Quebec's Quiet Revolution

Reading up on the Quiet Revolution for a research project I'm working on, I encountered that period of history from a new perspective than I had before. Before, I had only heard about it from Christians lamenting the loss of attendance in and influence of the Catholic Church that occurred during that time. Reading about the period from other perspectives, I'm persuaded to believe that it is important for Christians in ministry here to think about that timer period from political, economic, and cultural perspectives as well. Because what happened during that time period was that in many ways for the first time, the Quebecois became free. Masses of rural poor flocked to the cities, where they gained access for the first time to education, developed cultural initiatives, financial prosperity and political sway. During the Quiet Revolution, Quebec's first true middle class was born during this time. Now, most North Americans have traditionally attributed at least some credit for their wealth and prosperity to their faith values. Americans, for instance, have historically championed the Puritan work ethic, and most believe it was the cause of economic prosperity in that nation. Eastern and Western Canadians have similar ways of thinking about their own religious value systems - good moral behavior in accordance with the overarching religoius value system leads to peace and prosperity. The Quebecois, however, view all of this differently, because at their most significant moment in recent history, as wealth, cultural development, and political influence were increasing, church attendance rates were plummeting, and the influence of the Church in society was waning. Religion was not a part of the solution for problems of poverty, cultural repression, and political impotency. I think that most Quebecois today sense a spiritual need, but to seek to fill that need by going back to their spiritual roots would be committing intellectual, political, and financial suicide. Few see the church or faith in God as a remedy to life's biggest problems, and this is the state in which we find our culture. Foreigners, and people from outside Quebec need to realize these problems to effectively reach out to our neighbors. Beyond the surface, there is a great spiritual need - huge problems in the family in Quebec, a lack of love and a need for God's love, much sexual confusion and a great need for an identity. But to really address these issues, we can't tell people to go back to church. The church needs to come up with alternatives that will truly serve the people.