Canadian Road Trip

Well I'm back. I didn't nod off at the wheel and go careening over the side of a cliff into a northern Ontario lake. Nor did a moose go smashing into the front of my car. I made it to Montreal successfully after three days' drive and made it back to Edmonton a week later after another three days' drive.

The weather was glorious for the Ontario leg of the journey. The Canadian Shield is the version of Canada that I think much of the world imagines. Lots of lakes, rock, trees, and animals. And it goes on for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Almost two of my three days travel were spent in Ontario and the wilderness seemed unending. Tiny towns here and there. A few fuelling stations. Not much more.

And... the voice of God everywhere. Yes indeed. I saw numerous signs proclaiming Jesus is Lord and signs decrying the evil of killing unborns while extolling the virtues of guns. Hmmm. And on the radio, Christian programming is available almost everywhere -- some of it broadcasted from the United States, some of it broadcast right here from Canada.

There is a nasty brand of Christianity disseminated by these radio shows. They focus on family, yes, which is good. But they seem to encourage family and self above everything, including any sense of community. There are entire "Christian" news shows devoted to helping individuals "achieve financial freedom." A Christian advice host, upon hearing about a divorced woman having fallen on hard times, said "God has not entrusted her with much money right now."

He gets involved in the affairs of your wallet, He does!

Meanwhile, the "news" provides stories that lament the oppresion of Christians in America. For example, a withdrawal of public funds to the boy scouts because that organization won't accept homosexuals. Proof, if any were needed, that religion is under attack from every quarter!

An advert came on for a new book called "No More Mr. Christian Nice Guy." The message was that men should be good even if it means not being nice. Now that sounds like the kind of advice that self-proclaimed "good" but not necessarily "nice" men like the now-deceased Jerry Falwell took to heart. Do we need more Falwells?

And let's not get started on the "Truth Project," which is an attempt by the group Focus on the Family to cast all scientific facts in a religious light.

After hours of this I was left with the impression that this North American brand of Christianity is highly intolerant, superstitious, greedy and selfish. Not once -- not once! -- was there a single call for Christians to go help people in need in their community. And this, to me, has always seemed the highest purpose of religion, to selflessly give to others. Not a single mention. Good grief.

Doubtless, these radio shows have done a profound disservice to the millions of practitioners in North America who DO give to their community, and give in spades. The civil rights movement to this day still is supported strongly by religious leaders such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

But where was this alternative voice of Christianity?

It made me so thankful for the good old CBC, which -- praise be! -- is just as strong a presence from Alberta all the way to Quebec.