Putting Chanukah’s Stamp on Canada

Valerie Michailovich

December 19, 2019

As Hanukkah begins this weekend, Valerie Michailovich reflects on the story from which the holy season stems, and Canada Post’s issuing of stamps commemorating it. 

We can learn about courage and dedication to religious freedom, self-determination, and most importantly, one’s identity – all of which the Maccabees, a heroic group of Jewish warriors, exemplified Shortly after their victory, the Maccabees and the Jewish people miraculously found a jar of pure oil ...

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The Humour Must Come Out

Peter Stockland

December 18, 2019

Humanity's hunger for humour comes from our deep belief that the absurdity and darkness of the world can be absorbed, transformed, and sanctified, writes Peter Stockland.

Humour is, at heart, a crucial form of the three supernatural virtues: faith, hope and charity A long-ago friend of mine had a combination mantra that doubled as a HazMat level warning: “The humour must come out ...

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Places We’ve Never Been

Rev. Dr. Cole Hartin

December 17, 2019

After attending a Diwali celebration for the first time, Rev. Cole Hartin examines how Christians might extend hospitality to those courageously visiting our congregations. 

It’s important for us Christians to recognize the real courage it takes for folks to visit our churches, especially when they come as outsiders or minorities More Christians should lean into this approach, and warmly welcome newcomers into the strange new world of the Church My hosts were gracious a...

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Peace Past Understanding

Rebecca Darwent

December 13, 2019

Clamour and division surround us, yet as Advent bends into Christmas, Rebecca Darwent writes, the presence of God with us reminds that He is constant.

As I lit that second Advent candle meant to represent peace this week, I thought about the circumstances under which Christmas will be celebrated in the corners of the world, and in a Church that feels splintered Peace begins with the acknowledgement of God in our midst, as is the entire message of ...

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Two Kinds of Peace

Josh Nadeau

December 12, 2019

In the second of a two-part series, Josh Nadeau examines a way to engage with people who think differently, as well as come together to heal our polarized society.

One side asked people to engage and ask more questions before acting (the engagers, or positive peace), while the other celebrated the immediate removal of a man whose comments were seen as aggressive and potentially threatening to a vulnerable population (the protectors, or negative peace) Take the...

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Andrew Scheer’s Fight and Flight

Peter Stockland

December 12, 2019

The Conservative leader couldn’t secure electoral gains he’d already made. But his ouster signals a serious threat to democratic difference and dissent, Peter Stockland writes.

In the end, it’s probably just as well for both the Conservative party and Canadians that leader Andrew Scheer resigned today Beyond the relief of being spared watching a party leader’s political blood spilled repeatedly during the three-month eternity of inevitable knifings before the Conservative’...

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Secularism’s Anti-Charter Ugliness

Ray Pennings

December 12, 2019

Open-minded secularism can bring social benefits but when it seeks to close out religious freedom it injures us all, argues Cardus Executive Vice-President Ray Pennings.

And that’s why Canadians, religious or not, should help “closed” secularists adopt a more open posture toward public faith. When non-religious Canadians (most of whom are Public Faith Opponents) are asked if various religions in Canada benefit or damage the country, they view all communities except ...

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Desperately Seeking Civility

Josh Nadeau

December 11, 2019

In the first of a two-part series, Josh Nadeau contends for civility, dialogue and engagement as necessary ingredients for a healthy society. 

On the other hand, there are groups that see civility, dialogue and engagement as necessary ingredients for a healthy society Pay enough attention to the back-and-forth between prestige essayists or bloggers and you’ll see it in the tall grass: a conversation about whether it’s more important to sho...

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Just Do It or Just Let It Be?

Robin Mercurio

December 10, 2019

Citing the example of LeBron James, Robin Mercurio says there are ramifications when a celebrity athlete voices opinions on a specific social, political issue but falls silent on others.

There is also no way one might prove that LeBron could have made a significant difference in China had he demonstrated the same social, political activism he demonstrated three years ago Judging by the superstar’s own words and recent lack of political or social activism, it appears that LeBron Jame...

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The Present of Advent’s Presence

Melissa Payne

December 9, 2019

In this bustling Advent season, we might benefit from slowing down, taking the time to contemplate and just “be,” writes contributor Melissa Payne.

This Advent season, may you awaken a little bit more to the wonder and Presence of all things I have been taking notice myself and I wonder – how often do I actually feel that sense of anticipation anymore? Where is the wonder in it all? I don’t think it has truly left us, but I do think our pace of...

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A Place of Great Debate

Peter Stockland

December 6, 2019

After this week’s Munk Debate in Toronto, Peter Stockland wonders if the somewhat positive conversation on capitalism would have yielded the same response in a different crowd.

How is it, Van Pelt demanded at a post-debate breakfast Thursday morning, that about 3,000 self-evidently upscale Torontonians could settle into the uber-comfy seats of elegance-personified Roy Thomson Hall for the event, and by evening’s end fully 45 per cent of them voted in favour of a motion tha...

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The Point of Darkness Around the Light

Rebecca Darwent

December 5, 2019

In the second of her weekly reflections on Advent, Convivium’s Rebecca Darwent notes that even in biology certain flowers need a time of darkness before they flourish. So, spiritually, we need winter’s night in our souls to encounter the blazing light of Christ.

As we light the first candle on the Advent wreath, I’m reminded of how dark and dreary these days can be, and yet how much light a single candle sheds in the darkness But the touch of light, a glimmer, a gradual brightening of a room with the single-lit candle on an Advent wreath yet to be fully lit...

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Why Turn Our Backs On Cherry?

David McKernan

December 4, 2019

In response to Peter Stockland's defense of Don Cherry's firing, David McKernan wonders if the decision overstepped Canada’s values of inclusivity and politeness.

What will be said of our culture when we are looking back at times like this in Canada? Do we really think we are united against those who undermine the inclusivity of all Canadians, and that this is best exemplified by our treatment of Don Cherry? Or is our situation one in which the digital medium...

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Stitching an Abrahamic Tapestry

Rebecca Darwent

December 4, 2019

During the years he spent knitting together a vast artwork of ecumenism, Kirk Dunn thought he might be wasting his time. Convivium’s Rebecca Darwent writes that what he produced is just what our present time needs.

Dunn could not have known when he began this work in 2004 that the conversation would become increasingly difficult and polarized, but the display of his three tapestries, colourful and lively, give interfaith conversations new grounds and an opportunity for open dialogue At one of his events prior ...

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Space For Forgiveness

Tyler Brooks

December 2, 2019

Former hockey coach Bill Peters was under fire after allegations of targeting player Akim Aliu with racial slurs 10 years ago. While the act itself cannot be excused, missing from the conversation is the key element of forgiveness, writes contributor Tyler Brooks.

He had so much love and forgiveness for us that He refused to count the cost of forgiving us from the heart Essentially, hockey player Akim Aliu tweeted that his then coach, Bill Peters, targeted him with racial slurs back in 2009 However, I do want to briefly present the situation with former Calga...

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