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Religion, Religiosity, and the Moral Divide in Canadian Politics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2012

Adrian Ang  and
John R. Petrocik
Adrian Ang*
Affiliation:
Florida International University
John R. Petrocik*
Affiliation:
University of Missouri
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Adrian Ang, Department of Politics and International Relations, Florida International Relations, SIPA Building, Room 440, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199. E-mail: adrian.ang@fiu.edu; or John Petrocik, Department of Political Science, 113 Professional Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. E-mail: petrocikj@missouri.edu
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Adrian Ang, Department of Politics and International Relations, Florida International Relations, SIPA Building, Room 440, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199. E-mail: adrian.ang@fiu.edu; or John Petrocik, Department of Political Science, 113 Professional Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211. E-mail: petrocikj@missouri.edu
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Abstract

Social group conflict along regional, ethnic, linguistic, and religious cleavages is deeply embedded in the Canadian historical experience. Contemporary analyses, however, have deprecated the role of religion and religiosity in shaping Canadians' political attitudes. This analysis demonstrates that religion and religiosity are significant correlates of Canadian attitudes on moral issues, paralleling the pattern observed in the United States. It demonstrates that the religious cleavage has been a salient feature of Canadian politics for some time and considers whether the contemporary moral divide could serve as a portent of cultural-religious conflict in Canada if a “political entrepreneur” articulated an issue agenda linked to these religion-based differences.

Type
Articles
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , April 2012 , pp. 103 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2012

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