Fluid Faith in British Columbia

In British Columbia, faith is increasingly fluid. People learn from one another, and they appreciate one another. Because they draw inspiration from Indigenous teachers, they easily mix their love of the land with their spirituality.

So, maybe I am a typical British Columbian? I belong to two Jewish synagogues of two denominations. And I work in a Christian organization. Also, I am a member of a spiritual but not religious collective. I have been a guest at holiday celebrations in mosques and temples.

How Religious Are British Columbians?

In BC, multi-faith is our reality. But traditional categories don’t really capture this reality. Data from the Angus Reid Institute divide Canadians, including British Columbians, into three groups. I’ll list the groups, and also comment on how each is part of our multi-faith landscape.

(1) 1/3 are affiliated with a particular religious community. Here they find mutual support. They also explore music, arts, and creative writing. Together, they reach out to do community service that helps people of all traditions.

(2) 1/3 are privately religious or loosely affiliated. Often, they create their own rituals. To do so they draw inspiration from various spiritual traditions.

(3) 1/3 do not identify with a particular religious tradition. Some of these see themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” They, too, create original fusions. And they, too, draw inspiration from world traditions.

Faith Communities: Opportunity & Challenge

What kind of community services do religious groups offer? They feed the hungry, visit the sick, support the homeless, and welcome refugees. Often they work in interfaith coalitions. Think about spiritual care providers in health care settings, for example. Multi-faith chaplains in prisons. World religions curricula in education. The regional Food Bank consortium. Outreach towards Reconciliation. Consultation about best practices under COVID restrictions.

But faith communities have challenging times, too. Sometimes, faith mixes with political stress. Then, religious communities become exclusive or even discriminatory. Some support violence.

But we know this, and can prepare for this. In times of peace, we can strengthen inter-faith relationships. Thus, in times of stress, we can show up for one another. We can more easily resist the lure of negative propaganda.

Multi-Faith Summit Council of BC

Intentional multi-faith cooperation can—and does—make a difference in BC. The Multi-faith Summit Council of BC was formed to bring people together to advocate for our shared concerns. And we so appreciate your support and your participation today.

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This is an excerpt from my comments at the All-Party Interfaith Caucus for BC, Feb 1, 2023.