Morgan Turney and Canadian Railway Modeller: A Life in Trains

 
      Morgan, right, in his natural setting: A Train show

So I've been thinking about my friend Morgan Turney, who died Feb. 6, and his impact on the hobby of model railroading . . .

It was a Thursday night in 1989. Winnipegger Morgan Turney was at the Golden Spike Hobby Shop, hanging out with other model railroaders. That night, some new model railroad magzines came in. As Turney looked at the magazines, all produced in the U.S., he realized: There’s no Canadian content. 

“That’s when a light went on,” he recalled. “I asked myself, ‘Why don’t I start a Canadian model railroad magazine?” That night, the idea for Canadian Railway Modeller (CRM) was born. 

The path from that Thursday night gathering in a hobby shop to the first issue of CRM started in Hamilton, Ont. where Turney, 77, was born. 

“I grew up four houses away from the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo (TH&B) tracks,” he said. “As a youngster, I was lulled to sleep at night by the distant sounds of steam whistles and diesel horns as trains made their way on both the TH&B and the Canadian National Railway line further south, on their way to and from the Niagara Peninsula. My love of trains goes back a long way.” 

But it was a visit to a local model railroader when he was eight-years-old that sparked a passion for model railroading. “My dad took me to see it. When I saw the trains running through scenic rock cuts and disappearing into tunnels, I was hooked. I got the model railroading bug.” 

But before that bug turned into CRM, Turney finished high school, joined the military—where he trained in Shilo, Manitoba—and worked in the grocery business in southern Ontario. 

In 1987, while he was with Maple Leaf Mills as a grocery store representative, the company asked if he would be willing to transfer to Winnipeg. 

“It wasn’t a hard decision to make,” he said of deciding to move to Winnipeg with his wife, Carol. “From my time in the military, I liked Manitoba. It was easy to make a life here.” 

But soon after the couple relocated, Maple Leaf Mills was sold and his job was eliminated. The following year was hard. “I had a few no-name jobs for a couple of years, including selling men’s suits, before I got the idea to start the magazine,” he said. 

Before publishing his first issue in May, 1990, Turney decided to see if there was actually a demand for it in Canada. The way he decided to find out was by attending the annual Toronto train show—one of the largest model railroad events in the country back then. Over the course of a weekend, 600 hundred people bought subscriptions. “It showed me there was a hunger for a magazine that specialized in Canadian trains and modelling,” he said. 

Even with that kind of support, creating the magazine wasn’t without risk. Turney used money from his severance and a bank loan to launch CRM—he put a lot on the line. 

It worked. At its peak, it had about 3,800 subscribers. “It was never huge, but it was enough to keep the business afloat,” Turney said. 

From the start, Turney’s goal was to showcase the work of Canadian model railroaders—people who would likely never have a chance to see their layouts or models appear in the bigger U.S. publications. “I received some excellent articles about some amazing modelling,” he said. 

Turney also wanted to show the big American companies, the main manufacturers of model railroad items, there was a market for Canadian products. “Before I started, there were hardly any products for Canadian railways available,” he said. “It was hard to find locomotives or rolling stock painted in Canadian schemes.” 

Today, things are different. Now people who model Canadian railways have a rich variety of products to choose from American companies like Athearn, Atlas, Bowser, InterMountain, Walthers and others. 

At the same time, Turney also wanted to give a boost to Canadian manufacturers. Today there are successful companies such as Rapido Trains, Pacific Western Rail Systems and Prairie Shadows—businesses that didn’t exist when he started the publication. 

“I like to think the magazine played a key role seeing all that happen,” Turney said of the growth in Canadian model railroad items and companies.  

One person who knows that is true is Jason Shron, founder and owner of Rapido Trains. 

“When I started Rapido, I relied on CRM to advertise my resin LRC kits to the Canadian market, and the magazine was largely responsible for the success of those models,” he said. “Morgan was a major part of the Canadian model railroad community for more than a generation.” 

The magazine, which was published six times a year, also played a role in promoting the hobby in Canada by giving clubs and others a way to promote their shows, along with providing hobby shops an inexpensive way to become better known. It was also a source of information about the prototype, publishing information about railways in Canada in each issue. 

