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Religious Life in Toronto

Religion is alive and well in Toronto, that is when you include everything from Roman Catholicism, Eastern Religions, Protestantism and "other-isms."

Adventism is definitely part of Toronto's religious life. Every Sabbath some 13,000 worshipers flock to 47 sites in metro Toronto, which covers an area of approximately 1,000 square kilometers.

Toronto's religious roots go back to several mainline religions with Roman Catholic priests being the first to land on the shores of Lake Ontario with the early explorers/pioneers of the 1700's. Keep this in mind when you understand that Ontario still has a fully government-funded, province-wide Catholic school system that parallels the public school system.

Other early religious pioneers were Anglicans (also known as Episcopalians). They too established missions and schools. They were followed by a variety of Protestant groups including Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians and more.

Today's religious scene has changed significantly in the past 25 years. Now there is a mosaic of spiritual groups with Roman Catholicism being the largest with 1,420,395 adherents and 222 parishes. Collectively there are more Protestants (1.6 million) than other groups of religions. Among Protestant groups, the largest are Anglicans with 90,000 members in 284 congregations and the United Church of Canada with 71,757 members in 324 congregations. However, attendance at mainline Protestant churches is significantly less than their membership. The same is true for Catholicism.

Other faith groups are Jews (180,000), Eastern Orthodox (180,000), Muslims (145,000), and Hindus (90,000). Numerous religious organizations abound with groups like Alpha and Omega Mission of Jesus Christ, Baha'i, Christian Science, Mormons, Eckankar, Good Shepherd Refuge, Inter-Church Coalition of Africa, Krishna, Legion of Mary, Path of Life, Buddhist Centre, Sanctuary of Prophets, and Unity Centre of Light and Love.

Toronto has also experienced numerous religious phenomenon: Be it the infamous interview of Bishop Pike and Psychic Edgar Cayce; the Toronto Blessing of 1995; Billy Graham preaching to a packed SkyDome; the "weeping Mary" at a Roman Catholic Church in 1998; or an evangelical-based Christian TV station.

Toronto has mega churches as well as traditional ones. There are the expressive, the ultra-liberal, the house churches, and the ethnic churches representing most of the languages or cultural groups of the world. Yet, while there is much in the way of formal religion, a very powerful religion exists in materialism, humanism, entertainment and religious apathy. This is where the masses of people are. This is the real and biggest challenge of Christianity and particularly Adventism. Yes, Toronto is religious, but not necessarily spiritually committed to a faith experience with the Creator and Redeemer. So welcome to Toronto. Come, worship and pray as Adventism reaches out to the various people groups in this metropolitan mission field. [Dirk Zinner]