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Religion in Canada
Religion in Canada
encompasses a wide range of groups and beliefs. The majority of
Canadians
are
Christians
, with the
Catholic Church
having the most adherents. Christians, representing 67.3% of the population, are followed by people having
no religion
with 23.9% of the total population.
Islam
is the second largest religion in
Canada
, practised by 3.2% of the population. Rates of religious adherence are steadily decreasing. The
preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
refers to God and the
monarch
carries the title of "
Defender of the Faith
". However, Canada has no
official religion
, and support for
religious pluralism
and
freedom of religion
is an important part of
Canada's political culture
. Before the European colonization
Aboriginal religions
were largely
animistic
, including an intense reverence for
spirits
and nature. The
French colonization
beginning in the 17th century established a Roman Catholic
francophone
population in
Acadia
and in
New France
later
Lower Canada
, now
Nova Scotia
and
Quebec
. It has been followed by a
British colonization
that brought
Anglicans
and other
Protestants
to
Upper Canada
, now
Ontario
.
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