from religion in this country and I enjoy talking with atheists who I honestly find can be even more moral at times then the best of the faithful.

That to me is Canada. Freedom to be who you want to be and talk with whom you wish. That is hardly a Christian value in terms that we are under the bible supposed to pay homage to one god and one god only and it's a HUGE sin to do otherwise or tolerate your neighbor doing otherwise.

I would argue that while we do install the values of love and peace and turning the other cheek into our culture we have taken in many values outside Christianity into the Canadian identity.

In that respect we truly are a nation under god. Just many versions of god.

edit: You realize the reason why there is a Swedish flag next to the Canadian flag in that video is Canada beat Sweden in that game to get the gold medal in the World Juniors. It would have been the flag of whatever country got second in that spot.

The bible says "FREE WILL". That's what Canada is based on for one. Beautiful! Love it!

I know it was the Sweden's Flag and could be any other countries flag, it just looked amazing, that's all.

[Guy_Fawkes]

I see things, like reference to God in the anthem, as relics from our colonial days. I would never want to see them disappear, they remind us of our past.

[kenmore]

Canada used to be a Christian nation founded on Christian Values.. now its a country of takers who are out to get what ever they can and send it back to the mother country.. Canada the gift tha keeps on giving !

[Mr_Canada]

GROAN. Trolling again?

Canada is quite technically a "Christian nation", if you are to go by Statistics. If you go by Canadian attitude about it though, we are an Apathetic Irreligious nation. It's not a point of pride that the majority of Canadians are Christians, since most of those Christians are very very quiet, not the ravaging loud psycho's that America's famous for letting speak.

Just 20% of Canadians attend church, and 59% of Canadians oppose Churches dictating Politics. (Both Stats from Ipsos-Reid)

We would be a Christian Nation if Canadians cared enough to make it so. But we aren't we'd rather be quiet, and let the place be Irreligious.

We're the Apathetic Nation. We could care about things like religion, but we've got other things going on.

[kenmore]

Agreed..

[Akhenaten]

Just a thought: "God keep our land"...doesn't actually mean "Christian". Christians aren't the only ones with a God.

[Guy_Fawkes]

Akhenaten wrote:

Just a thought: "God keep our land"...doesn't actually mean "Christian". Christians aren't the only ones with a God.

I doubt when the words were writen the author was refering to a abstract God figure.