BC | Multicultural Meanderings

Chilliwack pastor tells congregation vaccines interfere with God’s care

2014/03/18 Leave a comment

A reminder that Christians have their fundamentalists and extremists like other religions:

Rev. Adriaan Geuze says his 1,200-strong Reformed Congregation of North America in Chilliwack mostly shares that view, which is why vaccination rates in the community are “very low.”

“We leave it in (God’s) hands. If it is in his will that somehow we get a contagious disease, like in this case the measles, there are other ways, of course, to avoid this. If (we get sick), he can also heal us from it,” he said in an interview Friday.

Chilliwack pastor tells congregation vaccines interfere with God’s care.

Filed under Multiculturalism, Religion Tagged with Adriaan Geuze, BC, Christians, fundamentalists

B.C.’s apology for treatment of Chinese may get skeptical response – The Globe and Mail

2014/01/07 Leave a comment

More on historical recognition and how a transparently political initiative soured feelings among the Chinese-Canadian community in BC. Federal historical recognition program, along with the Chinese Head Tax ex gratis payments, seems like a more meaningful response than just an apology (although apologies have meaning for society and affected communities).

B.C.’s apology for treatment of Chinese may get skeptical response – The Globe and Mail.

Filed under Historical Recognition, Multiculturalism Tagged with BC, Chinese-Canadian, Chinese-Canadian community

We Must Tackle The “Cultural Divide” Now Or Polarization And Racism Will Continue To Haunt Us | Link Newspaper

2013/10/30 Leave a comment

Ken Herar, of the South Asian community, on the need to break down the barriers between the South Asian and other communities in the lower BC mainland:

The main reason why the “cultural divide” in Canada has continued to grow is because we have allowed it to, and our elected officials have paid very little attention to the matter. In the next 20 years, if Canadians do not tackle or change the course of action, the cultural polarization will continue to spread. We’re at a crucial turning point where we can build bridges and strengthen partnerships within our communities or face the consequences of growing isolation.

We Must Tackle The “Cultural Divide” Now Or Polarization And Racism Will Continue To Haunt Us | Link Newspaper.

Filed under Multiculturalism Tagged with BC, Ken Herar, Link Newspaper

British Columbians grow more wary of other religions, interfaith marriages

2013/10/10 1 Comment

The respective rates of “comfort” with interfaith marriage are not surprising:

66% comfortable with Christians
53% comfortable with Buddhists
40% comfortable with Jews
36% comfortable with Hindus
28% comfortable with Sikhs
17% comfortable with Muslims

The article would have benefitted from actual intermarriage rates compared to attitudes, as overall intermarriage rates have generally increased, albeit from a small base.

Attitudes are not limited to the “mainstream;” as the article notes, many within communities also want their children to marry from within the community, either to preserve their faith, pass it on to children, or at least theoretically have fewer compatibility issues.

Douglas Todd: British Columbians grow more wary of other religions, interfaith marriages.

Filed under Multiculturalism, Religion Tagged with BC, Douglas Todd, Interfaith, interfaith marriage, interfaith marriages, marriage