CRM had some interesting quirks, such as titling issues by Train and Track—not by month or year. (Something that was later changed.) And Americans had to pay more; the last issue was $8.45 in Canada, but $9.95 in the U.S. 

“I’m a proud Canadian, and I wanted to make that point through the magazine every way I could,” he said, explaining the reverse exchange rate. 

In addition to the magazine, Turney published other things through North Kildonan Publications, the publisher of CRM. This included Canadian train-themed Christmas cards, postcards and collector cards (which he liked giving out to children at train shows), books like the Canadian Railway Heritage Guide, which provided information about Canada's railway museums and attractions, and Railfan Canada, a prototype magazine that ran for three years. 

Turney also produced art prints, lapel pins, collectible HO scale CRM box cars and even a CRM license plate holder—something that dovetailed nicely with his other passion for Chrysler cars. 

In between, he found time to do some of his own modelling, although his beloved TH&B layout in the basement had to be dismantled to make space for stacks of back issues of CRM and other items associated with his publishing business. 

He was also president of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club and program director, and helped organize national and international conventions that came to Winnipeg. And he founded Winnipeg’s fall train show, back in the early 1990s; today it is known as Mega Trains. 

He did it all from his basement in Winnipeg. Carol looked after the books, while he was publisher, editor, circulation manager and mailer—he drove bags of magazines to the local post office in his pick-up truck for mailing to readers around the world. 

Turney hoped the magazine could continue with a new publisher when it was time for him to retire. But the Internet, with its easy and free access to information about model railroading, coupled with a decline in subscribers and drop in advertising—the same things that affected other small magazines across North America—meant CRM was no longer sustainable. The final issue appeared in summer, 2017. It was a remarkable 27-year run. 

Looking back, Turney draws satisfaction from the contribution the magazine made to the hobby in Canada. 

“It took me and the whole Canadian model railroad community to heights we never would have dreamed reachable as Canadian modellers,” he said. “The success of the magazine put Canadian railway modelling on the model railway map in North America. It was responsible, in many ways, for the many Canadian highly-detailed and quality products that came out of U.S. and now Canada, and also for helping Canadian manufacturers get a start.” 

It was hard work, he added, and took a lot of effort. “But it was also a lot of fun. I met some wonderful people and made many good friends across the country. I have no regrets.” 

(I interviewed Morgan for this article the week before he died.)

Comments about Morgan from model railroaders 

William Needham: “I enjoyed being with Morgan and Carol. In the late 1980's and early 1990's when the spring Toronto train show was held at either the International Center or the Congress Center i would meet Morgan with the rest of the Winnipeg mob for the weekend. On their return trip to Winnipeg Morgan and Carol would overnight at my place in Schreiber. In either 1990 or 1991 I made arrangements for Carol and Morgan to go west on train 955 Schreiber to Thunder Bay and I would drive their auto to Thunder Bay. Well Morgan took pictures and videos along the north shore of Lake Superior while Carol ran the engine. At the bridge at Nipigon Morgan asked if it would be possible to stop and get a picture of the train on the bridge. Not only was the stop made but the train was backed up and Carol lifted the train for the photo -op. Time and memories never to be had again.” 

Clare Gilbert: “CRM gave budding Canadian manufacturers a platform to show their wares. Thinking of you Morgan.” 

Eric Gagnon: “The birth of CRM was seismic in the Canadian market.” 

Mike Salfi: “I have had several model railroad articles, both CN and CP, published in CRM and am grateful to Morgan for providing such an excellent magazine allowing modelers to share their work. Meeting Morgan at the Toronto train shows back in the day also proved how easy it was to talk with him and share thoughts.” 

Glen Brosinsky: “Morgan and Carol first met my wife Marg and I at one of the earliest SuperTrain shows in Calgary, many, many years ago. When CRM was in its infancy.  It’s been a long time since then and I have always endorsed and promoted his business endeavors with photographs, editing and general support.  He was a ground breaker by publishing CRM for Canadians, when the whole train and modeling industry was controlled by US interests.  It was such a wonderful pleasure to see Canadian content and meet fellow Canadian modellers through CRM, thanks to him.  He opened so many eyes to the fact that the world wasn’t just Athearn, Model Railroader etc. Morgan is one of those great guys you don’t forget!  He is funny and knowledgeable, kind and considerate, charismatic with an unmistakable and infectious laugh.” 

