Canada presently witnessing a rise in rational thought

According to a brand new Ipsos poll for Global News, 51 percent of Canadians hold the opinion that religion causes more harm than good. This number is an increase from 2011 when 44 percent of those polled said the same.

The Canadian province which showed maximum antipathy towards religion is Quebec. The people of the state are much more likely compared to other provinces to feel that religion does much more harm compared to the good it actually does. A whopping 62 percent of Quebecers exhibit antipathy towards religion. 18 percent of the respondents admit losing respect for any individual when they discover that person is of a religious frame of mind.

The poll shows an increasing number of respondents do not believe that the religious have higher moral ground. A majority of them vehemently disagrees with such an assertion. Only 24 percent of the total respondents said religious individuals make better citizens. In 2011, 32 percent believed the same.

The poll discovered despite their religious views, Canadians are extremely tolerant towards others' religions. 90 percent of all respondents said that they are comfortable around individuals who are from a dissimilar religious background. The view of disassociating religion from politics has gained ground in the Canadian psyche.

In another development, students studying in the Catholic school board in Ontario will soon enjoy the flexibility of opting out of the religious programs and courses. This was made possible by a certain human rights settlement which carries implications all across the province.

The settlement was the result of a complaint filed by a student, Claudia Sorgini. The Ontario resident student, in 2016, alleged that she was discriminated against. She felt hostility against her when she wanted an exemption from religious classes. The case was subsequently settled in private in May 2017.

Paul Champ, the lawyer representing Sorgini, said that the settlement represents a victory for those students studying in the Ontario Catholic schools. He said, "We're hopeful that it will send a message to all Catholic school boards across the province that pressure to attend religious courses or activities is discrimination in publicly funded schools."

Friends, this week is a time to pray. This is a vital case for the future understanding of freedom of conscience & religion in Canada. https://t.co/42rGrNh5Q8 — Don Hutchinson (@DonH1187) June 12, 2017

When asked, the lawyer who represented the defendants in this specific case declined to comment.

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