Canada’s version of evangelical pundits at Bene Diction Blogs On

Canada’s version of evangelical pundits

It’s interesting to me that an article in Canadian Christian on the US election featuring 4 thinking Canadian evangelicals has no comments.
If this had been written up in the US, there would be a lively and polarized discussion.

Dr. John Stackhouse (who is probably better known in religious media in the US than in Canada) of Regent College, Dr. Brian Stiller, outgoing president of Tyndale University College and Seminary,Dr. Paul Rowe, Trinity Western University and Preston Manning founder of The Reform Party weighed in on religion in the recent US presidential election.

I disagree with a few very minor points:

Rick Warren - a mega Southern Baptist leader in California is religious right, he is a kinder ‘face’ than James Dobson but I think just as ambitious.
I am not convinced the there has been a weakening between US evangelicals and the Republican Party
I would have liked to see US parachurch and media outlets who have ensconced themselves in Canada mentioned. That would be an interesting topic for another day.

Notably missing in the conversation was mention of any Canadian televangelists who appear on The Miracle Channel and dabble in politics. I see that as a good thing, while two older televangelists are mentioned they aren’t part of the neo-pentecostal or fundamentalist extremism run on Canada’s version of TBN; and Preston Manning is too much of a politician to bring up any of his extreme political/religious friends and acquaintances in this format and company.

This conversation between these scholars and former politician is refreshingly boring to be honest, they didn’t say anything most people who follow politics don’t already know and their voices are indicative of mainstream evangelicalism in Canada.

Canadian Christianity: US election has religious implications

Published 2 months ago

3 Responses to “Canada’s version of evangelical pundits”

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1 Beijing York on Nov 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Thanks for keeping tabs on this.
2 Torontonian on Nov 9th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

The article mentions and cites only evangelicals.
There isn’t a prominent mainstream theologican
among the lot.
Not one contribution of prominence from an
eminent mainstream theologian.

Canadian Christian seems to have missed great
minds and have stuck closer to home base for
comment.

I wonder if they had any courage to further afield.
3 Bene D on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

Actually Torontonian, Stackhouse and Stiller are great minds, I’d bet the farm on that.

Mainstream Protestant and Catholic leaders have regard for them.
They’ve both earned it.
Regent, Tyndale and Trinity are not fluffy little bible schools.

I know Stiller, he was the go to guy when the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada needed quoting and he had a very good political/social show on Vision TV before he got busy making Tyndale worth going to.

Focus on the Family types seem to do the speaking for the EFoC now, but it’s not to be confused with the hard core fundamentalists in the Evangelical Alliance - McVety’s crew.

Stackhouse can hold his own academically with anyone, he’s seriously smart and thoughtful, and I think most of his pundit money comes from the US - you see him quoted in mainstream media in Canada.
I think they both represent mainstream evangelicals well and you won’t hear a bad word from traditional denominations leadership.

The doctorates are real.:^)
And I can say personally Stiller lives his faith, I have a lot of respect for him.

As for Canadian Christian - Lloyd Mackay’s Ottawa column is good for gossipy tidbits, but I have to admit, I don’t know much about the magazine. They’ve obviously got some clout to get some serious evangelical voices.
I don’t know if the publication solicits anyone outside their circle, it’s an inhouse publication of some sort I haven’t sorted out.

When it’s a targeted audience, the KISS rule is a good one.:^)