Steve Hoshel: “I have enjoyed reading CRM over the years. There is still some uniquely Canadian prototypes that haven't been made R-T-R yet but have been covered in the pages of CRM. Morgan also kindly drove three of us to the Fort La Reine Museum in Portage La Prairie during a railfan outing to the diamond. This was while the Golden Rails 2005 convention was held in Winnipeg.” 

Joel Sch: “CRM was a great little magazine from a different time and approach to its subject. It seemed to revel in being small, sometimes hokey (in a very good way), and always humble, and played to those strengths perfectly. It read like a really well-presented club newsletter, with stories about layouts, modelling projects, prototype and modelling news and good, topical editorial content. It really felt close to a community. I still enjoy re-reading the issues, and miss that type of communication. I never met Morgan, but am very grateful for what he created and the enjoyment it gave me. I wish him and his family peace and comfort.” 

David Emmington: “Morgan has contributed so much to the railfan and Railway Model community. I and others enjoyed Morgan's company at Portage during a convention in Winnipeg. That was a great adventure, that tall whip antennae caught all the action. Thank you, Morgan.” 

Gord Darling: “CRM was our Canadian rail modelling “go to” source for years. Thank you, Morgan. 

Solvo Mo Velico: “The only magazine I have been published in.” 

John Garven: “I was a subscriber since issue #2. It jumped out on the newsstand!” 

Chris Paxton: “Your Canadian model railway content was wonderful and is missed.” 

Frank McArthur: “I knew Morgan when I was posted to Winnipeg, 2006 -2015. A consummate gentleman, always willing to talk Trains. Between my involvement in the AVR, #1 Northern, and WMRC, he was always friendly to me. His Magazine is a great source of info that I was glad to find. I managed to get a copy of the 20th anniversary digital collection!” 

Bill Trbovich: “I have always enjoyed reading the CRM over the years, it continues to be a resource I rely upon as I build my first layout.” 

Scott Gibson: “I enjoy the hobby and enjoy the trains. I truly loved the magazine cuz it was based on Canadian information Canadian equipment and Canadian manufacturers for the most part. I missed it when they stopped printing it. The other magazines are nice but truly he did a great job of promoting Canada.” 

Chris Bayley: “I miss that magazine a lot.” 

David Winter: “I have kept every issue of CRM in pristine condition in hopes of collecting that last issue. Morgan helped me a lot in getting my few contributions published and it also helped me a lot in dealing with folks in other popular MR magazines and videos. Thanks Morgan.” 

Brian Harvey: “I had joy of meeting him when l was chairman of the PNR model railway show in Regina. He was a great person to talk to about the hobby. On our way by bus to Moose Jaw we stopped at a r/r service depot and he came busy taking pictures,  when time to go we checked and was sure that he was with us. Any how one of the employees at the facility picked him up and eventually he caught up to bus and allow him to join us for the rest of the trip by. 

Colin Bayley: “I miss his magazine a lot. There was a lot of scratchbuilding and kitbashing talent showcased in it before all the Canadian prototype models started coming out. Those were good days in the hobby for me.” 

Eric Gagnon: “I was a subscriber since the inaugural issue. The newsy and even folksy magazine grew and alerted modellers in the U.S., across Canada and around the world to how much modelling was being done here. It provided a springboard for Canadian model railway manufacturers large and small. Morgan, John and his staff and contributors had a vision and they acted upon it providing a body of work over many years—a mix of model and prototype reference material. I clipped and then recycled my TRAINS magazines, but my CRM collection remains intact. Morgan published an article of mine, and corresponded occasionally with me, showing how Canada can be like a big small town at times. Perhaps the biggest tribute I can pay to Morgan and CRM is this: A local modeller with a great, good-sized home HO layout was featured in CRM. In the modeller's obituary, that CRM article was mentioned. It meant so much to that modeller, and to his family, that its publication was mentioned in a short paragraph that summarizes someone's life.” 

