Why did the priest at the cenotaph on Wednesday morning end his sermon with the words, “In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen?”
I was shocked and offended. As a person who does not accept Jesus as my Lord, I felt alienated. I was there to celebrate those who have fought for our freedom, not the alleged Son of God who is supposed to save us from our sins. I could not imagine what it would be like for a non-Christian veteran. Or am I wrong assuming that not all vets are Christians?
The last time I checked, atheists, Jews and Muslims were just as good at shooting guns as the Christian majority. If you want to talk about Jesus for Remembrance Day, do it in church.
This ceremony was not in the name of your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It was meant to honour those who fought and died in wars for our freedom.
Yes, it’s true, most of the people from Canada who died in World War I and II identified with Christianity, but majority rules isn’t the way our country works when it comes to religion. If it did, children would still be reciting the Lord’s Prayer in government-funded public schools.
Our country has recognized that the separation of church and state is an important line to draw. The Canadian military also falls under this demarcation. You do not have to be a Christian to join the army.
That means you don’t have to follow Christ to fight and die for your country.
That means you shouldn’t have to listen to sermons in the name of Jesus on the day you’re being recognized for your sacrifices.
We are one of the most multicultural countries in the world. And unlike other countries, we accept and encourage the continued identification with an immigrant’s culture. Sticking with that theme, we should accept the potentially multi-religious backgrounds of veterans.
So I say leave Jesus out entirely. This is a secular holiday. This Christ-centered remembrance cannot be at the expense of the religious or irreligious minority.
Lest we forget that there were non-Christians that fought and died for our country’s freedom.
