“Someone is a Canadian if a slap on the back of the head causes them to turn around and apologize”—so goes the saying about Canadians and their polite and apologetic character.
I tend to like this characterization and feel pride in this portrayal. Now I find myself grieving its demise—especially in the increasingly polarized climate of public discourse ahead of Canada’s next federal election, which will take place next year.
With the amount of embittered and insulting rhetoric in Canadian public discourse, you’d think that Canadians aren’t deserving of our considerate reputation at all, and that the characterization might even be facing its demise. Nevertheless, I wonder: can faith communities play a role in the revival of Canadians’ reputation?
Disagreement is an unavoidable feature of human life: we are all unique, so complete agreement on everything is unlikely. This includes understandings of God and what is considered faithful religious behaviour.
It is said that the tone of political speech only ventures into the space that is already considered acceptable by common society.
While disagreement is unavoidable, disrespect is not—especially within faith communities. Ideally, the members of a faith community are predisposed to embrace respectful dialogue. Sacred scriptures instruct us to recognize that all of us are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). The apostle Paul implores us to display humility, considering others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3).
Jesus’ own words tell us that love for others is the defining characteristic of faithfulness: “The world will know that you are my disciples,” said Jesus, “if you love one another” (John 13:35).
The distinguishing quality of a faithful community is not agreement, nor a shared knowledge or wisdom. Rather, it is the expression of love for one another. And love can be expressed even amid disagreement.
There doesn’t seem to be room for this kind of thinking on social media. As a practically unrestrained platform, social media facilitates ill-mannered behaviour that would not be present during in-person encounters. People say things online that they would not say to one another face to face.
Open insults and blatant slander are also becoming more commonplace in the political campaigning ahead of the 2025 Canadian federal election. It is said that the tone of political speech only ventures into the space that is already considered acceptable by common society. Disrespect is becoming a norm, and politicians are falling into line behind it.
While I hope that faith communities can offer people a different vision of how to relate to one another, I’m sadly realizing that the norm of disrespect is becoming more routine in them. The disrespect may be couched in spiritual platitudes, but any language that justifies an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality fosters an unhealthy atmosphere where scorn and disregard can flourish.
But faith communities have the opportunity to offer society a corrective example of public discourse. Rather than recklessly saying whatever comes to mind—especially in heated topics—faith communities can foster respectful exchange. Members of faith communities ought to be determined to treat others as they would like to be treated, and they ought to know that we all speak out of our limited understandings
If political discourse only follows where the norms of society go, it’s on us to create a civil society that values respect and goodwill for all.
We should all be able to speak our minds—but that doesn’t mean we should do so with mindless disregard for our neighbour.
Speak your mind. But do so with dignity and respect.
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