Stephen Vallis: “Morgan did more for the hobby in Canada than perhaps almost anyone else, and he's a fine gentleman. I had made a few contributions to CRM and I was in Winnipeg with the army for the floods in 97, thought I would give him a call. He pretty much dropped everything and came around the armoury where we were staying, took me for dinner and toured me around.” 

G.A. Sherret: “I met Morgan once at Super Trains in Calgary and was very impressed with his knowledge of railways and his passion for model railways. A good, decent man.” 

Bill Hadden: “Morgan and I had a great conversation at Mega Trains in Winnipeg. He had so much to give in education and knowledge. I will personally miss our little conversations on running things around Godfrey’s layout and all the great tips he had in perfecting the art side of layouts.” 

John Kroeker: “I was happy when he started CRM. It gave Canadian railway modelers an avenue for participation in the hobby. I remember the joy I felt when he printed my NAR SD28-2 locomotive project.” 

Andrew Paxton: “CRM was great for the Canadian model train hobby. I looked forward to each and every issue when it arrived in the mail. Morgan took the time to meet up with me on one of my business trips to Winnipeg to drop off a copy of Kettle Valley Railway Mileboards that I had purchased through CRM. I had a number of articles and photos published in CRM and I always appreciated Morgan's feedback on where I could improve my photography or if he needed some more photos for an article.” 

Paul Crozier Smith: “CRM was a great Canadian magazine.” 

Mark Penny: “His two magazines (models and prototype) were liked by both Canadian modellers and railfans. He did a lot for local Winnipeg model railroaders, through the years. He also did his fair share of shooting real trains as well.” 

Todd Armstrong: “Way back when CRM started, but before I'd ever heard of it, I had asked my wife to pick me up the latest issue of Railway Modeller magazine from the local newsagent. She came home with issue #1 of CRM and I was hooked. I subscribed and wrote Morgan a letter to tell him of the ironic way I found his publication. Thank you for many years of entertainment.” 

Paul Ullrich: “I was there at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club meeting in 1989 when he made the presentation about launching CRM. Having been in printing and publishing, I had my doubts about it succeeding. I turned to John Sinclair and said: “I don't think he's going to make it.” John replied: “Neither do I.” Although he knew nothing about publishing a magazine, he managed to produce a quality product. And it helped that Morgan was a salesman by profession. Boy, could he sell! In those pre-Internet days, he barnstormed the country like Johnny Appleseed, planting copies of CRM in every hobby shop in the nation. He knew all the owners of the hobby shops, and then names of their wives and their children, and most of his subscribers, and the names of their wives and children. When an article about the 10th anniversary of CRM written was published in a weekly newspaper, I told him what I said to John Sinclair and apologized for ever doubting him. He took it in great stride and got a good laugh about it.”

About how AI has ruined photography, and also philosopher quotes, with a side of Steve Bannon shit

I was going to write a post about how AI has ruined photography, starting with a quote from Hannah Arendt about how lying isn’t aimed at getting people to believe a lie but to make it impossible for them to believe anything anymore. 

But then I found out the quote wasn’t real, and now I really don’t know what to do. 

I liked that quote because it encapsulates well my theory that you can’t trust photography anymore—it’s getting harder to tell a real photograph from an AI-generated one. 

It’s got to the point that when I see a photo of a beautiful landscape or mountains or sunrise or sunset I immediately think: “Is it real?” 

It may well be real. But when you aren’t sure if can trust the photo, or the photographer, photography is on the road to being ruined—you just don't know what you can believe anymore.

It’s that moment of hesitation in your brain, the pause that makes you wonder if things are really what they seem. 

Some photographers seem to know this, too. When some share photos of spectacular and glorious sunsets or sunrises on social media, they include a disclaimer: “It’s a real photo!” 

Because, of course, they think the viewer might think they cheated and used AI. 

And that’s when I thought about Arendt’s quote. It goes like this: 

"This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong. And such a people, deprived of the power to think and judge, is, without knowing and willing it, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want." 

That quote has come up frequently to describe Donald Trump and his regular use of lies and fabrication and its impact on many Americans. It also calls up the media game-plan envisioned by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who said the way to deal with reporters was to “flood the zone with shit.” 

