In the words of an Edmonton Police-produced poster: "Being gay is not a crime, gay bashing is". The point I wish to draw from this example is this: In the eyes of some particularly zealous Christians, the bible is the law, but in the eyes of Canadian police and courts, the law is the law.

The bible holds no legal weight. None. At all. If any Canadian laws happen to coincide with laws found in the bible, that's nice, but it doesn't cause the bible to replace the constitution as Canadian law. Intolerant Christians are presently coming out of the woodwork, saying that such-and-such percentage of Canadian citizens are decent, god-fearing Christians, and that this is why the bible is law. Well, I am a decent Canadian citizen, I don't fear god, the bible, or god-fearing Christians, and I'm tired of hearing it. It doesn't matter what fraction of the Canadian population belongs to one certain religion, nothing will make that certain religion law enforceable by the judicial system. I'm sure a majority of Canadians like what Elvis Presely or John Lennon had to say, but their songs are not law either.

An excellent Canadian group of musicians once wrote (and sang) "it's not the band I hate, it's the fans". This applies very well to my sentiments, and the sentiments of many of my decent Canadian peers, about Christianity and religion in general. Christianity is fine idea. Great book, benevolent deity, good tenets. But the people that use these things to impose their desires, rules, and lifestyles on others really make me sick. Is it not just a little self-important to believe that entire continents of people are going to burn in eternal flames because they don't believe a specific set of spiritual beliefs? Buddhism is fine idea as well. Quite beautiful, actually. And a Buddhist is not going to hell anymore than a Christian is going to be reincarnated as a butterfly.

Of course it is evident that not every Christian tries to make everyone else live by their bible. For many Christians their religion is a personal lifestyle choice which gives them substantial personal fulfillment. This is, of course, a very positive thing. Focusing one's entire daily energies on convincing the government that certain groups of people are not considered equal to the rest of the human race is not a positive thing. I believe that freedom of religion is protected under our Charter of Human rights. So, legally, if one does not subscribe to the tenets of Christianity, Canadian law supports them in this decision. Thus, logically, once again, it is Canadian law which is The Law, and not any religious text.

The very fact that there are many religions in the world undermines the proposition that any one of them is "the right one". One of Canada's main identifying qualities is that it is a pluralist country. A nation of nations. Multicultural. Multilingual. And, yes, multi-religious. Canada celebrates diversity. If this bothers you, move south of the border. Chances are you're pretty close to it anyway. I have heard references, from the inhabitants themselves, that a certain region of Alberta is called "The Bible Belt". I have heard people from this region stating their intolerant beliefs. I have also heard that certain regions in many Canadian cities are called "Chinatown". I have also heard residents of these areas stating their beliefs. Residents of both of these areas are equally Canadian citizens. So why would the beliefs of the residents of one of these areas supercede the beliefs of the residents of another?

I know it's difficult for some people to accept the legally sanctioned diversity of this country in which they live. Hey, sometimes it's hard for me to stay within the speed limit. But we just have to accept Canadian laws, and obey them. That way, no one gets hurt. No one.