Evangelicals, the Liberal State, and Canada's Family
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Evangelicals, the Liberal State, and Canada’s Family Values Debates: The Struggle to Shape Selves By Brian Carwana A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of doctorate of philosophy, Graduate Department for the Study of Religion, in the University of Toronto. © Copyright by Brian Carwana (2021) Evangelicals, the Liberal State, and Canada’s Family Values Debates: The Struggle to Shape Selves Brian Carwana Doctorate of Philosophy, 2021, Graduate Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto One of the most pervasive challenges for liberal democracies is the ongoing tension between religious conservatives and the liberal state. Using as my central case study, the highly-charged debates over “family values” in Canada circa 1985-2015, I argue that despite claims that liberal democracy enables religious freedom, its values and extensive reach prove challenging to conservative religiosity. Heightening the stakes is that the rival worldviews I examine – liberalism and evangelicalism – are ambitious, struggling not merely over matters such as same-sex weddings but ultimately for the ability to shape selves. My research focuses on certain central nodes of family values politics, namely three conservative evangelical lobbies – the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Focus on the Family Canada, and the Canada Family Action Coalition – as they enter political debates, confront state bodies and legislation, and try to gain a hearing in the country where liberal pluralism has achieved a cultural power perhaps unmatched anywhere else. This study examines the lobbies’ discursive output in order to: trace the ideological drivers of evangelicals’ family values focus; question liberal democratic theory’s emphasis on reason and freedom at the expense of affect and compulsion; and contribute to a rethinking of a central question in secularization theory, by suggesting that persistent disputes over American versus European exceptionalism overlook the most important factor – that Western societies’ ability to resist secularization has rested chiefly on ii the relative strength of its evangelical community. In short, America’s relative religiosity has depended primarily on the strongly held commitments that foster evangelical exceptionalism. iii Acknowledgements All dissertations are difficult. I can only say I found this one pushed me to my limit as I worked to complete it while working full-time and raising a family. Sacrifices were made by many people; encouragement came from many corners. First, I wish to thank the late J.W. Windland who introduced me to the world of religions and, in so doing, altered my life’s trajectory. He was a dear friend, a mentor, and a surrogate grandpa to my kids. We all miss him. Second, I want to thank Dr. Rita Lester who first planted the idea that I should pursue academia. She opened that world up to me in our earliest discussions and became a mentor, an intellectual partner, and a dear friend. She plays such a unique role in my life both personally and academically and her wit and large heart make my life richer. My Masters supervisor, Dr. Ruth Mas, pushed me to think harder than I’d known possible. I grew immensely under her tutelage and she was extraordinarily dedicated and invested in my progress, continuing to provide advice years after I’d left her supervision. She gave me the foundation for so much of what came after. I am grateful to my PhD colleagues, especially Drs. Edith Szanto, Kate Gibbons and Jennifer Bright who were kindred spirits on the journey. I thank too Dr. Peter Schuurman, a friend, a fellow scholar, and immensely kind man who I feel privileged to know. There are too many friends to mention but one more I must highlight is Marion Smith. Marion has been a kind and wise voice in my life, encouraging me when I needed it, and putting wind in my sails. When I first doubted whether following my heart down this crazy path made sense, she made me realize following your heart is the most practical move possible. It took me a while in my doctoral studies to find my direction but Dr. Joe Bryant and Dr. Simon Coleman both graciously agreed to take me on. They were immensely patient with my, at times, ponderous progress and pushed me to think more deeply and critically at several junctures. They were encouraging when I felt defeated and I was simply lucky to have them supervising my work. Dr. Phyllis Airhart agreed to come onto the committee late in the iv process, kindly extending past her retirement date. Phyllis schooled me in Protestant thinkers earlier in my career and returned to help me think about Canadian religious history at the end. Dr. Stephen Scharper was equally generous, aiding me in both the early years and joining as our internal committee member. Dr. Donovan Schaefer, my external reader, provided wise, probing questions that led me in the final weeks of this project to realize its full potential. It is a strange and wonderful feeling to see the whole picture emerging with new clarity so late in the game. I have always admired Dr. Schaefer’s work and feel immensely privileged to have benefitted from his insights over this final month. I am especially grateful to my two families, Carwana and Atkinson, for support through all these years. My parents, in particular, ensured I could never question if I was loved. My kids put up with their harried and sometimes stressed father and always encouraged me, believing in me even when I doubted myself. And finally, to my wife Jane whose love is as certain and warm as the morning sun. It’s been a long journey. How lucky I’ve been to have you with me. v Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... iv Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 Evangelicals and the Liberal Secular State ............................................................................................... 1 Nodes of Activism: Evangelical Political Lobbies ...................................................................................... 7 An Affective Lens ....................................................................................................................................13 The Unique Canadian Context ...............................................................................................................16 Chapter Breakdown ...............................................................................................................................20 Chapter 1 – Canada’s Political and Religious Context ..............................................................................24 Canadian Political Culture ......................................................................................................................24 Statist and Collectivist Leanings .........................................................................................................24 Tolerance ............................................................................................................................................28 Unstable Nationalism, Strong Regionalism, and Centralized Governments ......................................29 The Charter Shift: Multicultural Nationalism and an Ascendant Liberalism ......................................34 Backlash: Western Alienation and Realignment on the Right ...........................................................41 Summary ............................................................................................................................................48 Protestantism and Evangelicalism in English Canada ............................................................................49 Historical Development ......................................................................................................................49 Institution Building Amidst Obstacles ................................................................................................56 Evangelicals’ Political Lobbies ............................................................................................................62 The Character of Canadian Evangelicalism ........................................................................................65 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................72 Chapter 2 – Introducing the Lobbies .........................................................................................................74 Evangelical Fellowship of Canada ..........................................................................................................74 Overview .............................................................................................................................................74 Political Activism ................................................................................................................................79 Focus on the Family Canada ...................................................................................................................84 Overview .............................................................................................................................................84 Political Activism ................................................................................................................................87