Or, to put it another way, to put out so many lies and falsehoods that reporters can’t keep up and the public, in frustration, gives up searching for the truth. 

But like I said, it turns out the Arendt quote is false, too. Or, at least not completely accurate. As the official Hannah Arendt page puts it, “to be honest, the spirit of the quote is very much in line with Arendt’s own thought. But as far as I can tell, Hannah Arendt never said this or wrote this. She did, however, say many similar things. Which begs the question: Why would someone create a fake quotation when so many real ones express a similar viewpoint? And, does such an altered quotation matter?” 

I say yes, it does. It adds to the general confusion we all feel these days when we see photos online or read articles. Is it real? Is it true? Or is it just a matter of “truthiness,” a word coined by comedian Stephen Colbert to mean something that seemed to be true, even if it wasn’t. 

I like how the Arendt page puts it: “The Arendtian point is that constant lying by a propaganda machine does not lead to the lie being believed but leads, instead, to cynicism.” 

In that case, whether it's real or not sunset photos or philosopher quotes, call me a cynic, then.

Photo above is real. No, really!

Some questions about MAiD, or why are hanging, poison, guns and trains the only options for dying for those with mental illness?

 

Like many Canadians, I am conflicted about the idea of making Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) available to people struggling with mental illness.

 

The federal government is conflicted, too, having decided to delay the implementation of a provision to the current MAiD legislation that would allow it.

 

Justice Minister David Lametti said the delay is needed after the federal government heard concerns that Canada’s health-care system might not be prepared for the expansion.

The Liberal government agreed to expand eligibility to people with mental illness in 2021 after the Senate amended the bill to include it, arguing that excluding people with mental illness would violate their rights.

The bill included a two-year delay to the expansion, which is set to expire in March unless Parliament passes a new law.

 

The bill has been tabled until 2024.

 

While I welcome the additional time to consider the implications of the expanded bill, not everyone feels the same way.

 

That includes a friend of mine who struggles with depression. 

He has written honestly and movingly about the pain and challenges he has faced because of it—challenges he still faces. 

That includes suicide, which he contemplated. 

This is why the proposed expansion of MAiD to include people with mental illness is so important to him.  

As he told me: “It should be an option for people like me with mental illness. Why should the only option be a violent taking of my own life?” 

Indeed; why? 

It’s not like people who struggle with mental illness won’t kill themselves because there is no MAiD option. 

Every year about 4,500 people in Canada die by suicide. That’s 12 people a day. 

Most who died by suicide do so by hanging (44%), followed by poisoning (25%) and guns (16%). 

Over 40 people in Canada die each year by throwing themselves in front of or under a train.   

In all these cases, the deaths are hard and violent, leaving behind traumatized family and friends (along with those who work on trains and witness the deaths). 

So if people are going to kill themselves anyway, why not make it something that is more humane and peaceful? 

Something that could be done in community, with family and friends, not something done in isolation and shame?   

In other words, people struggling with mental illness will continue to choose to die. That won't stop. So why not enable them to do it in a less violent way?

As a letter writer to the Winnipeg Free Press put it: “There are many reasons to feel uneasy about allowing someone to end their own life, but our uneasiness is not preventing many from choosing that option, even without MAiD.”

 

And to deny people with mental illness the opportunity to choose MAiD, he said, “implies someone else’s choice has no merit.”

It also forces them to live by the choices someone else has made for them, along with forcing them to find terrible ways to die.

 

As someone who doesn’t face the challenges of mental illness, I can live with a delay in the expansion of the legislation. I can even live with it not becoming law since I don’t ever expect to need it on the basis of mental health.

 

But that’s just me. What about my friend, and the thousands of others each year who feel there is no way out but to die? Why should I, as a healthy person, deprive them of their choice? 

I don’t have a final answer to those questions. But I believe they should be asked. 

As for my friend, he is not currently contemplating suicide. But he knows there’s no cure for his depression. He will never overcome it; now he knows the only thing he can do is manage and cope with it. 

But if it ever gets to a point he can’t do that anymore, I would prefer that a better option be available, not just hanging, poison, guns or trains.

