The New Orthodoxy

Canada’s Emerging “Civil Religion”

$9.99

Publication Date: 1st November 2022

This book examines the founding non-sectarian approach to Canadian statecraft that accommodated religious and cultural diversity. The 1960’s promise of political liberalism embraced in Canada was to provide a philosophy of government that facilitates the individual's vision and pursuit of the good life. Decades later, the promotion of individual autonomy and fraternity by governments and the courts threatens to undermine the very freedom governments claim to promote and protect. Bruce J. Clemenger presents a biblically-based model of public and political engagement and a ... Read More

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This book examines the founding non-sectarian approach to Canadian statecraft that accommodated religious and cultural diversity. The 1960’s promise of political liberalism embraced in Canada was to provide a philosophy of government that facilitates the individual's vision and pursuit of the good life. Decades later, the promotion of individual autonomy and fraternity by governments and the courts threatens to undermine the very freedom governments claim to promote and protect. Bruce J. Clemenger presents a biblically-based model of public and political engagement and a ... Read More

Description

This book examines the founding non-sectarian approach to Canadian statecraft that accommodated religious and cultural diversity. The 1960’s promise of political liberalism embraced in Canada was to provide a philosophy of government that facilitates the individual's vision and pursuit of the good life. Decades later, the promotion of individual autonomy and fraternity by governments and the courts threatens to undermine the very freedom governments claim to promote and protect. Bruce J. Clemenger presents a biblically-based model of public and political engagement and a defense of religious freedom, especially the freedom to disagree, in an increasingly secularist state. A timely work.

Details
  • Pages: 136
  • Publisher: Castle Quay Books
  • Imprint: Castle Quay Books
  • Publication Date: 1st November 2022
  • ISBN: 9781988928814
Reviews

Have you wondered about the new sectarianism that threatens to marginalize the Christian faith? This book explains the emergence of this new orthodoxy. Bruce Clemenger challenges the arrival of a new politics that undermines Canada’s commitment to religious freedom. This is needed reading for any who hope to engage in the public good with religion in heart and hand.

Lorna Dueck, CEO of The News Forum, former Context TV host

 

 

Clemenger has long been a faithful and steady voice and mentor to pastors. Seeking to forge a thoughtfully constructive way through the sometimes turbulent, everchanging, and unpredictable waters of the Canadian political scene, many turn to Clemenger’s voice of reason, wisdom, and unique perspective. This is a definite read for any who desire to understand the shift in the relationship between faith and politics in Canada.

 

Garry James, Pastor 

 

Bruce J. Clemenger invites us into a full and careful examination of where Canadians have  come from and the dramatic changes in our concepts of values, religious and constitutional freedoms, and the role of the state.

 

John Reimer , Former Canadian Member of Parliament

 

No government in history, whether absolutist, dictatorial, totalitarian or party political, has governed without a guiding philosophy, of whatever type, whether religious or secular. As Bruce J. Clemenger clearly demonstrates, secular philosophies function in the same way as traditional religions—a religion or creed in all but name. Bruce has bravely brought to the public gaze the hypocrisy of progressive Liberalism.

 

John Langlois, Order of the British Empire, Advocate

Author Bio

Bruce J. Clemenger, CEO and President of the EFC (2003-2023). Appointed as Senior Ambassador and President Emeritus (2023). As national watchman for over 30 years, Bruce has supervised over 60 court case interventions, 30 with the Supreme Court of Canada, appearing 20 times before Parliamentary committees and across the tenures of six Prime Ministers. As Statesman and scholar, Bruce is an award-winning columnist. He speaks on politics, religion, culture, and ethics

Table of Content

PREFACE 11

PART 1

FAITH, THE CHURCH, AND PUBLIC POLICY:

TOWARDS A MODEL OF EVANGELICAL ENGAGEMENT 13

THE EMERGING PUBLIC ORTHODOXY: LIBERALISM, THE CHARTER, AND INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY 35

1. INTRODUCTION 37

Liberalism in Canada 38

Directional and Confessional Pluralism 41

2.THE SUCCESSIVE DIRECTIONAL 45

Pluralisms of Canada 45

Christian Pluralism 45

The Demise of Christendom in Canada 47

Transitional Religious Pluralism 49

Secular Pluralism 51

3. CHANGING CANADIAN SECULARISM 55

The Shift to Secularism 55

Neutral? 59

Secular as Nonsectarian 62

Secular as Religious Abstinence 65

Secular Sectarianism 66

Two Regimes of Secularism 67

4. LIBERALISM 73

Toleration, the Social Contract, and Views of Human Nature 74

Overlapping Consensus Liberalism 75

Convergence or Consensus Liberalism 77

The Emerging Nature of Liberalism 81

Freedom and Equality 89

Individual Autonomy 91

5. A POST-LIBERAL SECTARIANISM:

IS PLURALIST LIBERALISM STILL A VIABLE OPTION? 93

The Political Creed 96

Charter Values 98

The Search for Cohesion 101

6. NEXT STEPS: WHICH PATH WILL BE TAKEN? 105

Our Challenge 107

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY 111

EPILOGUE by Tracy A.C. Clemenger 113

Faith as Public Engagement: Personal Reflections about the Author 113

BIOGRAPHY 121

ENDNOTES 123

This book examines the founding non-sectarian approach to Canadian statecraft that accommodated religious and cultural diversity. The 1960’s promise of political liberalism embraced in Canada was to provide a philosophy of government that facilitates the individual's vision and pursuit of the good life. Decades later, the promotion of individual autonomy and fraternity by governments and the courts threatens to undermine the very freedom governments claim to promote and protect. Bruce J. Clemenger presents a biblically-based model of public and political engagement and a defense of religious freedom, especially the freedom to disagree, in an increasingly secularist state. A timely work.

  • Pages: 136
  • Publisher: Castle Quay Books
  • Imprint: Castle Quay Books
  • Publication Date: 1st November 2022
  • ISBN: 9781988928814

Have you wondered about the new sectarianism that threatens to marginalize the Christian faith? This book explains the emergence of this new orthodoxy. Bruce Clemenger challenges the arrival of a new politics that undermines Canada’s commitment to religious freedom. This is needed reading for any who hope to engage in the public good with religion in heart and hand.

Lorna Dueck, CEO of The News Forum, former Context TV host

 

 

Clemenger has long been a faithful and steady voice and mentor to pastors. Seeking to forge a thoughtfully constructive way through the sometimes turbulent, everchanging, and unpredictable waters of the Canadian political scene, many turn to Clemenger’s voice of reason, wisdom, and unique perspective. This is a definite read for any who desire to understand the shift in the relationship between faith and politics in Canada.

 

Garry James, Pastor 

 

Bruce J. Clemenger invites us into a full and careful examination of where Canadians have  come from and the dramatic changes in our concepts of values, religious and constitutional freedoms, and the role of the state.

 

John Reimer , Former Canadian Member of Parliament

 

No government in history, whether absolutist, dictatorial, totalitarian or party political, has governed without a guiding philosophy, of whatever type, whether religious or secular. As Bruce J. Clemenger clearly demonstrates, secular philosophies function in the same way as traditional religions—a religion or creed in all but name. Bruce has bravely brought to the public gaze the hypocrisy of progressive Liberalism.

 

John Langlois, Order of the British Empire, Advocate

Bruce J. Clemenger, CEO and President of the EFC (2003-2023). Appointed as Senior Ambassador and President Emeritus (2023). As national watchman for over 30 years, Bruce has supervised over 60 court case interventions, 30 with the Supreme Court of Canada, appearing 20 times before Parliamentary committees and across the tenures of six Prime Ministers. As Statesman and scholar, Bruce is an award-winning columnist. He speaks on politics, religion, culture, and ethics

PREFACE 11

PART 1

FAITH, THE CHURCH, AND PUBLIC POLICY:

TOWARDS A MODEL OF EVANGELICAL ENGAGEMENT 13

THE EMERGING PUBLIC ORTHODOXY: LIBERALISM, THE CHARTER, AND INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY 35

1. INTRODUCTION 37

Liberalism in Canada 38

Directional and Confessional Pluralism 41

2.THE SUCCESSIVE DIRECTIONAL 45

Pluralisms of Canada 45

Christian Pluralism 45

The Demise of Christendom in Canada 47

Transitional Religious Pluralism 49

Secular Pluralism 51

3. CHANGING CANADIAN SECULARISM 55

The Shift to Secularism 55

Neutral? 59

Secular as Nonsectarian 62

Secular as Religious Abstinence 65

Secular Sectarianism 66

Two Regimes of Secularism 67

4. LIBERALISM 73

Toleration, the Social Contract, and Views of Human Nature 74

Overlapping Consensus Liberalism 75

Convergence or Consensus Liberalism 77

The Emerging Nature of Liberalism 81

Freedom and Equality 89

Individual Autonomy 91

5. A POST-LIBERAL SECTARIANISM:

IS PLURALIST LIBERALISM STILL A VIABLE OPTION? 93

The Political Creed 96

Charter Values 98

The Search for Cohesion 101

6. NEXT STEPS: WHICH PATH WILL BE TAKEN? 105

Our Challenge 107

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY 111

EPILOGUE by Tracy A.C. Clemenger 113

Faith as Public Engagement: Personal Reflections about the Author 113

BIOGRAPHY 121

ENDNOTES 123