From God to mammon: The metamorphosis of civil religion in Canada.

This thesis explores civil religion in Canada. It examines the work of Rousseau, Durkheim, and the reintroduction of the concept of civil religion by Robert Bellah in 1967. Although some scholars argue that Canada does not possess a civil religion, this thesis asserts that a civil religion has been well manifested in Canadian society. Since Confederation, Canada has seen the rise and fall of Christian civic piety, something that once permeated public life in Canada. The thesis studies the metamorphosis of civil religion and its impact on public policy in education. It examines legal challenges concerning religion in the field of education as exemplars to examine this metamorphosis. This thesis concludes that education policy and court decisions reflect a new-found belief in democratic faith, which has replace Christian civic piety as Canada's civic religion. The conclusion raises questions about the capacity of this democratic faith to embrace religious pluralism. --Leaf ii.