Some thoughts on returning to church, or maybe we like attending online after all

A pastor friend posted the above cartoon on Facebook about a woman who came back to church in her robe and slippers.

I sent him a private message in reply.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I like Zoom church. I might never want to go back in person regularly again. I wonder how many others feel the same way.” 

“Lots,” he replied. “But they need to relearn the value of face-to-face community.”

I said: “What if we prefer not to relearn that?” 

Hey—I get it. This is a challenging time for clergy. For centuries they’ve known basically one way to do church: People come to where they are at an appointed time, usually Sunday mornings. 

But that script has been flipped on its head during the pandemic. 

Not only did people not go to church in person, they had the option, in many cases, of watching a recorded service whenever they wanted—no more appointment church. 

We learned a new way of doing church. And you know what? Many of us liked it. We liked not driving to services, especially on cold winter days.

We enjoyed relaxing on the couch with a cup of coffee. We liked being able to do other things during the sermon (instead of surreptitiously glancing at our phones). 

That doesn’t mean many don’t want to go back to in-person services.

Polls by Pew in the U.S. and Angus Reid in Canada found a majority of people are looking forward to returning to worship services—although not for the singing or the sermons. 

What Canadians missed most, in order of importance, was a feeling of community, having social interactions with others, visiting before and after services, and being in a sacred space. 

(People who attend Roman Catholic and other churches where the Eucharist is a main focus of worship missed the ceremonies and rituals.)

What they didn’t miss about in-person services included getting there (number one), followed by the pressure to socialize (14 per cent — we found the introverts!), the need to dress up and, for parents, getting children to services.

While expressing an interest in returning to services, half of respondents in Canada said they hope their places of worship will continue to offer online options when the pandemic is over—hybrid services.

Yes, they want to go back to in-person services. But they also want the option of staying home in their pajamas.

Or, to put it another way, over the past 19 months people of faith learned they could do church differently. 

I know I did. And many of the people I talk to say they did, too; they no longer see in-person services as the most important way to practice their faith.

So, with all due respect to my pastor friend, it seems to me if there is any relearning to be done as the pandemic begins to draw to a close it might be by clergy who will have to adapt to these new ways of doing church.

To my pastor friend's credit, he gets that. He understands what people miss most are what he calls the "parking lot conversations." And he knows this will be a challenging time for him and other clergy as people express a desire to do church differently. 

There's a lot of learning to do by both groups, clergy and members. And one thing my pastor friend and I could agree on is: The end of the pandemic will be an interesting and challenging time.

Furniture and Faith

First story: A few years ago, we got a flat screen TV. That meant our old entertainment unit, with its deep, square TV opening had to go.

At first, we thought we'd sell it. We quickly found out there was no market for old entertainment units. 

In fact, you couldn’t give them away. (We tried.) Even thrift stores didn’t want them.

So out into the backyard it went. A few swings of an axe and it was nothing but pieces of wood on the ground.

Second story: We have a buffet and hutch. (It was the kind of thing every newly married couple needed after the wedding.)

It contains our china, wine glasses, special dinner plates, some awards and mementos.

We asked our kids if they wanted it when we move. Their answer (paraphrased): “Are you kidding? No way.”

Why not? Not because it isn’t a nice piece of furniture. It just doesn’t fit their lifestyle. 

Like others of their generation, they will likely move a lot and live in smaller places. Plus, they likely won’t be collecting china or knickknacks.

What does this have to do with faith?

Organized religion today is like our old entertainment unit and buffet and hutch.

Like the entertainment unit, parts of organized religion are becoming outmoded and unnecessary today. 

For a long time, it served well. But it no longer meets current needs. 

This could include things like traditional forms of membership, Sunday morning services, putting money in an offering plate, and sermons (long expository ones, at least).

It’s also different ways of accessing information about faith.

As John Seel noted in his book the New Copernicans, which talks about the ways millennials are changing Christianity in North America, many younger people today reject analytical and propositional ways of seeing faith.

Instead, they are more intuitive and imaginative, preferring story over exposition.

They also reject a binary approach where things are true/false or right/wrong. In it's playce they have a more exploratory, non-judgmental and inclusive approach to faith.

Like our buffet and hutch, the way church is done today represents a heavy, bulky and hard-to-move form of faith.

Intellectually and spiritually, younger people are more mobile, venturesome and lighter on their feet. 

An old type of faith that is fixed in place (spiritually, doctrinally and physically in church buildings) just doesn’t suit their lifestyle.

To be clear: this doesn’t mean there is anything inherently wrong with the way faith has been done for so long—just as there was nothing wrong with the entertainment unit or buffet and hutch.

In their time and place, they served useful purposes. Those purposes just aren’t needed any more.

All this reminds me of what Phyllis Tickle wrote about in her book The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why. 

In it, she wondered if the time hadn’t come for reform in western Christianity, similar to what happened during the Great Reformation of 1517.

Tickle posited that every 500 years the church has a garage sale—a time of upheaval and transition when it gets rid of things it no longer needs.

The last garage sale, she said, was the Great Reformation. If her idea is true, we are due for another reformation today.

Just like out old entertainment unit and buffet and hutch have come to the end of their usefulness, maybe the same can be said of organized religion.

Time, as they say, will tell.

The Conservative Party and the election, or does God want Christians to get ahead, make more money and neglect the poor?

Imagine your minister got up into the pulpit one Sunday and said the topic of the sermon was how you can get ahead in life and make more money.   

And to help you get more money, the minister said you should stop donating so much to international relief and development organizations so you could keep more money your own use.

You know, for things like going to Timmies or Starbucks more often, to treat yourself to more meals out at restaurants, or for other personal indulgences.

If you heard your minister say something like that, what would you think?

First, you might check to make sure you hadn’t wandered into the wrong church, one that preaches the prosperity gospel.

Second, you might ask yourself: “Get ahead of who? The person beside me in the pew? My neighbour? And whatever happened to the Bible’s command to put others first?”

Third, you would check the Bible to see if the verses about the dangers of money, helping the poor and sacrificial love had been removed while you weren’t looking. 

Did the parable of the Good Samaritan get cut out, or was it changed to the “Man who looked after his own first and got rewarded for it"?

If none of that happened—you were in the right church, and the Bible hadn’t been changed—the next thing to happen might be a call to vote about the future of the pastor.

After all, how could someone so obviously out of touch with the Bible, and the basis tenents of Christian faith, be allowed to keep his or her job? 

What’s true for Christian ministers is also true for the Conservative Party and for leader Andrew Scheer in this election. 

The platform this time around has been framed as “it’s time for you to get ahead.”

Scheer speaks in ads and speeches about his goal to put “more money in your pocket.”

One way he has proposed to do that is by cutting foreign aid by 25%.

He would take the money diverted from programs that help the needy to provide tax cuts and tax credits for Canadians—people who live in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet.

This platform should be troubling for anyone who believes the Bible teaches Christians to put others first, help the needy, and to store up riches in heaven (not on earth).

Yes, but some will argue: What about abortion? All the other parties are pro-choice. What's a certain kind of Christian to do?

It's true. But the problem with this argument is it overlooks the fact the Conservatives have promised they won’t reopen that debate, either—something Scheer has made clear multiple times when asked.

And as John Stackhouse, a professor at Crandall University in Moncton has noted in a post titled "Should we vote pro-life in this election," being anti-abortion is a weak way to decide who to vote for.

“I see no reason to believe that a vote determined by anti-abortion hopes is anything other than wasted,” he said.

“Yes, electing a few more prolife candidates will make a little more noise, but without political will, there’s no way they’ll make a difference. And without a political sea change there won’t be that will.”

Of course, being pro-life in all areas is important. But that includes seeking the welfare of others, inside and outside the womb, and inside and outside of Canada. 

I'm not suggesting the Conservatives worse for Christians than other parties. They all have flaws, failures, and skeletons in their closets. Each party presents problems for Christians when it comes to voting, one way or the other.

All I'm saying is this time around, conservative Christians—who, as research shows, tend to vote Conservative—have a new challenge this election when it comes to casting a ballot. 

What do they do with a party that challenges the very bedrock of their Christian faith? 

One that says the opposite of what the Bible says about Christians needing to put others first, about not making money the goal of life, and not neglecting the needs of the poor? 

It's going to be an interesting election for some people.